<p>My s and his best friend both got into Wake and are both thrilled! ...But, after attending this weekend's "Campus Day" events, the best friend is torn between Wake and Bucknell. </p>
<p>Any advice from all you knowledgeable cc'rs out there on how to choose between Wake and Bucknell?? (He's a possible English major and a good actor/musician) </p>
<p>Thanks!!!!</p>
<p>In terms of strengths, national visibility, student demographics ... no comparison. WFU. The only meaningful "comparison" is they used the same campus architect. One is an LAC with an engineering dept. The other is a U with a major LAC in addition to its management, law, med, LAC grad schools. Athletics is big time at WFU... a totally different dynamic. One is in a major metro, growing area. The other is in PA Amish country, 3-4 hours from the closest metro area. (Harrisburg definitely does not count!) BU is a plan B for rejected WFUers most often. I'm hesitant to say "never" the case that rejected BUers go to WFU, but I'll say it, sure to miss the exception. Rarely do WFU accepted students go to BU, but the inverse is often the case. Look at things like Rhodes, Trumans, Fulbrights, etc. It's no contest. BU is fine, but not WFU. Ask yourself ... would you prefer to go to a lovely,secure campus in the suburbs of a very wealthy, mid-sized and growing metro area ... or a lovely, campus over-looking the Susquehanna and Sunbury, PA? I love those hills, but for most, this is a slam-dunk no-brainer. But that's what makes the world go round, right? My recollection is that BU costs about $5K more, and both are lousy with FA programs. But you get an automatic $5k merit award @ WFU for being able to add.</p>
<p>It came down to this exact choice for D. She went through an agonizing decision process, changing her mind over and over. Finally my H made her write down the +'s and -'s for each school, compared to the other. The only thing that ended up in the + column for Bucknell, compared to Wake, was that she could be on a DI athletic team. Rational kid that she is, she knew she wouldn't be doing that sport for the rest of her life. Absolutely everything else came down in favor of Wake, especially the academics for her area of interest. Result? She's now a sophomore at Wake and has never looked back. </p>
<p>WP -- we found put during our revisit to WFU that the same architect had done both schools. Pretty funny.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts, Whistle Pig and CBBBlinker; I will pass along your opinions to my son's friend and his family. I'm sure they will be interested in your comments. It is always so difficult to "fall in love" with more than one school, knowing that you have to choose, but it is a great problem to have! I appreciate your comments. Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Heididoe - You'd do well to ask the same question on the Bucknell forum.</p>
<p>gadad...good advice. Will do. Thanks.</p>