I’m considering on applying to Bucknell’s Community College Scholars Program but am tentative about it. Right now I attend LCCC. I am fairly certain I will meet the eligibility requirements considering I have a 3.93 gpa and come from a low income family. I am just worried that I’m not actually cut out for Bucknell (my SAT is 1530 and my gpa in high school was 3.2). The only reason I have a high gpa is because my professors allow us to redo assignments and even retake exams to get better grades.
Also this isn’t the school I truly want to go to but it seems stupid not to take advantage of going to a prestigious school for free that many other people would die to get in.
Even if I work hard, and if I am not naturally the smartest person, will I fall behind? And will I be happy here if I am used to being around a more diverse population, other “low income” students, and also living in a city?
I do not know about the Computer Science dept. at Bucknell, so I can’t answer that part of your question. But also, no one but you can answer your second question. You know that Bucknell is not diverse (although they are working on it), has a lot of students who went to prep schools and are members of country clubs, and is in a small town in Pennsylvania. You need to decide if you can deal with the reality of what Bucknell is, even though it’s not what you are used to.
That being said, it’s a great school that offers a lot of fantastic opportunities. We are strictly middle class, and my son has not had any trouble fitting in. Of course, it helps that my son doesn’t really care about material things or the way he dresses.
Seems like your best bet would be to visit the school, look around, and see if you can envision yourself being happy there. Or happy enough. For a free education I’d sure be willing to overlook the fact that it isn’t my number one choice. There’s a lot to be said for not accumulating a lot of debt at this point in your life.
It just so happens that my D2, a recent graduate became very close with several of BU’s Community College Scholars and Posse students. Several of the student I know not only graduated but excelled. One went to Columbia graduate school for occupational therapy. Another attended Northeastern and earned a Masters. Another became a Fulbright scholar in Russia.
If it’s not your first choice, than do not attend. But if you choose to, there are great opportunities.