<p>Hi
My D is considering between UCSD, UCD and a few other LAC's such as Bucknell. The tuition to the LAC is twice the amount of the UC's (we are in state). My child is a very motivated student, but is not clear on a major path.
Would the LAC give them more opportunity to explore different career paths, with more attention and a traditional "college experience"? Are the UC's able to provide the same personal attention? This is an important decision. Would the Bucknell experience be worth paying twice as much tuition, or should she go to a UC? Any advice is appreciated! Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Well, I'm not a parent nor do I know much at Bucknell, so take my opinion for what it's worth.</p>
<p>At my school, we have several teachers who went to UC Davis and a lot of our graduating seniors end up going there. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, that goes to Davis from our school absolutely loves it. It is the perfect college town and they really make the undergraduate experience fun and interesting. Now, for UC San Diego, most of my friends who come back from there say it's pretty much socially dead. So, if the "social life" and the college experience is important to your daughter, then perhaps Davis might be a nice choice.</p>
<p>Obviously UCD and UCSD are much larger and impersonal than Bucknell. If smaller freshman class, access to professors, more attention is important than you probably have a better shot at that environoment at Bucknell than the big UC's.</p>
<p>With that said, it is a very personal decision to figure out if the qualatative differences are worth the extra $$$. For me, it would be worth it. You have worked very hard to get to this point. Getting into the college that fits best is what it is really all about.</p>
<p>Thank you! All and any advice is so helpful! I appreciate your time in responding. UCSD has an excellent academic reputation but seems short on the college experience. UCSD is academically very highly ranked. How much better would a degree from UCSD be over UCD or Bucknell? I think my child would have a more normal college experience at UCD or Bucknell. Hard to choose, but I feel grateful that she has some good options. Thank you so much for helping us.</p>
<p>One of my daughters was faced with the same choice two years ago. UCSD or a great LAC. She did what all students (especially in-state should do), she went to UCSD for two days. She sat in on classes and hung out with friends at night. After two nights, she knew. Came home and said she did not want to attend such a large university. She wanted a more "personal" experience. She was dismayed by the class sizes, lack of housing, and vast number of people. She opted for the lac and is so happy. She has visited friends at UCSD on a few trips home and says she has not regrets whatsoever. Daughter #2 saw her sister's experiences and did not even apply to any UC's. She too opted for a Northeast lac, and is a fantastically happy freshman. </p>
<p>Another consideration for them was the experience of living on the opposite coast for 4 years. They come home holidays and summers, and we visit them once or twice a year. Your daughter has to decide what she wants but I don't feel that it is a decision she can make unless she spends time at each school. Good luck to you and your d.</p>
<p>Having visited both campuses and stayed on Bucknell's campus for a conference, they have totally different feels. UCSD's campus is sprawling with a much barren feel than the tree-covered campus at Bucknell. In addition to size, it's also important to consider off-campus activities as well as access to transportation. UCSD is near a big city and airport, whereas Bucknell's closest airport is in Williamsport (home of the Little League World Series). Also compare what's available in San Diego and what's available in Lewisburg: <a href="http://www.bucknell.edu/About_Bucknell/Visiting_Bucknell/What_to_Do/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.bucknell.edu/About_Bucknell/Visiting_Bucknell/What_to_Do/index.html</a>. Alot depends on what kind of kid your D is.</p>
<p>That said, one of H's friends graduated from Bucknell and is now CEO of a biotech company (he's in his 40s).</p>
<p>Good luck with the decision!</p>
<p>I'd say it sort of depends on your financial condition. If it means big debt? If you have an extra $80,000 then fine. If not, no, I wouldn't think it was worth it. </p>
<p>Those of us with kids in LACs can get fiercely loyal to them (I'm no exception :) ) <em>BUT</em> one also has to realize that kids can get great educations - and make great friends and all that - at lots of different kinds of schools. So, try not to let the pizzazz of CC interfere too much with your decision.</p>
<p>Bucknell is a good school, but probably does not have great name recognition in California, and when she goes to apply for jobs it will not mean much. Of course in the overall education of a child, that should not be a first priority.</p>
<p>Montanamolly-has D visited Bucknell? I've not been to UCSD, but have visited Bucknell and spent an overnight there in Lewisburg. Couldn't find a cup of coffee at 7:30 a.m. off campus. It was a lovely little place, but most definitely a one-horse town.</p>
<p>Worth a multi-day visit to determine where she feels most comfortable before you either pass up a wonderful LAC experience or shell out $160k for something that ultimately may not feel right to her!</p>
<p>Would your daughter be happiest as a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond? If she doesn't care, then I'd save money by choosing Davis or SD. </p>
<p>I graduated from a big UC and in retrospect probably would have really been happier at a LAC (I didn't even know what they were). My S, however, craved a big research university experience and is very happy in that environment. He would not have liked the LAC experience as much and didn't apply to any. </p>
