I got into these schools...PLEASE RANK THEM!

<p>Colgate, Hamilton College, Bucknell University, George Washington University, RPI, Northeastern, Georgetown</p>

<p>I got accepted to these schools. First rank them in general, than rank them by greatness of economics department if you’re able to. Here is how I ranked them, but this is a total guess, and I know basically nothing. I am really desperate, and really, really, really need A LOT of help in narrowing down the list, and eventually choosing one school.</p>

<p>General

  1. Georgetown
  2. Hamilton College
  3. Colgate
  4. George Washington
  5. Bucknell
  6. RPI
  7. Northeastern</p>

<p>Greatness of Economics Department

  1. Bucknell
  2. George Washington
  3. Georgetown
  4. Hamilton
  5. RPI
  6. Colgate
  7. Northeastern</p>

<p>Go to Georgetown. You could transfer into the McDonough School of Business, a very good program.</p>

<p>talk about making mountains out of mole hills!</p>

<p>regardless, ill try to play along. unless theres an issue with money, the only school i could eliminate is northeastern.</p>

<p>that leaves me with bucknell, colgate, hamilton, george washington, georgetown and rpi. </p>

<p>all are great schools. none have 'world class' economics departments as the three national universities remaining do not have top research faculty. in terms of the quality of teaching, i wouldnt even know where to begin an assessment.</p>

<p>so... who knows.</p>

<p>i will say, though, that if i HAD to rank the schools on your list in terms of overall strength, i would have neither hamilton nor george washington as high as you (particularly gws econ department). regardless, both are good universities and ultimately, your decision should come down to which school just 'feels' right.</p>

<p>until you figure that out, if you have any questions about economics (or anything else) at bucknell, feel free to ask either here or via pm.</p>

<p>you got it. at this point, rankings are simply sizzle and smoke. where do you REALLY want to spend the next 4 years? at the end of the day, that's really all that matters among this bunch. none are deal makers or breakers. all are fine places. like trying to put a camel thru the eye of a needle to discern any real diff ... aside from $$.</p>

<p>"until you figure that out, if you have any questions about economics (or anything else) at bucknell, feel free to ask either here or via pm."--ericatbucknell</p>

<p>Thank you for that generous offer, and you'd bet your but I'm gonna take advantage of it! So here are some questions I have pertaining to Bucknell:</p>

<ol>
<li>How is the economics department at Bucknell in terms of academic excellence?</li>
<li>How is the economics department at Bucknell in terms of job placement in investment banks (such as Goldman Sachs, etc.)?</li>
<li>Are the people at Bucknell really as preppy as the rumors say they are?</li>
<li>Is Lewisburg, PA, a generally nice area to live with fairly priced venues?</li>
<li>How is the housing at Bucknell? Are there mostly singles, doubles, triples, etc? Is it well above average, above average, average, below average, or well below average?</li>
<li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bucknell's huge greek life? </li>
<li>Oh, and are there any fitness tests, and is phys ed required? I'm asking because there are fitness tests at Hamilton, along with mandatory phys ed courses.</li>
</ol>

