How many people really want to go to Bucknell

Colleges & Universities A-Z Bucknell University
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<p>collegemom16,</p>

<p>I am stuck between a rock and a hard place about colleges right now.</p>

<p>To be honest, I have no freaking idea what I want to do and what I want from a school. It's confusing and I have no idea what will make me happy. </p>

<p>I have over 15 schools to choose from (including some state schools), but I still don't know if the decisions I will make will be right for me. And I'm afraid that if I do make decisions to go to Bryn Mawr, I will just spend college life just hitting the books forever, which is something that I don't think I want to do either. Even though I am beyond thrilled, I am not sure I want to go to such a small school either.</p>

<p>UCSD on the other hand, has such a huge Asian population and is such a large community and I think that I don't want such a huge school that I don't know everyone, but I am also afraid that if I go to such a small school like Bryn Mawr, the school will be so tiny that everyone will be pretty similar and I won't find my own niche. I feel like a huge school will give me a opportunity to make my own niche within the huge community, but in a small school, it will be impossible.</p>

<p>I hope that all made sense. collegemom16, how does your daughter like UCSD? My friends love it there, but I feel like since after all it is a state school, there might be students who aren't quite as bright as people in Bryn Mawr.</p>

<p>:) Thanks!</p>

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<p>Stepping in here....</p>

<p>Congrats on having 15 choices! Something you have not addressed is distance. How do you feel about going to school further away from home? Will it bother you if you can't go home as frequently? Will it burden you financially? Do you mind if most of the people are not from where you live? Or would you prefer to attend school where there is a large presence from your high school or area?</p>

<p>Size--do you get overwhelmed easily? Or are you more prone to claustrophobia? What kind of students do you want to attend classes with? What do you consider "large" or "small?" Some large schools have 30,000 or more students. Some small schools less than 2,000. </p>

<p>Large schools have more class offerings, but you may also have trouble getting some of your classes. Small schools may have more limited course offerings. Do you care if you are taught by a TA? Do you want a large sprawling campus? A smaller contained campus? A campus that is part of a city (like U Chicago for example) or one that is more self contained (like Northwestern)? Then there is the whole rural and urban setting issue.</p>

<p>As for the academic caliber of your classmates, you will find incredibly intelligent students at all schools. There are many smart kids that don't want a small, private school. They like their big state university. The key is to select a school that provides you with the courses you want, and the outside activities you enjoy, in a setting that makes you most comfortable.</p>

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<p>texastaximom, you're right about there being bright students at all schools, but the question about the general level of academic caliber of students at state schools is a good one. My kids went to a very competitive high school, but my middle child didn't have much interest in academics and took a less challenging course load than the other two. He is now at a state school in Florida (one of the few colleges that offers the program he wanted) and is very disappointed with the commitment and behavior of most of the students around him. Doing an honors program at a state school can help, but that basically is the same thing as going to a smaller school.
Good point about moving the thread to UCSD! I'm a Bucknell alum and my DD is waiting to hear whether she's accepted, so I was feeling a little testy about all the dialog about another school!
For those who are concerned about Bucknell's location, it's way more commercial and accessible to major cities than it was when I went to school there. It might be hard for high school students to envision, but Bucknell has so much going on on campus that very few people leave except for holidays/breaks. It was like that when I went there (I left campus twice my entire four years), and from what the tour guides say, it's still like that. If you leave campus, you just miss too much.
I can't say enough about my Bucknell experience. Both sons applied and were accepted, but chose to go elsewhere, so my daughter is my last chance at continuing the BU legacy. Her decision will be completely her own, but I would be thrilled to have her go to Bucknell.</p>

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<p>Glad to meet you! There is another alumna that posts here who has a son that applied this year. My son is in his second year at Bucknell, just declared poli sci/philo major. He loves it. He hasn't had any trouble with Lewisburg not being a large city. Trekking to NYC, DC, Philly etc...is always an option, but he finds that he is pretty busy on campus most of the time. He travels with debate, is active in college dems, and plays in a band. They just had their first gig at the Uptown and are hoping to line up some gigs for House Party weekend. :) Our financial aid has been outstanding. We like the smaller university atmosphere--my son went to a high school with over 4,000 and our flag ship state uni has 55,000. </p>

<p>I did think it odd, the tone of the OP and that they would come complain about Bucknell here and tout another school. I think the pro UCSD chat should move to a thread on that topic over on their forum. I'm sure it has many pluses. </p>

<p>There is a great review of Bucknell, and some schools in close proximity, on the parent forum. Good luck to your daughter! Make sure you tell us what she decides!</p>

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<p>CA_girl:
Have you made a list of all the schools you are in at?
Make a pro/con list. It really helps to sort out what you do and don’t like about particular schools. Also make a list of what you want and don’t want in a college. </p>

<p>Don’t make your decision to please or displease anyone but yourself. In the end you are the one who will be attending the school; you need to be happy there. As for Bryn Mawr, have you visited there yet? That would be a very important part of your decision process. It is impossible to visualize yourself at a school when you have not had the opportunity to actually see it.</p>

