Science/Math Nerds at Bucknell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bucknell University
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<p>I visited Bucknell and read a lot about it. It pretty much seems like the perfect college for me, except for one thing- I’ve read that Bucknell students are pretty, athletic, and career-oriented. I, on the other hand, am ugly, wimpy, and- most importantly- I want to learn for the sake of learning. Also, I’m not particularly interested in medicine or engineering, but rather in pure science/math. Another thing I’ve heard is that the students at Bucknell drink a lot and I would never EVER drink (I’m a goody two-shoes kid.). Are the stereotypes about Bucknellians true? Would a girl like me (I’m an INTP, by the way) feel too much out of place at a school like Bucknell?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!</p>

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<p>Yes. There is some truth to those stereotypes. But not all students fit those stereotypes. The best advice I can give you is to do an overnight visit. It will help you gauge what student life actually is like and how the culture aligns with your comfort zone.</p>

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<p>Don’t EVER believe the hype about stereotypes…I agree with ilmor…stay overnight and engage with students who you feel comfortable…as you gain more confidence in making friends-- you will find folks who like you for who you are…best of luck!</p>

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<p>n1414m - Did you visit and make an in-person opinion? Any follow up comments?</p>

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<p>I’m now a freshman here and I haven’t made a single friend. I’m so lonely… I thought I was paranoid and that I would be able to meet at least one person I could “click” with. I was wrong. :(</p>

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<p>n1414m - Sorry, that must be difficult for you. Are there any clubs you can join where you can meet people that share the same interests as you?</p>

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<p>n1414m why not reach out to the counseling center, academic or student affairs deans, or your faculty? I’ve found them to all be great resources on campus when trying to get involved and make connections. Let me know if you want more info!</p>

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<p>What are your interests? There must be something you can get involved in? My D2 graduated from Bucknell. She was and is not the sorority type. Never joined. She was also an RA. She knew students that were older, trans-gender, inner city poor ethnic, gay, very religious, etc. and they all found friends and a place to belong at Bucknell. </p>

<p>I think you need to try and expand your extracurricular activities. There are people there that you can become friends with. </p>

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<p>BTW, D2 attended Cornell. It is a very large , diverse school. She did not meet the people she really clicked with until her junior year.</p>

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<p>I joined quite a few clubs, but I haven’t been active in most of them, due to schedule conflicts, because the clubs themselves are not very active, or because academic clubs, while accepting of all majors, tend to be geared towards a specific major. For example, ACS usually holds activities for chem majors, and Bio Club usually holds activities for bio majors. Although my advisor recently informed me of an MAA, so hopefully I’ll join that. I think the problem with me is that I don’t have a lot of interests outside of academia.</p>

<p>That being said, I’ll definitely try to be more active next semester.</p>

<p>And yes, I have been to the counseling center, and I have talked to my advisor. My counselor says I should keep an open mind towards transferring, and that I’m in a bad situation (being a shy, nerdy introvert in one of the top ten party schools in the nation). My advisor says the faculty are well aware of the party scene and equally frustrated by it, and that there are other students who feel the same way I do. The problem is, there are so few of them and so many of everyone else that we haven’t met each other.</p>

<p>If my social situation doesn’t change for the better next semester, I want to transfer to Susquehanna. I visited it, and it seems very similar to Bucknell in terms of facilities, but without a much more pleasant atmosphere. I could definitely see myself going there if my math credits transfer. The problem is that I don’t know how good the math department is, or if I’ll be as academically challenged. If I do transfer, the one thing I’ll miss is the math faculty; they’re awesome and I feel like they like me too. My advisor says she thinks SU will be academically inferior, but that I should sit in on a class anyway to see for myself (because obviously she doesn’t know for sure what SU’s math department is like).</p>

<p>If I’m unhappy at Bucknell next semester, AND Susquehanna’s math department isn’t good enough, I guess I’ll just have to spend the rest of my college career hiding in the math lounge. T_T</p>

<p>TL;DR: I’m incredibly frustrated with Bucknell’s social atmosphere and if things don’t change for the better, I will transfer to SU if the academics (specifically math) are good enough.</p>

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<p>This makes me sad. I get that you aren’t extroverted and you aren’t into the party scene but there HAS to be people on that campus that you could enjoy spending time with. What about joining a volunteer project? <a href=“Civic Engagement”>http://www.bucknell.edu/CivicEngagement&lt;/a&gt; or tutoring? There has to be something you will enjoy…Bucknell is a terrific school and you love the math faculty – it would be a shame to miss out on that. I know this is really hard but maybe if you could step out of your comfort zone just a little – and try other things besides academia. Maybe sign up for fitness classes, volunteer at an event, look for other people who might be feeling in your same boat,attend a sporting event (don’t forget the less popular ones like water polo), ask people that live in your dorm to grab a coffee, join Bison Pals…and become a mentor to a local individual with mental challenges…there are so many ways for you to start creating your world at college – there are people out there for you – but you need to try. It is hard – but will make college so much more meaningful for you. A lot of the learning takes place out of the classroom…</p>

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<p>Like I said, I’ll be more active next semester. But I’m not feeling too optimistic. It seems like everyone’s found a perfect group of friends but me, even though I know that can’t be true.</p>

<p>It’s not like Bucknellians are bad people or anything, but they’re so different from me and I don’t know how to find the few who actually are similar to me. For example, sometimes my hall does stuff together and I feel even though I participate in the conversations and stuff, I feel like they’re building up their (already strong) connections and I’m not. In general, whenever I’m in a group conversation, I’m ignored and/or someone makes an inside joke and everyone talks about it, unintentionally excluding me. This never happened in high school.</p>

<p>I think the first time I really felt like something was definitely wrong was the res college trip to Philadelphia. After visiting a museum and eating lunch, we had free time in the city. Everyone went off in their own groups and I was left to wander the city alone, which was scary and depressing. When I signed up for a res college, I was promised an experience in which I’d make life-long friends… Yeah, that was a lie.</p>

<p>But one night this week, I actually had a positive social experience. There was a study break in the math lounge and I got to meet other math majors. Unfortunately, almost everyone I met were seniors. But for the first time since I came to Bucknell, I felt a sense of belonging, which I doubt I’ll ever experience again there.</p>

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How are you doing this semester? Have things gotten any better?

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This makes me really sad… I’m sorry :frowning: I applied to Bucknell RD this year. I’m similar to you, and I’m not really the party girl. I want to find a close-knit group of friends in college that I can feel completely comfortable with. Finding out about your situation, I don’t think I’d want to go to Bucknell.

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n1414m, tiffatiger: Bucknell does promote alcohol-free housing, and allows students to seek this residency. You can certainly find potential, like-minded friends there. You know that partying goes on everywhere, so you will likely be dealing with the same issue elsewhere. It makes sense, though, that schools which are more “academically strong” will have more “academics” in residence, and who, like you, have a greater focus on learning, and less interest in partying. You will find friends. It may not be easy at first, but it never is for the introverted. I have friends at Bucknell who are not party people and they are doing fine. n11414m, be careful not to employ logic when contemplating perceived attractiveness and friendships and their value to social wellbeing. When feeling uncertain, frustrated, and inferior - which we all do at times - we tend to pile up on ourselves. I read your posts and I thought, “What’s not to like?” I hope you both are well. Don’t fret too much. You will “get there.”

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n1414m, I’m just reading this thread for the first time. I’m so sorry you’re having this experience at Bucknell. How has this semester been? Any better? Would love to hear an update.