Reviews

As a small private school, Bucknell pays attention to their students. I have never had a hard time talking or staying after with professors. They truly care that you learn the material and know your name. Taking on average five courses a semester, unlike high school where you glide over eight of nine courses, the smaller course load allows you to dig deeper into subjects and truly appreciate what you're learning.

I have never felt so at home when I'm not at home. Bucknell is beautiful, open, and welcoming in every sense of the word. There is excellent food, nice dorms and great faculty who will come and eat lunch with you if you invite them. The social scene is mostly Greek dominated, so over 50% of the student population is involved in Greek Life. There are also great concerts and speakers which come to the campus frequently. The university makes sure that the student body gets a chance to experience things outside the bubble as it's not close to any major cities.

If you are going for an engineering degree, every engineering student I've spoken with has gotten a job offer right out of senior year. Bucknell prepares their students for the work force. They teach you how to solve problems and use your own resources to come up with solutions. That's not to say that engineers are the only ones who succeed. The College of Engineering is only a small portion of the student population. The other Liberal Arts majors can excel in many aspects, from business, to art, to drama, to education.

If you're looking for a work in the park, Bucknell is not for you. This small private university is very selective and is considered a Baby Ivy. If accepted, don't toss it away because it's not actually an Ivy. Depending on your course of study, Bucknell may suit your tastes even more. It truly is an excellent school. You will work hard and play hard.

-Hardworking
-Determined
-Resilient

I feel like I've been able to learn so much in just one short semester! So far, my learning experience at Bucknell has been incredible. The professors at Bucknell are extremely dedicated to teaching and they are always happy to help students. My professor's office hours proved to be very valuable. Not only did going to office hours reinforce my understanding of class material, but it also helped me to create better relationships with my professors. I'm even making plans to do research with one of my professors in the spring semester! Doing research as a freshman is an opportunity I doubt I would have had at most of the other schools I was considering.

I absolutely love Bucknell. I love the campus, I love the students, I love my professors, I love my classes...EVERYTHING. Bucknell is a truly welcoming community that makes you feel right at home. I've made a lot of great friends at Bucknell, especially on my hall (freshman orientation at Bucknell is AMAZING). There are many ways for students to get involved on campus which can make the experience even more enjoyable. Bucknell is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun!

Bucknell is up there with some of the most expensive schools in the country and I believe that the price they ask is a bit much to ask a family to pay for the education of their child. However, I also know that I wouldn't be at Bucknell if my family and I didn't think that Bucknell was worth the money. The key to Bucknell's education is the opportunities that it provides for it's students. As a student, I believe it is my responsibility to take advantage of these opportunities and make my education worth the high cost.

My biggest tip for prospective students is to visit as many schools as you can. Before I visited schools I had an idea of which schools I thought I liked and which ones I wasn't so sure about, but I was very wrong. I never thought that I would love Bucknell the way I did, but visiting campus skyrocketed Bucknell to my top choice in one day. When you visit campus go to the info session, take a tour, but also give yourself time to explore. Go to the office of the major you're interested in and ask questions! Talk to students, professors, and staff members. Truly get to know the schools you want to apply to!

Bucknell is great for the hardworking student who is looking to work closely with faculty members. Bucknell is great for students who enjoy living in a rural, small town environment (the nearest big name city is about three hours away!) and don't mind the seclusion this brings.

Bucknell is aesthetically pleasing yet a little isolated. It is located in small town America, better known as the middle of nowhere. However Bucknell's academics are great and the campus is very accomodating.

Be smart with partying. Parties are there for those who want them, but just remember that you have to work hard in school if you want to party hard.

Bucknell is a very good academic school and the courses are very demanding. I speak mainly of the Engineering program since I know that the Arts and Sciences college is generally less rigorous and overall easier than the College of Engineering

I am in CHOICE housing, which is substance-free, meaning no alcohol or drugs allowed. I am very happy with this program and would definitely recommend it. In CHOICE, you don't have to deal with drunk idiots or stoners on your floor. It's great even if you want to party since you can go party somewhere else, but come back to a nice, clean, sober dorm when you're done.

