Presidential Fellows Program

Colleges & Universities A-Z Bucknell University
1

<p>I recently received a letter from Bucknell congratulating me in placing in the top 5% of their applicant pool. The letter then went on to explain that I had an opportunity to be a member of the Presidential Fellows Program, which comes with a $12,500 scholarship.</p>

<p>It says that the program is limited to 20 people per year, and ends in saying that this is not a commitment on their part. </p>

<p>Did anyone else receive this or have knowledge about it? And is this scholarship offer official or just available if I’m selected for the Fellows program because the language seemed a little confusing towards the end of the letter about the merit scholarship offering?</p>

2

<p>I got the letter too, I think they are just informing you that you are being considered for the fellowships but only 20 people get it. I guess they only consider the top 5% of the applicants.</p>

3

<p>So..... could this be construed as a "likely" letter of sorts?!</p>

4

<p>Congratulations to both of you. If you don't mind could you share your stats so I can have an idea what it takes to get the honor. (GPA,SATS,class rank,honors etc) Thank you.</p>

5

<p>Rank 5/225 (97/100 GPA)
2030 SAT (800m,620cr,610w)
730iic, 620 chem</p>

<p>A lot of sport ECs, but some other science awards and projects also.
I spent a lot of time on my essays, so they should have been good.</p>

<p>I thought I had slightly above average stats for Bucknell, but not too much above. I was a little surprised by the letter.</p>

6

<p>Congrats again that is wonderful for you!</p>

<p>I have 2200 SATS, #4 in my class 0f 415 and a 3.97 GPA. I haven't heard a thing. I put down on my application I am not looking for financial aid. Do you think that this offer is only made to those seeking financial aid or is it made to all applicants whose stats qualify them but only those who need the aid get the final award?</p>

7

<p>According to Bucknell website the Presidential Fellows scholarship is need based only. Congrats to all who qualify.</p>

<p>Any ideas on what application numbers look like? Above last year?</p>

8

<p><em>sigh</em></p>

<p>I didn't get one. It's because my class rank dropped out of the top 5% when I switched schools going into my senior year. Scores were fine (CR 800 M 800 W 740), but it would seem that the rank wasn't there. I'll deal; Bucknell is more of a safety for me, though still a damn fine school (I visited and liked it a lot).</p>

9

<p>I specifically asked about the fin aid part b/c we are not applying for fin aid. The professor that sent the letter emailed back that it didn't matter at all. </p>

<p>My impression was that this is not considered a "scholarship" per se, but more of a research opportunity. They make it possible for you to do some sort of research with a mentor and a stipend for whatever may be needed. It would not be fair to give this research opportunity to only the need-based applicants.</p>

<p>My S's stats: 2120 (780M, 670R, 660W), some sport ecs, some math ecs, not a great ranking - so who knows what they are looking at. He applied to engineering and one essay was about working on technology for the handicapped. Maybe that was the hook for him.</p>

10

<p>Did anyone hear back about the Presidential Fellowship Program?</p>

11

<p>Hey guys... my friend got the letter and then was waitlisted.</p>

<p>He's bummed.</p>

<p>What's going on with that?</p>

12

<p>i got the letter too feng and got waitlisted. im not as much upset about getting waitlisted even though I know i deserved to be admitted, im more angry because the letter came as as a likely letter and made it said like you would be admitted if you got one. I mean how can someone go from top 5% of applicants and scholarship eligible to waitlisted, thats what I dont understand</p>

13

<p>Thanks for sharing. At least you and he both wont' feel so alone about it now.</p>

<p>I think it's kind of like what WashU is doing with their waitlist scheme...</p>

<p><a href="http://media.www.studlife.com/media/storage/paper337/news/2003/04/04/Opinion/The-Best.Come.In.Second-408903.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.www.studlife.com/media/storage/paper337/news/2003/04/04/Opinion/The-Best.Come.In.Second-408903.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Read that if you don't konw what I mean.</p>

14

<p>It is also know as "Tufts Syndrome" (you can Google it)</p>

15

<p>haha well its nice to know that maybe i got wait-listed because i was 'over-qualified' as the article said.</p>

16

<p>So I called Bucknell's admissions office today and the best explanation they could give to me was that there was some confusion regarding the letter and that they had some very tough decisions to make. They tell you they had about 9000 applications for 900 spots, but never mention that close to 3000 get admitted. I still cant understand how someone in the top 5% doesnt get admitted into a pool of about 30%. Weng what were your friends stats I'm interested to know</p>

17

<p>The only other thing I can think of is if you applied with major that only accepts a very limited number of applicants (biomed engineering for example)</p>

18

<p>That's tru, nyroch, your major of choice could have some bearing on your acceptance. Also your school of choice, if the college has more than one school within it.</p>

19

<p>i applied engineering-undecided so maybe that had some bearing but im over it now got some other great schools to look forward to. good luck to everyone in the class of '11</p>

20

<p>I got my decision letter today. I got waitlisted as well. I was quite positive when I got the Fellows letter. Then I read this thread and started getting very apprehensive. Well my fears were confirmed a few minutes ago. My dad's quite bummed out cause he read the fellows letter and didn't read this thread.</p>