<p>I thank you in advance for you're help in tackling these questions.</p>

<p>I'll add my two cents as a current first-year at Bucknell.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I'd say that a good amount of Bucknell students dress in Abercrombie, JCrew, North Face etc. clothing. There are also a good amount of students who dress casually i.e. wear a hoodie and jeans. Looking beyond appearances, I'd say the student body as a whole is very friendly and approachable, even the people who seem to be dressed preppy.</p></li>
<li><p>Lewisburg is an interesting city. If you travel along Route 15, Lewisburg seems like a typical small town. However, as you draw nearer the campus, you will see Lewisburg's charming historical downtown. There's small shops lined up and down Market Street as well as a Campus Theater, though I have to say that I hardly venture outside Bucknell's campus.</p></li>
<li><p>There are 6 first-year residence halls I believe. McDonnell Hall is the nicest as it was constructed only a few years ago followed by Smith Hall. Swartz Hall was renovated this past summer, and Vedder Hall (which I live in) seems like it was renovated not too long ago. The other two halls Larison and Harris are the two oldest residence halls and haven't been renovated in a while as far as I know. I think Bucknell received a grant a few years back to develop a plan to restore some of its historic buildings including Larison and Harris. So they may be renovated in the near future as Bucknell finalizes its new Campus Master Plan in the coming months. So overall, I'd say Bucknell's dorms are above average. Most of the dorms are doubles, and I would not recommend getting a single as a first-year student.</p></li>
<li><p>Advantages of Bucknell's greek life: if you want to party, you most definitely can. Also, there's House Party (which was this past weekend). One note about House Party, pretty much everyone goes to the frats and parties even if you don't drink. I've only been to parties twice, but House Party is just a really good time. Lots of music and food. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Disadvantages: Halls might get rowdy during the weekend, and the bathrooms will be a little dirtier than usual. But you can always leave the dorms to find something else to do. Bucknell does a fairly good job of providing activities outside of partying such as comedians, bands, speakers, etc. Jim Gaffigan, who you may have seen on Comedy Central and various late night shows, did stand-up at homecoming. Third Eye Blind and T-Pain are performing next week. Bucknell this year inaugerated the Bucknell Forum; notable guests such as Tim Russert and Jim Cramer talk about various issues concerning the upcoming election. The MythBusters are also visiting in coming weeks.</p>

<ol>
<li>There isn't a phys ed requirement.</li>
</ol>

<p>I really don't know anything about the econ department (I'm an engineer). I'll let Eric handle those questions.</p>

<p>I encourage you to attend Admitted Students Day and visit the campus if you haven't already to get a better sense of what Bucknell is like. Hope this helps!</p>

<p>^Wow, that helps a lot! Thank you so much, you've made Eric's job a whole lot easier! ;)</p>

<p>Actually, there is one thing I know about econ at Bucknell. Ken Langone, the co-founder of Home Depot and former director of NYSE, graduated with a BA in Econ. But that's pretty irrelevant...</p>

<p>For the Class of 2005 (Post-Graduate Study) : (GET READY!!!) </p>

<p>ECONOMICS:
------------------------TOTAL-------MALE----------FEMALE
in major-----------------119---------85--------------34
responding to survey------109--------77--------------32
employed full time---------86---------62--------------24
grad school----------------14---------8---------------6
unemployed---------------10---------8----------------2</p>

<p>Jobs accepted by economics majors in the class of 2005:</p>

<p>Mean salary = $47,421.15</p>

<p>Accenture--Consultant
Alchemy Properties--Administrative Assistant
American Institute for Research--Research Assistant
Arinso International--Unknown
Aris Corporation of America--Junior Portfolio Analyst
Bank of America--Analyst
BC Sports Memobelia--Manager
Bear Stearns & Co.,Inc.--Analyst
Bear Steams & Co., 1nc.--Investment Banker
Bloomberg--Customer Service Associate
Bureau of Economic Analysis--Economist
City of San Luis Obispo--Park Ranger
Clark Construction Group, Inc.--Office Engineer
Crum & Forster--Underwriter Trainee
David Taussing & Associates, 1nc.--Analyst
Deloitte--Consultant
Deloitte--Regulatory Consultant
Deutsche Bank--Corporate Trust Associate
Dresdner, Kleinwort, Wasserstein--Analyst
Drexel University--Unknown
Emst & Young--Unknown
Evolution Financial Technologies--Trader
Federal Resources--Associate
FEMA--Unknown
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education--Program Officer
General Services Admmistration--Contract Specialist
Goldman Sachs--Associate
Great American Group--Research Analyst
Greenwich Associates--Research Associate
Harvard Business School--Account Representative
Howrey, Simon, Arnold & White, LLP--Project Assistant
Johnson & Johnson--Associate
JPMorgan Chase--Analyst
JPMorgan Chase--Personal Banker
KPMG--Auditor
Leake & Watts--Teacher Assistant Fellow
Lendingtree .corn--Analyst
Lewisburg Community Center--Director
Lord & Taylor--Assistant Buyer
Lord & Taylor--Executive Trainee
Med Lab Supply Co.--Operation Manager</p>

