<p>Is anyone else considering engineering at Bucknell versus engineering at a top ranked public university? I’ve narrowed it down to Bucknell and a public university ranked in the top 5 for engineering. I’m struggling with the whole big, research driven university (with lots of opportunies and lots of students) versus small, intimate, etc. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Although Bucknell is a LAC, there are still plenty of research opportunities for students. Competition for these opportunities is probably less than than that at a research university since there’s less students. The departments are fairly small, so you’ll get to know your professors very well. Professors will recognize you in the halls, will say hi, and have a casual conversation with you. Also, the classes are fairly small which facilitates student participation and makes asking questions less frightening.</p>
<p>What kind of financial aid did you receive from both schools?</p>
<p>Public U offered merit scholarship of $12k per year. Bucknell offered bupkus ($0)</p>
<p>so if finances are a big deal for your family, bucknell might not be the right place for you.</p>
<p>i applied only to bucknell (ED) and my state u (where i was admitted to before i got my ed acceptance to bucknell) for engineering. today was my last day of classes as a freshman. engineering classes are kicking my butt, but i absolutely love it here.</p>
<p>it’s so nice to be able to work with other students in my classes on homework and to not think of anyone as “competition.” all my professors have time to help me if i need a concept explained again. the professors do research, but they chose to work at bucknell because their primary focus is to teach undergrads. if freshman/sophomores are interested in research, it’s easy for them to find a project they’re interested in.
all of my classes are taught by professors, not TAs, and can understand everything they say perfectly. no one is trying to weed anyone out. </p>
<p>what have you felt after you visited both schools? the atmosphere of large and small colleges are very different…</p>
<p>Clyde:
My D had it narrowed down to Bucknell and U. of Delaware (in-state public). Bucknell was the top choice school but expensive (did get a Dean’s Scholarship, so not full price). UD is our state school, very good engineering program, and extremely inexpensive - her four years at UD would cost just a little over what one semester costs at Bucknell. Part of the problem with UD is that it is too close and too familiar (10 minutes away) and too big for her preferences. Still, the cost advantage made it hard to turn down.</p>
<p>But she (and we) did turn down UD for Bucknell. Financially, it will be doable, although repaving the driveway, new windows and siding for the house, and my mid-life red sports car will have to wait another 4-5 years. And she will graduate with (manageable) debt in the $20-25k range.</p>
<p>The size factor is really what sold her and us. Bucknell just seems like more of an environment where she will be a name and not just a number, where she will have an opportunity to get close to professors and a core group of students. I have always favored institutions that put primary focus on undergraduate education (of course, I am a teacher . . .) so Bucknell just felt right for her. And she just loves the campus, the location (prefers a small town to suburban or urban setting), and the “feel” of the place.</p>
<p>On the other hand, UD would have been a good experience too, and at a far more palatable cost. Bucknell is not 7-8 times better than UD, but, for my D, it is better. And whatever amount of better it is will cost that extra $33K per year. </p>
<p>Good luck to you in whatever you decide!</p>
<p>bucknell12, </p>
<p>your words are music to my ears…and make me feel confident about the decision i’ve made. we (my family and i) chose bucknell (where we’ll have to pay 12k a year) over two large and less competitive schools (that offered me full rides) because of bucknell’s great engineering program and its focus on undergrad teaching, and non-cutthroat environment. </p>
<p>may i ask you, what engineering you study at bucknell?</p>
<p>i’m a civil engineer</p>
<p>Bucknell was the choice. He just felt more comfortable there. Public U was out-of-state, so the financial difference was the value of the scholarship. Fortunately, the money is not a huge issue for us.</p>
<p>Clyde10: Congrats on what seems to be the right choice, from this objective reader!</p>
<p>K9Leader: Bucknell’s on my Junior daughter’s list, and we’re wondering about merit money. For the Dean’s Scholarship, Bucknell’s website states a requirement of top 5% in HS, and an SAT score of at least 1380/1600. How accurate did you find those stats to be this year? Any word if these numbers will continue for next year’s admissions?</p>
<p>Bettzke:
My daughter’s SATs were certainly high enough; however, her HS does not release rankings. She goes to a science/math charter high school that is very highly regarded (top 100 high schools in Newsweek, #42, and in USNWR, #71, I think). They don’t rank both because the kids there are so driven that it could get too competitive/cutthroat and because they don’t want their kids to be disadvantaged in a head-to-head comparison. Although they don’t publish/release the rankings, most students are able to figure out about where they rank, and my daughter figures she’s in the top 25%, maybe top 20%. Most of the colleges in the area and to which kids from this school tend to apply are aware of the no rank policy and are okay with it as they are familiar with the high level of achievement of its students.</p>
<p>Bucknell has not had an enrollment from my D’s HS in three or four years and has probably only had one or two in the fifteen years the school has been in existence so that likely was one factor that influenced the merit aid. Also, she is 1/4 hispanic, with a hispanic surname, so would fall under URM (especially at Bucknell), and is a female planning to major in engineering - both factors that likely had some influence. Actually, the Bucknell merit aid was below the middle of the pack of what the nine schools she applied to/was accepted to offered. She had two full-ride offers, two almost-full-ride offers, and four that offered about what Bucknell offered. Only one offered no merit aid - but it is a “Public Ivy” that gives out virtually no merit aid.</p>
<p>But, this is all guesswork on my part and, even if my guesstimate is correct, I have no idea if it would be the same next year or was the same last year. Just do the best you can to find some schools to which your D is a good fit and which are a good fit for your D. Good luck as you embark on this rite of passage. I am glad it’s over for us.</p>
<p>K9Leader,
Thanks for your information. It’s very helpful, as I’m new to all of this. I’m thinking that my daughter will like Bucknell and apply there…maybe our daughters will meet! Congrats on getting through the process, and good luck to your daughter!</p>