<p>Similarities/differences? Advantages/disadvantages of each?</p>
<p>Student bodies are virtual clones of each other. Both direct patriot league rivals. Lehigh is more of a national reasearch university with a pre-professional focus, while Bucknell is more of a LAC.</p>
<p>Location, location, location. Different planets, dude.</p>
<p>While I generally agree that location should be a factor in any student's "fit" analysis, I just ponder a bit about the above remarks by Mr. Berry.</p>
<p>Both Bucknell and Lehigh are in Pennsylvania, with Bucknell being more central and rural Pa and Lehigh being the more blue collar industrial northeastern corridor of Pa.....the culture is not that different between the two. I do acknowledge that Bucknell is more like a country club. </p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon is in Pittsburgh, as is U Pitt, and that is not exactly a garden spot. (my neighbor is a Carnegie Mellon graduate) So sometimes the school, or programs or the campus can trump "the location" in a general sense. </p>
<p>Conversely, some kids would exclaim the "location" of Bowdoin College or Colby College, but those are vastly different in location than Columbia or NYU.</p>
<p>Point being that "location" is as subjective as are other factors. You pick what is the best fit for YOU, not what others think.</p>
<p>Keep this thread up! I have been wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>However, I do have a couple of specific questions for those out there:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Which school has a better rep./ more likely to get a better job after attending?</p></li>
<li><p>Is Lehigh's male/female ratio really skewed? If so, does its affiliation with neighboring colleges help?</p></li>
<li><p>How is financial aid at each of these schools? According to the collegeboard, I have a $97,000 EFC nad my family definitely cannot afford much tuition in this economy, so will my tuition be under $20,000 for either of these colleges?</p></li>
<li><p>Will I get merit aid at either of these colleges with a 1350 SAT/ 3.7 GPA?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>-How are their business/ engineering programs on a national level?</p>
<p>If you guys can answer these questions, that would be awesome. Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, come chance me at Small-Town Junior looking for advice and chances for big-name schools (sorry that I don't have the link - I might try to bring it here in a little while)
*</p>
<p>BUCKNELL! </p>
<p>I'm going there in fall. Biased.</p>
<p>If your focus is business...or especially engineering..you would likely get more opportunities at Lehigh. Lehigh has many more engineering labs and facilities...world class in materials science and structural engineering. Lehigh has 10 faculty members in the National Academy of Engineering to Bucknell's zero. Bucknell is certainly solid, however, and if your fit is for a more intimate rural LAC, it might be the better option. The choice will be largely personal.</p>
<p>From The Princeton Review</p>
<p>Bucknell University</p>
<p>Academics
"Bucknell University, “a liberal arts school with a top engineering program,” is “a typical Patriot League school where students somehow find a way to balance studying and partying” while remaining “ambitious about their studies, extremely friendly and caring in nature, and bound to succeed.” “Small class sizes, a beautiful campus, friendly students and faculty, and amazing facilities” all conspire to justify the premium price tag on a Bucknell education; $31 million in annual financial aid means about half the students don’t have to foot the entire bill. “The courses are tough, and the workload is heavy” here, “but the academic experience is a wonderful one,” with professors who “are passionate and energetic and convey their love for their field to their students. They give us their home phone numbers and e-mail addresses and tell us to come to their offices just to say hello. They want to teach us, but also want to be our friends.” Bucknell offers more than 50 majors and 60 minors, an impressive array for a school of this size; business and engineering majors are most popular, while premeds benefit from numerous opportunities to get involved in research. It’s the kind of school that inspires lifelong loyalty; as one undergrad sums up, “Bucknell boasts a tight-knit community where most people are friends with most other people and 99 percent of varsity athletes graduate in four years. Bucknell is a community of scholars as well as social [beings], with many students possessing both qualities. Few students regret their choice and remain involved in campus affairs for lifetimes.”