<p>My daughter (graduates 2007) has been offered full athletic scholarships to Bucknell and Lafayette (basketball). She hasn’t made a decision and will be making official NCAA visits this month. We’ve visited both, she loves both
schools. They are larger versions of the private school she attends. She
plans to major in Art History and minor in film studies. She won the academic
art history award over a class full of seniors last year. I’m a little concerned
about the lack of diversity at both schools, though she this doesn’t concern her
in the least. I also want her supported spiritually. We are buddhists, SGI-USA
members. Are there any other SGI members or groups around campus?
We are very proud (and relieved)that she has worked hard in class and on court to be recruited by these two wonderful schools. She was also recruited by Colgate, American, Fairfield and East Tennesse State.
Colgate came to the table late and she wasn’t interested after having visited
BU and LC.</p>
<p>Howdy! I'm a mom of a junior Philo/Poli Sci major.</p>
<p>I can't really speak to athletics or religious offerings as he does neither...but I did find this information on the Bucknell page:</p>
<p>InterReligious Council</p>
<p>Advisor: Ian Oliver <a href="mailto:oliver@bucknell.edu">oliver@bucknell.edu</a></p>
<p>Description: Promotes religious dialogue, support, and understanding on campus; to foster cooperation between religious groups.</p>
<p>Perhaps you could ask your spiritual support questions there?</p>
<p>Thank you, I will.</p>
<p>My neighbor went to Bucknell. She was a lacrosse player. Initially, she found the campus too conservative and the lacrosse a little too intense. She switched to club lacrosse and found her niche, probably at the end of Sophomore year.</p>
<p>She ended up creating an incredibly exciting path with art and paleontology and is now in a PhD program at Penn. I don't know if Bucknell inspired this path but they definitely did not quash it.</p>
<p>By the way- congrats to your daughter on the recruiting process; it requires a lot of ambition and hard work.</p>
<p>if the choice is solely between bucknell and lafayette, i highly highly highly recommend bucknell over lafayette. it is a more well known school, and I just thought it was all around nicer than lafayette.</p>
<p>Bucknell is a very special place.The school absolutely dominates the Patriot League in sports as it's won the President's Cup eleven of the fourteen year<br>
history of the cup.The town is quaint and safe.The campus is beyond beautiful.The only bad thing I've ever heard about the school is how increasingly tough it is to get admitted.</p>
<p>She loves both schools and we have respected her wishes to make her choice.
I love both, but leaned towards Lafayette because it was closer to home, my husband leans towards Bucknell because it is not close to home. She was also recruited heavy by Rice, but felt more comfortable with Bucknell and
Lafayette. I'm happy with her choice either way and we'll be making the visits this month. Can't say enough about how thrilled we are with all the hard work, on and off the court, paying off. We just want her prepared for a grueling schedule academic and athletic.</p>
<p>Both Lafayette and Bucknell are "Posse Foundation" schools- which means they are putting their money where their mouth is in terms of committment to diversity. Both will be giving 10 full scholarships to a "posse" of students from the DC metro area for the fall of 2007.</p>
<p>See if you can do an overnight at each school, if not with a ball player, than in a dorm where they stay. I know my kids found it much easier to make a decision after staying overnight to see what was NOT on the tour.</p>
<p>The nice thing about the two Pat League schools is that whichever she chooses she will have essentially the same schedule so you can see the games. Rice games would be a bit harder to attend.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter! I am a Lafayette alumnus and I loved it. Although it was long ago, I chose it over Bucknell mostly because of its location -- just over an hour to both NYC and Philly. I took advantage of that, at least in my senior year. When I was in school, I found the atmosphere more down-to-earth and less snooty at Lafayette, at least judging from my frequent visits to a friend at Bucknell. I felt comfortable there from day 1 and made lifelong friends. I was also a varsity athlete, and found it the perfect place to balance athletics and academics. Lafayette is smaller, of course, which has benefits and drawbacks. Last, being an active alumnius, I know for a fact that it is successfully recruiting a more diverse student body through the Posse Foundation which recruits less-represented high school students. In the end, I think that the difference in academic reputation is negligible, so your D should go where she feels most comfortable. Feel free to email me a message and I'd be happy to answer any questions.</p>
<p>Ahem. </p>
<p>Being that this is the Bucknell board I don't think the tagging of the atmosphere as <em>snooty</em> by a Lafayette alum; or saying negative things about Lafayette by Bucknell students/parents is productive. I could have mentioned my son's experience with Lafayette but it is not appropriate nor helpful. </p>
<p>This is why the campus stay is so important. Your daughter needs to pick the school where she feels most comfortable. There are pluses and minuses to every college campus. May I redirect the Lafayette cheerleader to the appropriate board?</p>
<p>You may wish to pm ericatbucknell as they have been quite helpful with student specific questions.</p>
<p>Hi texastaximom,
Good job protecting the Bucknell board from the sneak attack by the Lafayette poster- hope it doesn't reflect on their student body as a whole :)</p>
<p>Cojett, congrats on the choices your daughter has. My husband and I are both Bucknell Alums '77, and have been on campus recently.</p>
<p>I predict you will be VERY impressed, with the campus layout, the rolling green hills, the centrally located student center, and the NEW stunning athletic center. It is a gorgeous campus.