<p>To me, the UCs are so different from LACs that it might be worth the extra money if your daughter would fit better there.</p>
<p>The first question you need to ask is will spending the extra $100k hinder your retirement. Also, will funds be needed for grad school -- law, business, med? Also, only you know your D, and whether she could thrive on a big campus, or might be "lost".</p>
<p>The UC's have a thousands of classes and hundreds of majors (exaggerating) for a kid that wants to explore different paths. Davis has the best college town feel of any UC, IMO. I also get the sense that it is the most nurturing of UCs (although, 'nurturing' is used loosely when speaking of UCs). Unless your D is interested in bio-sci or technology, San Diego's strength, I'd recommend Davis between the two.</p>
<p>LACs, tend to have more limited offerings. For example, Bucknell has an engineering program, but its history deparment offerings aren't as strong as other LACs. Bucknell is also a work hard, play hard school, which can be either a plus or a minus. Beautiful campus.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>The UC's have a thousands of classes and hundreds of majors (exaggerating) for a kid that wants to explore different paths.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>This is one upside to a big school. I went to a big school and majored in microbiology. I'm guessing that most LACs wouldn't have such a specialized major--biology, yes; microbiology, no.</p>
<p>The first school my son showed an interest in was UCSD. Unfortunately, we are not from California, and realized he had almost no chance of getting in. Bucknell ended up on his final list and the two of us spent a weekend there last fall. The drive from Philly was like three hours of driving through a national park. The hills were pure orange and the vistas awesome. The only downside: there was only one place, McD's, to eat on the way. The town of Lewisburg is quaint and the campus is lovely. . . red brick with white trim, rolling hills, etc. We stayed downtown Lewisburg and walked to campus past historic, well-kept houses, at least six times. Engineering dept. looked very friendly and do-able, and my son said he might major in it if he went there. I have to say, however, that it was VERY quiet on Saturday night. Apparently most students had gone to Penn State for a football game. We could not find a good meal in town. . .probably missed something, but ended up at Applebee's for dinner one night. We met a student from Utah who said that getting home at times other than major holidays had been difficult for him. And recalling my own undergraduate experience, at a similar-size college, I concluded that the overall smallness could feel constraining in the last two years. My daughter is at a larger college, and has connected with professors, does research for one, and has been invited to another's house. My son ultimately chose to go to Cornell, and I hope he has a similarly good experience. I guess you can see where I'm leaning. I just love those larger schools where you can keep on meeting new friends each year and where you have a large variety of courses to choose from. Good luck as you go through the selection process.</p>
<p>It's an apples and oranges comparison. Aside from both offering post secondary education, they don't have much in common.</p>
<p>A number of my family members have gone to Bucknell. My impression is that it is not all that it is cracked up to be. I just haven't been all that impressed, either academically (I saw an "A" paper that wouldn't have received that grade from a high school student...friends of said relatives have not been intellectually very impressive). Could be that there is more there than what these relatives took advantage of.</p>
<p>If it were my kid, and I were contemplating a $45K tuition bill, I would definitely consider a good state school instead.</p>
<p>Hi Allmusic- I am curious what your family members majored in, and I have found that to be a very important issue when discussing success after college.</p>
<p>My H and I are Bucknell graduates, and spent one year in Billings, Montana and two years in Missoula, Montana many years ago after my husband got an MBA from Utah State. </p>
<p>Bucknell has opened doors for both of us, and for many we know. </p>
<p>Montanamolly do you live in Montana?</p>
<p>My roommate at Wisconsin said his year at Bucknell was the worst thing he ever did. Boring prepsters with little on their minds. I'd go to UCSD.</p>
<p>Hello everyone! Thank you so much for taking time to help us! I am going to print it all out and reread it. Lots of good advice. No, I am not from Montana. Montana is just a special family place. We live in California. I went to USC/Penn and do not have any experience with the UC's or small LAC's. Yes, my daughter is going to go visit Bucknell in a couple of weeks. That is very important. I just want her to end up in a school that allows her to have an academic/social balance. It is a very important 4 years. I had no clue what I wanted to do when I went to college. Fortunately, USC was large enough to allow me to find my way. I got a great education, a career and had a wonderful "college" experience. Unfortunately, my 4.4 gpa child was not accepted! Ah well. Thanks again for all the great advice. It is very very appreciated!</p>
<p>Hi barrons,
How long ago did your friend have that experience? Do you think the academics are better now?</p>
<p>All are great schools -- but I would choose a UC school because of the cost. No need to spend the extra money (or go into debt).</p>
<p>It was back a ways for sure but from everything I hear it's still pretty much the same school. Nothing wrong with the academics. I'll leave it at that. My x-roomie is a surgeon in LA now.</p>