<p>Jobs for class of 2005 CONTINUED: </p>

<p>Merrill Lynch--Financial Advisor
Memll Lynch--Trader
Modem English School--English Teacher
National Public Radio--Intern
New England Financial--Sales Representative
Northwestern Mutual Life--Marketing & Sales Assistant
Novartis AG--Analyst
Osram Sylvania--Associate Development Program
PGCC Tennis Camp--Tennis Instructor
PPS: Information Systems Staffmg--Information Technology Recruiter
PricewaterhouseCoopers--Consultant
Princeton Absolute Returns, LLC--Associate
Prudential Financial--Associate
Psycho Genetics--Research Associate
Senster Stock--Paralegal
Shawmut Design & Construction--Construction Management Trainee
Shields and Company--Analyst
Shields Motor Co.--Salesman
Smith Bucklin--Lobbyist
St. Paul Travelers--Assistant Account Executive
State Street Bank--Unknown
. State Street Corporation--Unknown
Teach for America--Teacher
Tennis:Europe--Assistant Director
The Nova Group--Teacher
The Vanguard Group--Client Relations Associate
Tiffany & Co.--Seasonal Public Relations
Tommy Bahama--Model
Travel--Traveler
Tuder Investment Corporation--Associate
U S Marine Corps--2nd Lieutenant
U S Marine Corps--Pilot
UBS--Analyst
UBS--Graduate Trainee
UBS--Operations Management Associate
UCompare Health Care--Researcher
Unknown--Bartender
Unknown--Sales Associate
unknown--unknown
Veritable, LP--Assistant Portfolio Manager</p>

<p>For the class of 2006 post graduate survey: </p>

<p>ECONOMICS:
-----------------------------------total---------male---------female
in major----------------------------99-----------61-------------38
people responding--------------------96-----------60------------36
employed full time--------------------78------------51-----------27
grad school--------------------------14-------------6-----------8
unemployed---------------------------4------------3------------1</p>

<p>Jobs for the class of 2006 economics majors (mean salary = $ 46477.79)</p>

<p>ACNielsen Bases--Project Developer
AIG--Professional Associate
Airbus--Business Operations Analyst
Allianz Global Investors--Performance Analyst
Anglo Irish Bank--Analyst
Ann Taylor Retail, 1nc.--Merchandise Analyst Trainee
Ashton Ice--Pro Shop Manager
Bank of New York--Analyst
Bank of New York--Portfolio Management Assistant
BNP Paribas --International Securities Processor
Brown Brothers Harriman--Investment Banking Associate
Bucknell University--Unknown
Chubb Group--Underwriter Trainee
Communispace Corporation--Community Associate
Crum & Forster--Claims Trainee
Crum & Forster--Underwriting Trainee
Deloitte--Consultant
Deloitte--Senior Analyst
Deutsche Bank--Analyst
ECC--Teacher
Echo Trade--Trader
FactSet--Mutual Fund Research Associate
Farm Credit--Loan Officer
Fidelity Investments--Pension Specialist
Fidelity Investments--Portfolio Listing Analyst
Geico--Market Researcher
Goldrnan Sachs--Analyst
Hartford Insurance--Underwriter
HI3 Capital Resources, Ltd.--Compliance Monitoring Specialist
i-Deal--Analyst
ING Financial Services--Actuarial Analyst
Inner-City Scholarship Fund--Program Coordinator
Intermix--Unknown
Janus Capital Group--Analyst
JET--ALT
Johnson & Johnson--Associate
Johnson & Johnson--Financial Associate
Johnson & Johnson--Junior Analyst
JPMorgan Chase--Analyst
JPMorgan Chase--Unknown
Lord Abbett--Internal Wholesaler
Lord & Taylor--Assistant Buyer
Lyons Bernstein--Stock Performance Analyst
M & T Bank--Training Associate
Merrill Lynch--Analyst
MFS Investment Management--Unknown
OMD--Assistant Strategists
Ophthahc Consulting of Boston--Technician
P P L--Associate
Peace Corps--Community Economic Advisor
Peterman Company--Accountant
Polo Ralph Lauren--Executive Trainee
PricewaterhouseCoopers--Tax Banking Associate
Prime Shares--Trader
Procter & Gamble--Public Relations & Advertising Coordinator
Prudential Financial--Accounting Associate
Representative Lois Capps--Unknown
Republic Plumbing Supply--Commercial Salesman
Ryder Stilwell--Special Project Analyst
SEI--Associate
SEI--Mutual Fund Analyst
Shaffer, Condon and Carter--PR Accounting Assistant
Spanish Ministry of Education--Teacher
SVB Financial Group--Credit Analyst
T. Rowe Price--Investment Operations Associate
T. Rowe Price--Trade Support Associate
Telsa Motors--Unknown
Tennessee Titans--Football Player
The Vanguard Group--Trainee
The Vanguard Group--Training Associate
Travel--Traveler
UBS Investment Bank--Analyst
UBS--Associate
UBS--Junior Account Executive
United Bank of Switzerland--Operations Department Associate
Unknown--Teacher
Unknown--Unknown</p>