Basketball has taken center stage at Bucknell, since the men's outstanding NCAA run two years ago, and the sport rules at Bucknell now!</p>
<p>I have not been to Lafayette's campus for 7 years when my niece enrolled, but left within a week. This had nothing to do with the school, and everything to do with her adjustment issues. </p>
<p>I wasn't impressed with Lafayete's campus then, but have recently taken a virtual tour, and it appears they have built and renovated many buildings. Even so, I predict you will find Bucknell's campus much more beautiful. </p>
<p>Lewisburg is so much nicer than Easton, I will just leave it at that. Please do spend some time on Lewisburg's main street ( Market Street), and you might enjoy the local Amish Farmers Market which is only open four days a a week. If your daughter enjoys ,bike riding, as I did at Bucknell, imagine riding a bike around the Bucknell campus, Lewisburg and for the more daring a few miles on the hilly scenic roads going toward Penn State. </p>
<p>I wonder if you might find more Buddhists at Bucknell, just because it is a larger school? </p>
<p>Congratulations, again on your wonderful options, and I look forward to hearing your report after you visit these campuses. When are you visiting?</p>
<p>To Moms: I believe cojett discussed both schools despite the posting on the Bucknell thread. Given that, I did not think it was inappropriate as alleged to comment on both schools (and my view is by no means the universal or "correct" opinion). Also, another poster had unambiguously and emphatically stated a preference for Bucknell and at least implicitly criticized the other school - but no complaints there.</p>
<p>That said, I hope cojett's D picks the school at which she feels most comfortable and I do, indeed, think they are both wonderful schools. Best of luck to her in that decision.</p>
<p>I would take a long hard look at Rice. A tremendous school!</p>
<p>My daughter chose Bucknell after a weekend stay two weeks ago. We had a wonderful time touring the campus and meeting the coaches and team. We also attended a football game. We are happy that she had a choice between these two tremendous schools. Thank you for all the good wishes from Bucknell
and Lafeyette posters on this board. Can't wait until next year. Go Bisons!</p>
<p>Rice is an awesome school, I would have been proud to have her go there.
But it's too far away from home for her and we wouldn't have been able to see many games, maybe one or two at the most a year. Also, no offense to anyone from the great state of Texas, she is politically astute and found
political situation in Texas unappealing. Not that Bucknell is a bastion of liberals, in fact I think Rice is far more diverse and liberal, she just didn't want to be in the state. It's a shame, I like Texas (people and food) and have close relatives living about fifteen minutes from the campus, insuring
aupport and a good hot meal. In the end, despite the recruiting, they came late to the table and she'd already narrowed down her choices.</p>
<p>Congratulations to her and to you!</p>
<p>Congratulations to your D and you, too. My H and I are Bucknell grads.
Care to share how your D made her decision? I know someone who might be looking at Lafayette and your comparison would be interesting.</p>
<p>My D made unoffical visits this summer and met with the coaches and staff.
She was very impressed with both coaches and stayed in contact with them over the summer. I believe the difference maker was that she had the opportunity to spend time with some of the Bucknell players during her summer visit and really enjoyed herself. She felt like she fit in with the team. She also bonded with another recruit, who also chose Bucknell. During the our visit , we ran into three students from her high school that are now attending Bucknell. That said, she didn't actually make a final decision after until the official visit, we were set to visit Lafayette the following week.</p>
<p>Congrats to your D cojett! Making a decision on which college can leave a student very conflicted and unsure.</p>
<p>We are living in Texas, and neither of my oldest stayed here for college. My son describes the political atmosphere at Bucknell as apathetic with a slight lean to the left. The conservatives and the liberals both have active organizations, but neither have large memberships. I think people confuse preppy clothing with conservative thinking, which isn't always the case. There are opportunities for a student of either leaning to participate and spread the word. :)</p>