<p>If you go the route of the bigger school you need to join some clubs/activities. Your dorm will also provide you with a social network. I would not fret about that too much, unless you are the type of person to become overwhelmed easily. UCSD feels so much smaller due to the college system. In your college you will have the equivalent of a small school environment. </p>

<p>My daughter did not like UCSD. She is a very fun and outgoing person, and found the campus to be a little too quiet and serious. Here are the schools she likes in order and why.</p>

<h1>1. UCD</h1>

<p>Athletics are excellent. They have football, and the UC supports the program. She is an athlete and will play her sport so this is a huge priority for her. The school has excellent spirit. Go Aggies!
Academics are excellent. She is majoring in managerial economics. UCD has a reputation for being an excellent school where we live, and she knows she will get a superb education.
Social/academic mix is balanced right and there is always something fun to do. Great Greek system. Awesome college town environment. (Big priority for her)</p>

<h1>2. UCSB</h1>

<p>Gorgeous campus
IV has the college town environment she wants, but there is too much partying. She did not find enough other activity and knows she would quickly tire of the party environment.
Sports are not well supported by the UC. Poor school spirit.
Academics are excellent and the opportunities in her major are strong. </p>

<h1>3. Bucknell</h1>

<p>Gorgeous campus! Great college town environment
Work hard/play hard ethic
Amazing Greek system
School supports and encourages athletics. Great school spirit
Strong academics w/great opportunities in her major.
$40,000 dollars a year (we can’t afford it)</p>

<h1>4. UCSD</h1>

<p>Quiet campus too serious for my D
Not a college town
UC does not support the athletics dept. Poor school spirit
Excellent academics, but she was admitted into sixth college her third choice :(</p>

<p>Have you considered UCD? It really is a great school, and might have some of the balance you seem to be looking for. Out of the schools you have mentioned I like Bucknell for you. I think it is an excellent school, and it does have everything going for it. Perhaps you should try to arrange a visit there.</p>

<p>I hope some of this helps! Please post what you decide :)</p>

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<p>CA-Girl_Hi there. I am the other Bucknell alum who TexasTaxiMom mentioned whose S also applied this year. KMH I understand the sentiment involved with this very big decision- hope your daughter hears good news.</p>

<p>CA_Girl- have you visited the beautiful campus, strolled the quaint, clean, SAFE town of Lewisburg? If not, you might want to take a peek at the Parents Forum- 2006 Trip reports and read the VERY recent post by AlanArch for a first time ( non alum) trip report. </p>

<p>Ca_girl one of the things you mentioned was size of the state school. I must say that Bucknell's size is unique( and perfect in my opinion), the largest of the LAC schools with about 3400 students. It is large enough to meet new people all the time, and small enough to see familiar faces around campus, to join clubs ( or as I did start clubs) and make a difference on a campus. Classes are almost always small, and intimate, and you DO get to KNOW your professors. I have no idea what it is like to have an inexperienced TA. They don't exist at a school like Bucknell. </p>

<p>You are considering Bryn Mawr, another fine school, but as an all girl's school it is a huge contrast to Bucknell's CO-ED climate. You do need to focus on what atmosphere is best for you.</p>

<p>Your decision may seem daunting right now, many students wish they could trade places with you as they await acceptances, and am certain as you continue to ask questions you will find the answers you need.</p>

<p>If you are able to visit schools make that a priority. If you are unable to visit, try to reach out to people like TexasTaximom who can give you a current inside information about the schools you are interested in.</p>

<p>FYI- Last year more than 70 Bucknell Alums had children who entered the Freshman class, which says a lot!</p>

<p>It is an amazing school...................IMHO :)</p>

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<p>Also I wanted to mention about the quality of the CA. state schools:
California has the UC system and the State schools. The UC's are highly selective, esp. UCLA, UCB, UCSD, UCD, UCSB, and UCI. I agree that you would run into many less qualified students in the State schools, but the UC's are filled with highly competitive students and you will find them to be academically challenging. I would not concern myself at all about that aspect of your decision making process, esp. if you are considering UCSD. UCSD has a reputation of having students who study/work too hard. If anything you would wish for a less competitive environment, and more of a social life. I still really like Bucknell over UCSD for an environment with a great balance.</p>

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<p>collegemom16- How did you get interested in Bucknell ? I see you asked that question earlier and I am curious how you found it from CA.</p>

<p>Also, you post that your daughter visited the "gorgeous, fun campus" - did you also visit?</p>

<p>And, is Bucknell the only East Coast school of the four your daughter applied to?</p>

<p>Interesting tidbit of Info- My cousin took his wife, two Prep school daughters on a huge East coast college tour. They were on a quest for the "right" school, and visited 29 colleges. His wife and I laughingly refer to both of us as COPs
College Obsessed Parents. So they visit the Bates, Bowdoins, WandM, FandM, Wash and Lee, Duke, Dartmouth, Columbia, Yale, Princeton ect ect. It was a massive search. After each visit I listened intensely for their "trip reports' and when they finally got to Bucknell- late on their list - They comment from his wife " why did we wait so long to see this school"- her cousin ( son of a Princeton Prof attended Bucknell so they were saving it for last).</p>