</p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"“A lot of people are preppy—super preppy” on the Bucknell campus, many students tell us, observing that “the sheer number of student-owned luxury cars on this campus is astounding.” An adamant minority insists that “Bucknell has a reputation for being a preppy school, but in my experience that reputation is overblown.” Most everyone agrees that ‘preppy’ doesn’t have to mean boring; the student body includes “plenty of interesting and different people to hang out with if you look for them.” Undergrads tend to be “energetic” and “involved in many things on campus. Students try their best at everything they do.” Students typically “come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York. There are a lot from New England also, and Maryland’s probably next.”"</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"“Life at Bucknell is centered on a social structure,” and “While students do work hard at their academics, they party equally as hard.” Indeed, according to some, “On weekends, you have a few choices: dorms or downtown, beer or hard liquor, drugs or alcohol. Partying is it, though.” This perception is reinforced by the fact that hometown Lewisburg is very small and very quiet. Greek organizations play a huge role on campus; one reluctant fraternity member writes, “I never thought I would join a fraternity, and the prevalence of Greek life was one of the downsides of coming here originally, but I found a group of guys where I fit in quite well, so I spend a lot of time on fraternity activities. But that’s really my choice because I enjoy it.” Many here will tell you that there are options “that do not revolve around the party scene, such as the outing club, the nationally known Conservatives Club,” and a number of religious- and service-related organizations such as Catholic Campus Ministry and Student Emergency Response Volunteers. Bucknell competes in the Patriot League against the likes of Army, Navy, Lehigh, and Lafayette; “The basketball team has been very good lately, so they’re a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Lehigh University</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"The main thing that students at Lehigh University in Bethelehem, Pennsylvania seem to share is a general love for the school and its entire way of life, as evidenced by the “amazing” alumni base that returns to the school frequently (and provides for good networking). Despite rigorous academics, Lehigh “maintains a substantial social scene,” and “work hard, play hard is not just a saying here—it’s the lifestyle.” Students have “to work for grades, they are not just given out,” and outside of the classroom, there’s a strong emphasis on experiential learning and real-world applications. The engineering and business programs are particularly strong here, and though tuition is dear, new financial aid policies have been put into place and “the school lives up to its academic reputation…you definitely get your money’s worth at the end of the day.” The level of instruction here is “top-notch,” and “the classes aren’t necessarily a drag to go to because the teachers easily manifest how much they want us to learn.” “Teaching becomes better” as students begin to take more and more upper level classes; instructors “are always available and want to help you out,” and they “really try to have a positive relationship with all of the students,” though a few professors seem to be more interested in their research than their teachings. “For my Folktales and Fairytales class, we were invited to the professor’s house to tell stories around her fireplace,” says a senior. The administration “does not take into account student opinion as well as it could,” and many students wish it was more transparent in its reasoning for changes (especially concerning the recent crackdown on partying, the surest way to get a Lehigh student up in arms), but most students are satisfied with the level of accessibility."</p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"It’s a “white and preppy” world at Lehigh, where most students come from the northeast and the typical student’s economic background can be described as “appreciates the finer things in life.” People here “like to look good” and “tend to dress up for classes very often,” and the popped collar has a home at Lehigh. There are still “a few splashes of ethnicity” here, and while there used to be a lot of pressure to fit that specific mold, now “there are a lot of different types of students. It’s a friendlier campus.” The school has actually seen a rise in enrollment by students from underrepresented backgrounds in recent years, and continues to try and build diversity. Socially, there are three types of students at Lehigh: “those who are Greek, those whose friends are Greek, and those who have no friends.” The final group is in the extreme minority, as “it isn’t hard to find a friend at Lehigh,” and even the atypical students “usually just connect with each other.” Ever the balanced bunch, Lehigh students “recognize scholastic the opportunity that Lehigh provides but also thrive on the party scene.”