<p>I have just visited both schools and love them both. The academics seem on a par. Both are ranked #29 by US News (along with Mount Holyoke). Roughly the same size. Yes one is urban one is rural, one has frats the other doesn't. Both are in the Patriot League. Bucknell has engineering and Holy Cross is Jesuit. The thing is that they both seem great. So other than what is on the surface am i missing where to apply early? Both seem great for different reasons.</p>
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<p>Well, it depends. Would you rather be in a rural area or an urban one? What I liked about HC was that it still gave me a suburban feel from the beautiful campus and greenery, yet right when I stepped off the campus bubble, I’m surrounded by the city. I’ll be honest. Worcester isn’t pretty, but it has a lot to offer. HC provides shuttles so you can go to Shrewsburry street, Walmart, Blackstone Valley shops, etc. They even have shuttles to the Natick Malls, Providence, and Boston which I take full advantage of on the weekends. </p>
<p>What about greek systems? HC doesn’t have one, but I’d say a good amount of people still party a lot here on the weekends. (But then again, if you don’t party, that’s fine because there’s people here who don’t too!).</p>
<p>HC also has a good bio/premed program. But if you’re not into that, then I also hear they have good economics and strong alumni connections.</p>
<p>I love it here! 
I know nothing about Bucknell, so I can’t really compare, sorry!
Any other questions?</p>
<p>Bucknell and Holy Cross are at the same groove academically and even though different experiences one could have a great time at either one. My best friend and i got accepted to both. He went to Bucknell and i’m at HC. We meet up at games and spend time at each others campuses. Both are fantastic you can’t go wrong. By the way, even though HC doesn’t have an engineering program we have a 3/2 with Columbia engineering so that for an extra year you can get a degree from both. That is what i am planning.</p>
<p>Another major difference is size. HC has abou 2800 students, while Bucknell has close to 4000</p>
<p>Depends on what you want to do. If you are thinking science/premed Holy Cross is the way to go. But if you want to be an engineer, Bucknell is a better choice.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I do think that i like Holy Cross’ size better than Bucknell. Academically they seem the same but i also get the feeling that Holy Cross has a stronger alumni network- and a better football team, but we will see how things go tomorrow against Lehigh</p>
<p>I actually have children at Holy Cross and Bucknell right now! I would say both are great but the scale tips toward Bucknell. The food at Bucknell is off-the-charts good. The food at Holy Cross is really really bad. Lewisburg is charming. Worcester is gross. Both campuses are beautiful. Both football teams stink. Alumni networking stronger at HC. Airports closer to Worcester. Both schools ridiculously expensive. Bucknell makes huge effort to bring in free concerts, festivals, variety of things to keep students engaged and having fun on weekends. Both great academics.</p>
<p>The only real negative for Bucknell is that it is in the middle of nowhere and hours from any cosmopolitan area. The advantage for Holy Cross is that it is less than an hour to both Boston and Providence and the school provides free shuttle service to both.</p>
<p>HC has much better alumni network,stronger academics, and better location. HC is also need-blind(meets 100% demonstrated financial need). Bucknell is very remote.</p>
<p>Holy Cross has a phenomenal 3-2 engineering program. You do 3 years at Holy Cross and 2 years at Columbia University. </p>