<p>They were stunned at the school- compared it to WandM, Colgate ( really remote as TexasTaxiMom says)-Richmond ect. </p>

<p>They loved the school - chose Penn last year ED, because she wanted an Ivy- but Bucknell was definitely the second choice school and they were going to do ED 2 for sure!!</p>

<p>As a proud Bucknell Alum, my heart was warmed.
FYI, my cousin is a Lehigh grad.</p>

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<p>SouthJerseyChessMom:
We first became interested in Bucknell as we were researching schools that have my D's sport. She was invited on a visit there by the coach, and she loved it! (no mom's invited though) She would probably have Bucknell as her first choice if it were not for the price. Since that time we have met numerous Bucknell alumni, or people who are related to/know other alumni. All of them rave about the school. I was recently on a business trip with my husband, and met a woman whose D is going to be going off to law school after completing her education at Bucknell. This lady could not say enough wonderful things about Bucknell. I don't think I have heard any bad comments from anyone except perhaps the weather. My D loved even the snow when she was there. We are far from poor, but $40,000 would render us unable to pay for our house and two other children. They need to go to school in a few years as well.</p>

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<p>bucknell's a nice place...
it was on my list of possibles when i applied</p>

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<p>Arjun, cornell engineering school eh? I applied, what were your stats?</p>

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<p>
[QUOTE=texastaximom]

There is a great review of Bucknell, and some schools in close proximity, on the parent forum. </p>

<p>That's nice to hear! Could you tell us the name of that thread, or the date of the post? Thanks!</p>

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<p>I'll pitch in for TexasTaxiMom here.
The info is on the Parents Forum-Master List of Pointers to 2006 Trip Reports Page 4.</p>

<p>But, to make simplify--here it is :)
#42<br>
AlanArch
New Member</p>

<p>Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 5 College Visits-Bucknell, F&M, Haverford, Lafayette and Lehigh </p>

<hr>

<p>I hope that this is the right place/board for this information.</p>

<p>This was our first family trip to look at colleges. We went to, in order, Bucknell, Franklin and Marshall, Haverford, Lafayette and Lehigh. You will see that I say more about the first schools than the last, probably just human nature as at that point the differences stand out.</p>

<p>Introduction
It might be useful to have some sort of introduction to know what kind of point of view I/we are coming from so you have a context for the point of view. That only seems to come across after reading over a dozen or more of someone’s postings. That being said, We are an upper middle class, liberal, politically aware, Jewish family from NYC and my son goes to one of the better, not the best, private schools. He is a B+ student with some, but not a lot, of extracurricular activities. </p>

<p>Bucknell
From what I had read, I came prepared not to like this school. This is why you visit. Both my S and I came away with a favorable impression. Yes, the school is in the middle of nowhere. This does not seem to be an issue. The students all say that there is plenty to do on campus and there is transportation available. Many students seem to participate in sports as they have very nice spats facilities. They are mostly a Division III school with one or two Division I teams (something called a Johns Hopkins exception. I’m not sure what that is.) I have more to say about this at Lafayette. The academic facilities seem to be first rate. I had read that the fraternities were a major influence on the campus but that is something you can’t get a sense of on a tour. One thing Bucknell and a few other schools do is start the frat rushing in sophomore year so students can get to know each other first. I have more to say about frats in the Lehigh section. One minor thing that shows what baggage parents bring to the process and what prompted me to write the introduction. Being Jewish, you are conscious of being a minority and you worry about how that will play out for your son. This is not an issue in NYC but might be elsewhere. The fraternity issue is also mixed up in that. Part of that was put to rest by the fact that our tour guide was Jewish and part of a fraternity. This having been our first tour, I learned a lot about what to expect from a college visit. Don’t use the visit as a primary decision maker but one of many pieces of information to help make your final decision. All the information you receive will have some sort of bias, mine included.</p>

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<p>Not sure where the info came from that AlanArch posted, but Bucknell is D1 for all sports (D1AA for football). Shows how easy it is to get schools confused when you're seeing a lot at one time. Best to check out this kind of info on the web site and get the "soft" items from visit logs.</p>

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<p>Thank you, ChessMom!</p>

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<p>Thank you so much!!</p>

<p>I got an acceptance to Bucknell today... so I will proudly be holding the admissions folder to hold my school work in. :) :) :)</p>

<p>I'm so happy. I'm on cloud nine!!! :)</p>

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<p>Congrats CA_girl, I haven't heard back yet, but as of now I am endlessly envious of you. Did you apply to the engineering school or liberal arts?</p>

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<p>CA_girl have you decided on Bucknell? Congratulations to you! :)</p>

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<p>I haven't decided on Bucknell, but it is one of my top choices...</p>

<p>Thank you!! :)</p>

<p>I applied to Liberal Arts. I'm not much of an engineering gal.</p>

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<p>My daughter has gotten into Bucknell, Wake Forest and Colgate. Which one do you guys think is best? Thx</p>