</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"Unless you have a car, there really isn’t much to in the immediate surrounding area, though the school does provide a shuttle to some common off-campus destinations and the town is home to many festivals throughout the year. On campus, studying takes up most weeknights, and though there are events “here and there,” “drinking is king at Lehigh” and “Greek life is everything.” “It’s party hard, work hard. We have all the Ivy League rejects who are crazy competitive combined with crazy parties. What’s better?” asks a sophomore. Though the jury is out as to how crucial drinking is to Lehigh social life, “the school provides a lot of alcohol free activities such as game night, comedians, movie nights, etc.,” and there is “plenty of socializing” through sports, student organizations, and plain old hanging out. “Even kids who are obsessed with video games won’t just sit and play alone in their rooms. They’ll find others with the same interest and do so together,” says a student. “There are tons of ways to get involved on campus and have a good time, you just have to get creative,” says another."</p>
<p>I also love both Bucknell and Lehigh. However, Lehigh doesn't offer any theater or dance programs while Bucknell does. For me Bucknell wins because of that</p>
<p>Dave,
Would you please explain the "location, location...Different planets" comment for a parent whose son may be interested in the 2 schools and doesn't know enough about the geographical and/or demographical differences between them.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>runmanstl, I don't know what your boy's social/entertainment preferences/needs are, but my kids were into weekend road trips. Their two main venues were Manhattan and Philadelphia. According to Mapquest, Bucknell is ~3:18 from NYC; Lehigh: ~1:30 away. Bucknell is ~2:48 from Philadelphia; Lehigh: ~1:18. I'm sure that there's lots to do on campus at Bucknell, but when you want big-city excitement, it's a hoof from Lewisburg. That's why many kids don't like Penn State-University Park: cow country, far from the bright lights and tall buildings.</p>
<p>^^^
So it's proximity to the big cities that makes Lehigh so different from Bucknell. Do you believe many of the Lehigh kids also choose to spend their weekends in NYC or Philadelphia? Is there a significant exodus to the cities on the weekends at Lehigh? </p>
<p>For a midwesterner, all of the distances above seem fairly short!</p>
<p>How would Lafayette fit in this debate? A bit less preppy? How does the engineering stack up?</p>
<p>Lafayette and Bucknell are the LACs...Lehigh is more a comprehensive univeristy with much more research money, NAE members, and labs. All are patriot league, but Lafayette and Bucknell are more direct peers....with Lafayette being in a more populated area about 1 hour outside of NYC. Student bodies all have very similar demographics.</p>
<p>Bucknell is a top ranked LAC (USN), Lehigh is top ranked National (USN). Lehigh is about twice the size in student population. Lehigh is not too large that you will be just a number and Bucknell is not so small (one of the largest LAC schools) that you will know everyone or even most students.</p>
<p>If possible, visit them and get a feel for the campus community. I am partial to Bucknell. It has a beautiful campus and provides excellent educational opportunities. Its engineering program is consistently ranked top 10 (USN) for schools w/o a graduate PhD degree. Lehigh's engineering is not ranked top 10 for schools w/ PhD degrees. However, this category is much more competitive.</p>
<p>I always thought that Bucknell was considered a little bit better, but they are certainly in the same ballpark. While Bucknell may be farther from large, urban areas, I would think the on-campus experience (where students would spend 90%+ of their time) would be pretty similar at both. I think Lafayette would be be regarded as a little bit farther down the selectivity-scale than Bucknell.</p>
<p>So Bucknell has a prettier campus?
How are the business/language programs there and do they offer study abroad?</p>
<p>They do offer a study abroad program and many students participate in it.</p>
<p>Bucknell is in the stix. A lot of the people go to bucknell are the general "college prep" private school kids. Its a good school though.</p>
<p>You be the judge.</p>
<p>Im about a half hour(if that) from the main campus.</p>
<p>D2 has been to soccer camp at each.</p>
<p>Bucknell is surrounded by farmland and is absolutely beautiful. Lehigh overlooks the (small) city of Bethlehem...which is not a pretty view. But the buildings at Lehigh have the same stone-and-ivy look as Bucknell.</p>
<p>If you go to Lehigh, you'll develop strong legs and lungs from climbing the hills. D2 complained about that after a week of camp!</p>