Hi, I am a junior interested in business. I like both of these schools and am considering applying ED to one of them. I don’t really know how strong Bucknell’s business program considering they are not ranked, but they recently received accreditation. I have heard given the choice between undergraduates of both schools that Bucknell students are given the better opportunity over Richmond students in the field of business. I want to confirm this. Is this true? Which school has a better business program? What other schools have the same program strength of Bucknell?
What other schools are you planning to apply to? What are your regional preferences in terms of career. What are your GPA and test scores? Do you plan to go to graduate school?
@BatesParent2019 I am only talking about the business school here. In terms of regional preferences, I feel like cities in the northeast might have more job opportunities, but there are plenty of opportunities in the south as well. For me, either one works. With that said, I don’t necessarily think that where I go to undergraduate school is where I go to school. I don’t know what the other schools that I’m applying to or my GPA has anything to do with the strength of the business programs.
I was asking about your grades and test scores to get an idea as to why you were applying ED.
I would pick Bucknell over Richmond. I would also suggest you minor or even double major in English, Science or Math. Interviewers love seeing a heavy course load in math, especially. Likewise, English because many business school graduates cannot write well.
Bucknell has a very strong alumni network in the Northeast and the kids have a reputation for being aggressive and confident which is very important when you are starting out.
@BatesParent2019 I am applying ED because I love the school and absolutely want to go there and also because it would help admissions. Although Richmond is highly ranked in business, you would pick Bucknell’s b program rather than Richmond’s? Thanks for the input.
My son was recruited by Bucknell so I know the ED vs RD situation very well. We spent several days there as well. We loved everything about it except the traveling he would do in D1.
Yes Richmond has a highly rated business school and Bucknell’s is somewhat newer. This doesn’t change my opinion.
Both schools are peers on paper but Bucknell has more pedigree and a stronger reputation in the east as a school. The student coming out of Bucknell is viewed as very competitive, driven and outgoing. Somewhat arrogant as well.
I am not a big believer in picking candidates based on the rating of individual programs, assuming of course the school has a good reputation. I was talking to a friend at Banc America that handles the training program and he said the trainees coming from business schools are failing their registration exams at an increasing rate, while kids with other majors are doing much better.
I tell this to every student I meet wanting to major in business, fine do it but it isn’t required.
Anymore thoughts? I need confirmation on this, so I need multiple opinions.
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I think they are comparable, but I would personally choose Richmond.
@timetodecide12 Okay thanks good to know
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I’d pick Richmond, because Bucknell is very isolated so campus life relies entirely (almost) on the Greeks. Richmond has a city nearby and while its Greek influence can’t be denied, it’s not as “overwhelming” as at Bucknell. There is a mix of Northeast and South at Richmond that isn’t as prevalent at Bucknell. Both are preppy and rather conservative, both have a good BSchool, so ultimately it depends on whether you’d rather have a network around DC or a network around Philadelphia/NY.
@MYOS1634 Thanks for the input. So you think that the business schools are too close to distinguish a stronger program?
I am not very familiar with Bucknell or their business school. I do know a few recent Richmond graduates. Both business school and both had strong placements in NYC banking. All the Richmond alums I know had a great experience and education at Richmond.
@mommamocha Great! Good to confirm that Richmond’s business school has good placement, especially in NYC because it is far away from their location.
Yes, both are strong and both colleges are strong overall. 
@MYOS1634 Great thanks a lot. This is going to be a hard decision to make.
How many people are in the Richmond NY and Boston Alumni Chapters compared to Bucknell?
@BatesParent2019 For Richmond, there are 700 alumni in the Boston area and 1,100 in NYC. For Bucknell, there are 3,000 in Boston and 8,000 in NYC.