<p>that answers your 2nd question. </p>

<p>I believe eric was an economics and math double major when he graduated from bucknell, so he'll have more first-hand experience of the econ. department. But he's definitely right about "fit" being the most important thing when picking your college. </p>

<p>by the way, consider doing a double major - just something to think about. I have friends doing econ. + computer science, and Econ. + math dual majors. Investment companies like those combinations. They also like engineers as well, actually.</p>

<p>Here's a link to the career paths of Bucknell econ majors from 1980-2007. <a href="http://www.bucknell.edu/documents/cdc/Economics.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bucknell.edu/documents/cdc/Economics.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>here we go!</p>

<p>
[quote]
1. How is the economics department at Bucknell in terms of academic excellence?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>my only complaint with the economics department at bucknell is that it is not as quantitatively heavy as i would like. then again, im getting a phd in mathematics, my definition and preferences are not universally shared. in fact, over the years i had a few friends get upset at me after taking an economics class i had assured them didnt have much math. so... take that for what its worth.</p>

<p>in terms of the quality of teaching, i was very impressed. i have also taken quite a few economics courses at penn state and can pretty definitively say that the quality and rigor of instruction is stronger at bucknell. at least two thirds of my econ courses at bucknell were better than any undergraduate course i took at penn state. only one left me underwhelmed, though apparently some people really like his courses.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. How is the economics department at Bucknell in terms of job placement in investment banks (such as Goldman Sachs, etc.)?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>satn gave you the data. keep in mind, though, that many of the most qualified students bucknell (or any school) produces go to graduate school. for example, i know at least two additional econ majors with offers better than any on the above list who are now pursuing phds. also keep in mind that a lot of people would much rather not be in investment banking than in it (i know i would be in quantitative research or private equity if i werent in grad school). </p>

<p>at the end of the day, though, my suggestions for landing a 'top' job are as follows. get a great (3.8+) gpa. take as many math courses as you can. and have SOME background in programming, accounting and basic business. </p>

<p>
[quote]
3. Are the people at Bucknell really as preppy as the rumors say they are?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>as i have said before on this forum, im not exactly sure what it means to be preppie. i wear a collar every day, own expensive flip flops and like patchwork madras. i even play golf! does that make me preppie? because i am also very active in leftist political movements, am pursuing a phd in mathematics (not exactly a haven for well-dressed or, heck, even well-showered people), and dont particularly like lacrosse.</p>

