<p>My son will be attending Bucknell this fall and has received some information about the Residential Colleges. He is unsure about whether he should apply to one. Can anyone tell me about them? Are all the students who decide to join really passionate about the area of learning of the college? Does it make a difference as far as social life goes? Are some more active than others? Any pros and cons would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>We are having the same discussion in our home with my daughter. We found the info. on the Bucknell site helpful, particularly the FAQ's on Res Colleges:
<a href="http://www.bucknell.edu/x1703.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.bucknell.edu/x1703.xml</a></p>
<p>Also, on the below thread there is some discussion that you may find helpful:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/bucknell-university/486400-new-ask-recent-graduate-your-bucknell-questions-thread.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/bucknell-university/486400-new-ask-recent-graduate-your-bucknell-questions-thread.html</a></p>
<p>It sounds like there will be a lot of info this weekend at the Admitted students day which we unfortunately will not be able to attend.</p>
<p>My daughter is leaning towards joining a Res College. I think her biggest concern was that it might limit her involvment in other activities but based on what we've read, that shouldn't be a factor.</p>
<p>We have a few more questions before she makes her final decision. I may ask them on Eric-atBucknell's thread below.</p>
<p>Thanks, Kaleigh. We are not attending Admitted Students day either because my son was admitted ED and has visited several times. But of course at that time he didn't really find out much about the Res. Colleges. I think he has similar concerns as your daughter, but also that all the students who choose the colleges are really "into" the area of study, not just interested, as he is. I feel that he doesn't want to limit himself, but when I read the info, it seems that these kids form bonds which carry into their future years at Bucknell.</p>
<p>If you find out anything else, I'd appreciate your sharing and I will do the same.</p>
<p>I will certainly share any additional info that I find. In the meantime, continue to check out Eric's QA thread as the topic of Res Colleges seems to keep popping up.</p>
<p>As for your son's concern that his hallmates in the Res College might be more "into" the subject area than him, I get the impression that the interest level varies. My daughter is all-over-the-place with interests... she's an athlete and artist who is enthusiastic about many subject areas. In fact, I think her next biggest decision will be trying to figure out which Res College appeals to her most as she finds many of them interesting. My experience as an alum and during the admissions process for my daughter tells me that more Bucknell students are "well-rounded" than focused on one passion.</p>
<p>What has my daughter drawn to the Res Colleges is Eric's description of the students as "fewer hard partiers in addition to more academically-minded students, who usually are pretty outgoing."</p>
<p>4my:</p>
<p>Unless the travel would be a hardship, you might reconsider attending Accepted Students day. It's a great way for ED'ers to become re-engaged with the campus & atmosphere, meet new class mates, and finish senior year on a high note.</p>
<p>Just my $0.02.</p>
<p>Thanks Kaleigh and Blue, for your ideas.</p>
<p>I'll check out Eric's thread.</p>
<p>As for this weekend, my son just informed me he and friends are going up to Burlington, VT for a concert. I think this trumps an 8 hour drive to Pennsylvania, no matter how excited he is about the University.</p>
<p>But I'll keep doing my research to try to help him make the best decision possible.</p>
<p>Hi all,
My son is a freshman and is a member of the Arts Residential College. He was unsure about applying for it as some of you are. He thought it might hinder him being able to do other things on campus.
After being at Bucknell for a month as a member of the arts res, he told me that it was the best decision he could have made. He told me that having a foundation seminar with others on your hall brings you closer and it really made the transition from not knowing anyone on campus to having a group of friends very easy.
My son is very involved with the theatre but there are some friends of his in the Arts Residential College that are not involved much at all. Check "Year in the Life" on the Bucknell site under admissions and you can see what he says for himself as an Arts Res. student</p>
<p>Thanks for that, randc</p>
<p>I participated in the residential college program as a freshman a few years ago and was a junior fellow (a leader on the hall of freshman) my sophomore year. I thought the res college program was very helpful in helping me transition into college and was a great way to get to know people on campus. The colleges plan trips and social activities for people in individual colleges and in the entire program. I agree with comments that res college students in general are a little more "tame" than some other students, but again, that doesn't apply to everyone. The res college program is a great way to get involved and become a leader on campus. Clearly I'm very pro res college.</p>
<p>As far as disadvantages go, humm... I guess there is "common hour" one evening a week (unless something has changed) and that sometimes gets in the way of things...</p>