<p>what is the premed acceptance rate at Bucknell?</p>
<p>The last known data comes from the 2007-08 year where 17 of 22 who applied were accepted. In 2008-09 22 of 24 was the acceptance rate which included physical therapy, M.D., D.O. research. You can research this in the Pre Health section but the data sheet is a bit difficult to find. Overall, Bucknell places 97 percent of its grads in graduate school–one of the highest rates in the nation for a school its size-the largest liberal arts school in the country. And with the top programs in Engineering, Business, and the Biological Sciences–you’re going to get taught by full professors and not TAs. As a Pre Health (Pre Med) Bio major I’ve been very happy with the counseling and the guidance. I think that figure of 17 of 22 is pretty high because that class had an unusual amount of students who were exceptional students in terms of grade point averages and the med schools where they were accepted. There are plenty of opportunities in Pre Health with the “extern” program where you can gain experience during January by signing up and shadowing a Bucknell graduate (doctor) who offers to let students take a few days to observe. The Career Development Center sets Bucknell apart from other schools because they give you assistance with resume writing, interviewing, and other helpful tips in the process. Bucknell has a successful track record with Med School placement–but does not necessarily “brag” about it–simply because so many of the Pre Health students (IMO) are very self-directed–or they wouldn’t be at Bucknell in the first place. Bucknell doesn’t have a cut throat mentality–and the great thing is that people work together because they all want to get to the same place–eventually get placed in a med school. The opportunities to perform volunteer work are numerous-and some students join the Bucknell Bridage to perform service in Nicaragua during spring break. There is a close connection with the Geisinger Medical Center (one of the premier medical centers in PA) located in Danville–about 16 miles away-and Evangelical Hospital right in Lewisburg for those who want to either volunteer in a program–or to compete for an internship. Bucknell probably doesn’t get enough attention because a lot of kids think you have to go to an Ivy or NESCAC school-or a large state university to be a successful Pre Med. Not true. I was wait listed at some Ivies and NESCAC schools–but enrolling at Bucknell was the best thing I could have ever done. This summer I’ve secured an internship at the Yale School of Medicine to perform research-and I interviewed with a number of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford kids who didn’t get the position. The people at Yale who interviewed me noted that they had colleagues who were Bucknell grads and knew the type of student who went there. I’m sure the other kids were just as qualified–if not more qualified because they go to “name” schools. Maybe I got lucky–I don’t know. What I do know is that Bucknell does not get the attention other liberal arts schools get–but the people in the know–the ones that admit and the ones that eventually hire–know that Bucknell people have their stuff together–and are regular people–not hyped up in any way. To answer the question–how’s the Pre Med program–that’s my take–it’s great. You’ll work very hard–but in the end you’ll know your stuff.</p>