<p>Hello there! As a current student I hope I can answer your questions. Let me know if there is anything else you’d like to ask. Bucknell is hands down one of the best schools in the country for any type of student so congrats on his admittance!</p>
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<li>Any thoughts on pre med advising?</li>
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<p>Bucknell offers great pre-med (and for that matter pre-law) advising. The primary reason that the school does not have district programs is to maintain the liberal arts atmosphere and curriculum. I think you’ll son will find there are plenty of resources at Bucknell to help him move on to med school and to prepare him for the MCAT’s. Many Bucknellians go on to med (and law) school at a competitive level with students at other schools who do have pre med departments. He can be assigned a specific advisor for pre-med as well as have several pre-med “tracks” that he can choose to follow if he desires, in order to ensure maximum preparedness.</p>
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<li>Is the pre med program or intro classes weed out type classes? Many schools talk about a high graduate school admittance rate but ignore that they got rid of 60% of the kids who started.</li>
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<p>I am not sure how to best answer this but I do know that Bucknell’s course are designed for anyone who wants to succeed to succeed. With that being said, he can expect challenging courses with at times rigorous work loads but nothing he can’t handle if he stays focused and organized. He’ll probably be expected to take many of the intro level bio courses his first year. </p>
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<li>Is it difficult to register for the classes you need? Are there long wait lists?</li>
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<p>Students are assigned a specific registration time dependent on their class year and then their last name. They shuffle around the order each semester so he’s guaranteed to have some semesters with good picks, and some semesters with not so good picks. Honestly, it can be difficult to get into every course one needs certain semesters, especially as a first year student. With that being said, however, Bucknell is committed to ensuring that every student graduates with the degree they want. He may not get into every course he needs each semester, but he’ll get into those courses eventually. No student at Bucknell doesn’t get the degree he or she wants just because of wait lists or the course selection process. In other words, this question doesn’t need to be a concern for you, at least not at Bucknell!</p>
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<li>How strong is the North Carolina connection on campus? By this I mean is someone from outside of NC going to feel a bit out of place.</li>
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<p>Well Bucknell is in PA so I don’t know how to respond to the North Carolina question…however, students come from all over the world to go to Bucknell. While a majority of students do come from PA, NY, and NJ, there is never a stigma against those not from those states or from the east coast. Everyone can find a place to fit in and friends to be made. </p>
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<li>I have seen some posts about the science departments and arbitrary grade deflation. If he decided to pursue graduate school, I would not want him punished. Can anyone comment on that?</li>
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<p>Not really sure what this question is asking…but all I can say is Bucknell professors are some of the best. If he works hard enough he’ll get the grade he deserves. If there is every any concern, the Deans are always available for both students and parents to ask question or voice concerns. </p>
<p>6.Thoughts about the quality of the dorms and food? At $60k, it matters.</p>
<p>No worries here! The food at Bucknell is delicious. He’ll have to purchase an unlimited meal plan for his first year, which will give him access to Bostwick Cafeteria, the main cafeteria on campus. He will basically have unlimited meal privileges from 6am-12am every day of the week. Pizza, egg bar, deli bar, dessert bar, bagel station, waffle irons and salad bar come standard. In addition, specialty food stations with different menu items are offered each day. He’ll never run out of choices and never go hungry. </p>
<p>Dorms, for the most part, are very nice. If he choices to join a Residential College (I highly recommend) he is guaranteed a room in McDonnell or Smith, which are hands down the nicest (and most recently built) on campus. Every bed is a Twin XL and he’ll likely have one roommate (although quad rooms do exist). Almost all halls are coed but with separate male and female bathrooms. Washing machines are in every dorm building and can be accessed 24/7. As for security, he’ll use his BUID card to swipe in and out of the dorms 24/7. RA’s are very present and super engaging with their residents. They will not only ensure policies are followed and check up on student well-being but they also help to build a hall community with regular programing throughout the year.</p>
<p>Yes, the cost is a lot but the quality of student life is worth it. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>