Hi im trying to decide between conn college and Bucknell. I have a 20000 merit scholarship at conn and I was initially going to apply there ED2 but decided to try a harder school which didn’t work out. I really don’t know about Bucknell but it is the most highly ranked school that I am still interested in. Not so sure about the frats and sororities. Conn is great but I am worried about the gender ratio and the potential lack of parties and social scene. Help a girl out. thanks!!
Congratulations on some great acceptances! Yes, according to USNWR, Conn is 63% female and Bucknell 51% female. So that is a difference, which might well affect social life, in different ways for different people. USCG Academy is very nearby Conn and is 36% female, so a relative gender balance in the neighborhood.
Have you visited both schools? If not, can you get to both of them? Bucknell has a beautiful campus. Lewisburg, where it is located is very small, really just a street with some nice restaurants and bars (walkable to campus). So social life definitely revolves around campus and Greek life, which works better for some than others.
I wouldn’t really worry too much about general reputation/rankings in this case (unless there is a difference for a specific major/department). Either will give you an excellent education. If one is slightly “better,” the difference is not significant.
I’d advise determining what is the best fit and what is most affordable, since there are some differences in culture. So would Bucknell be something like $20k more per year? That would be a big difference (for most) for any difference between the schools. What does your family think of this?
Good luck!
Congratulations on being admitted to two such superb colleges!
Below is a link to a commentary I wrote previously about Connecticut College.
Bucknell is a great college, too, with all the benefits of a small liberal arts college. We did not look at it just because of the heavy fraternity presence.
(But it does not sound as though you would have any trouble finding non-exclusive parties at Conn, if that is something you want. I remember hearing something about certain dorms on a certain side of campus having a lot of parties, but I do not recall the details. Maybe a current or recent student can add a comment.)
You will get a wonderful education at either college. Pick the one you like more, and do not look back. Enjoy!
The two schools have very different vibes. For example, Bucknell is a very Greek driven school while I believe Conn has no Greek Life. I suggest you visit (or revisit) both if possible – or at the very least get your hands on some good college guide books (Fiske, Insiders Guide, Princeton Review) at your library or guidance office and read up on the schools. In addition the school newspapers can often be found online and that can help give you a sense of what is going on around campus.
Both are well respected LACs so the decision should be based not on rankings but on finances (if the money differential is significant to your family) and fit.
Thank you so much for replying! With regards to finances I am extremely lucky and would have no debt coming out of college. For me a merit scholarship would mean an extra boost coming out of college as a gift from my parents. I visited Bucknell again (not an accepted students day, couldnt make it then) and I ill be visiting Conn on monday. I hope my second visit to Conn will clear things up. Right now i think i have a lot of nonsense in my head which is making my decison a lot harder (ex: which school is more reputable, acceptance rates). Again thank you for your reply I know whichever choice I make will be a good one
Good luck
Look at the majors. If you are engineering or business Bucknell is much higher rated. However, you need to feel good about it.
It seems to me that you want to go to Conn more based on what you said. New London is a big city (My English teacher grew up there), so you should be fine. I was actually looking at Conn myself until I saw they were America’s #6 Hard Liquor school, and I’m not about that life. I did visit campus and It’s beautiful and classes are very intimate. TOugh one.
Conn is a lovely campus, excellent fine art and dance programs, funding for internships, no greek life (and no engineering or business) – a terrific school.
Bucknell has more of a party culture given the big sports and Greek atmosphere. It also features more of a pre-professional academic environment given the fact that they offer Engineering and Business, a combo that is pretty rare for a highly regarded LAC.
In short, Bucknell is a more pre-professional version of Colgate.
Connecticut College is a more traditional LAC: intellectual vibe, not much (or no) Greek life, no top-division sports, etc.
Both schools will offer strong teaching and support.
I’d look at available majors and visit them to figure out which will be the better fit.
s