We are at Bucknell, which seems to have everything my student is looking for, except the very remote location and climate. Size, prestige, academic heft are all there but Lewisburg, however quaint and charming, is truly remote. Any suggestions for similar type schools in better locations and climate? Not looking for a city, but definitely looking for a similar type school in the south. Any suggestions?
Furman, Wake Forest, and Davidson come to mind
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Adding Richmond, Rhodes, SMU. Lehigh and Lafayette too…same climate, but not nearly as remote.
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If your child loves Bucknell, they should apply and see what acceptances they end up with. Bucknell has a very good freshman retention rate of 92%. That means kids return after their freshman year. Bucknell will have plenty of activities going on that will keep students engaged and happy. In truth, students spend most of their time on campus at the LACs mentioned here. It’s where their friends, food, and beds are.
We visited a PA LAC once and asked the student guide about all the ways kid could get off campus and go into Philadelphia. The student said they had done that once, and that even though Philadelphia was very nearby, kids stayed on campus, for the three reasons I just mentioned above.
By all means investigate the other colleges. Every college will have its pros and cons. The less rural campus that you think seems better on paper will have other issues. There’s no perfect college.
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Trinity U, Tulane, Claremont McKenna
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When I saw schools similar to Bucknell in the South, the first I thought of was Sewanee. But then - I saw your note on less remote.
Not sure they’d be exact matches - but Rollins and Eckerd in Florida come to mind. And Rhodes in Memphis.
A tad bigger and I think remote but others rightfully point out 10 minutes from a larger city is Elon - beautiful campus.
If it’s weather that matters and you’re flying anyway, you might look at Occidental as well (in the Los Angeles area).
SMU, TCU, Tulsa, and Wake Forest came to mind.
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URichmond was my first thought.
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U Richmond
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Echoing others, I think the closest parallel in terms of academics and culture is the U of Richmond. Obviously the settings are different.
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My daughter had Bucknell on her list, but also took it off after our visit. She liked the school itself, and several programs appealed to her. In the end, she decided it was too remote and hard to get to. She ended up applying to U Richmond, Lafayette, and Elon, all of which have crossovers in some way or another. I agree that U Richmond is similar in many ways.
We also visited Wake and Davidson. She loved Davidson except for the size (about the same size as her high school). It would have been a definite reach for her, anyway. She wasn’t feeling the “vibe” at Wake, but I thought it was beautiful.
Might want to look at Wofford as well as those mental above. Perhaps more similar in vibe.
I agree with U Richmond and Davidson being similar. Davidson may be less conservative than Bucknell. Wake Forest is bigger with a a more traditional Division I sports vibe than Bucknell.
As a side note, my daughter also seriously considered (applied to) Bucknell, but withdrew her application after an ED admit to Wake Forest.
In considering suggestions, you may want to be aware of major academic differences in comparison to Bucknell. For example, Bucknell offers geology as a potential major or as a source for interesting electives.
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Agree. Plus Bucknell has engineering, which few other LACs have.
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Wake Forest. Similar size, has engineering and business, liberal arts college at its core. Only difference is that sports are more big time at WFU.
Rice isn’t much bigger either. Bigger engineering school but otherwise they have a lot in common.
You are so right. We did the full tour and am now convinced the community at Bucknell is the right fit for my son. My older son attends Gettysburg College, which is also a bit remote but he has already made such deep connections with students and faculty precisely because of its remote location. It forces a bonding upon them that is just not as inherent in big city schools. For some kids (like mine), this is a necessary part of their young adult development. Being able to nurture deep friendships and connections with peers and faculty is immeasurable in the grand scheme. We are optimistic about his chances and really appreciate your insight and valuable comments. You are indeed correct!
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Did your son ED Bucknell?
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