<p>i guess my point is that, though many students on campus own a ralph lauren polo, it doesnt say a lot about the people themselves. my transition from rural central pennsylvania to the bucknell 'bubble' was not a difficult one because, aside from the fact that some of my hallmates were REALLY excited about a trip to visit a local organic farm, they really werent much different than my friends from home. nice, smart, outgoing people. and not at all concerned about the fact that you might be wearing sweatpants and an old tshirt.</p>

<p>(i would also like to note that other than ralph lauren, youre not going to see a ton of logos on campus. people generally dress well (when theyre not wearing tshirts and sweats), but unlike the people in high school who cover themselves in abercrombie/american eagle/etc logos, its really not part of a 'status' race.)</p>

<p>
[quote]
4. Is Lewisburg, PA, a generally nice area to live with fairly priced venues?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>like many smaller college towns, lewisburg appears on many '100 best small towns in america' type lists. and its justified, as the town really is quite cute. there are some great places to eat just a short walk downtown and prices are, by most standards, really low. im not sure about the current shopping situation, but there were some small student-oriented shops (as well as nicer shops with artsy stuff) when i was a student a couple years ago.</p>

<p>in terms of off-campus housing, it ranges from the typical kinda cruddy to really nice, though the university is working on a plan to improve the quality of all off-campus housing as a part of its plan to better integrate the university with downtown lewisburg. (a good deal of off-campus housing sits in the nine(?) square blocks between the two.)</p>

<p>
[quote]
5. How is the housing at Bucknell? Are there mostly singles, doubles, triples, etc? Is it well above average, above average, average, below average, or well below average?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>none of the on-campus housing options are likely to blow you away, but the university has worked to make all of the housing good. i remember showing quite a few prospective students my freshman dormitory (swartz, before it was renovated) during 2004 accepted students day and saw a lot of surprised people when i pointed out that it was the 'worst' place to live on campus. </p>

<p>as ilmor said, most freshman rooms are doubles, though there are other options (apartment-style, singles and two-room doubles) available starting sophomore year.</p>

<p>
[quote]
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bucknell's huge greek life?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>if you like the idea of being in a greek organization, their presence is an obvious advantage. and at bucknell, being a 'frat boy' is not a prerequisite for going greek. theres a frat full of what many would consider engineering nerds. theres a sorority with similar types of people. </p>

<p>that said, from the perspective of someone who chose not to join a fraternity, here is my take:</p>

<p>the biggest direct advantage of having frats on campus as an independent student is that you dont have to pay to party. no need to buy beer. no need to pay a cover. just get dressed and have some fun. house party, a weekend long event with tons to do and continuous live music, run by bucknells greek organizations, is also amazing, whether you drink or not.</p>

<p>indirectly, because of the universitys perception as a drinking school, bucknell sponsors tons of free events every weekend. concerts, comedians, movies, free bowling, late night events (though, admittedly, im not sure theyd be fun sober)... all kinds of stuff. and almost all of it is free.</p>

<p>there will also be tons of opportunities to attend formals with your friends who dont have dates, if getting dressed up is your thing.</p>

<p>disadvantages? well, your friends who do go greek are going to be pretty busy during the whole rush/pledge process each year. a few people on your hall will probably get a bit too into the whole party scene. and, yes, there will be drunken people on your hall friday and saturday nights at 2am. if thats a real problem, though, there is a substance-free hall on campus.</p>

<p>
[quote]
7. Oh, and are there any fitness tests, and is phys ed required? I'm asking because there are fitness tests at Hamilton, along with mandatory phys ed courses.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>as imlor said, nope!</p>

<p>Thank you very much satn87 and eric. Both of you were extremely helpful, and I'm sure other people who read this thread found you both very helpful as well.</p>

<p>I'm deciding between a lot of the similar schools as you, except I didn't get into Georgetown. I think Georgetown beats the rest of them by a long shot. I have a couple of friends who are going to georgetown for international affairs or something, and they got rejected form GWU because they were overqualified. They had a lot higher scores than me, as well as better ECs, that's how I know they were over qualified. I'm probably going to go to George Washington, but I also got into Hamilton and Bucknell. But if I got into Georgetown, I would definitely go there.</p>