I've been told that Bucknell provides one of the best food services. It can't compare to eating at home, but as far as college fare goes, it's tops. It's open 24/7 though so beware of the Freshman 15+. Plus the milkshakes at 7th Street are a must.

There are parties seriously everywhere. Non-alcoholic events are also held at Uptown, located in Swarts Hall and it usually involves food, so thumbs up. Also there are cool events every Friday night, which also involves food and Fun so suffice to say, Bucknellians are happy.

Bucknell is outrageously expensive. I have to remind myself that the degree my degree will be worth it, but seriously, it's expensive. Depending on your major, you'll have to decide whether or not your specific degree will be worth the expense and hard work Bucknell entails

All the meters around Lewisburg are shut down and there's free parking everywhere around the holidays-Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bucknell is great for hardworking, dedicated students although it also accomodates rich party animals, but there will be party animals at any college. Regardless of one's extracurricular life, Bucknell is definitely for the academic.

I'm not too familiar with many of the clubs around campus, although be assured they do exist. There are activites hosted by the university all the time and they are all generally fun.

Greek life definitely exists in Bucknell, but I don't think that detracts at all from the social scene. I suppose guys feel more pressure to join a frat or athletic team if they want to be part of the party scene, but girls can flit in and out of the party scene regardless of whether or not they are in a sorority.

The campus is very safe. Bucknell is very community oriented so there isn't really any interstudent dangers present on campus, and public safety takes care of any outside threats, assuming there even is any. Lewisburg is a very quaint town and everyone is generally nice, but there isn't really much reason to go off campus so college life at Bucknell is generally low risk.

I came to Bucknell for an Engineering degree, not fully realizing how much I would begin to get out of it. My classes are interesting and involved, taught by professors who care about how you are doing and go out of their way daily to make sure that you are not left behind. Bucknell attracts very smart people from all over, taking the learning experience beyond just the classroom every day.

Many often refer to the Bucknell Bubble, suggesting that we live in our own little world here. In many ways, this is true. Students and faculty at Bucknell are so happily intrigued and involved in their passionate studies that we often tune out the rest of the world and simply enjoy what we are doing. The happiness at Bucknell is contagious year round, maybe except for those early morning walks to class in a blizzard.

Being a small, private college, Bucknell is certainly pricey. Thus, students get a lot of cool perks for going here. We have free concerts, great food, an awesome gym, various cafes around campus there to cater to our daily need for a latte, and the beautiful campus we live in. However, the pricey part is difficult for many families, and each student must weigh their own pros and cons. For me, Bucknell is worth it simply for the professors. My freshman year I had classes averaging at 20 students, often less than, and professors that were there every day, particularly noticing when we were not. I spent many nights before a homework assignment was due at my teachers house going through a problem set, or afternoons in their office simply to talk about how I was doing. The attention and caring that Bucknell professors have for their students is worth the money.

From experience, I would definitely recommend applying early decision. So many students you meet on campus applied early decision simply because Bucknell wants students that want them. For a small school we have a great deal of spirit, and if you are questioning if Bucknell is the right fit, a quick visit on a pretty day will seal the deal for most anyone.

As for any difficult college, Bucknell looks for students that are hardworking and particularly ambitious. My freshman year this past spring, I took the initiative to start up a new chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Bucknell. Thus, if you are bright, motivated, and looking for a campus with welcoming professors and students you can be close with whether it be academically, through clubs, or through Greek life, you will love Bucknell!

Bucknell is where the students work hard and play hard. Greek life and athletics are huge. It is a beautiful place to live and get your degree.

Don't be intimidated by all the beautiful people- everyone is extremely friendly.
Almost everyone here is or was at one point an athlete, so fitness is huge here.
We live in the middle of nowhere! So if you're looking for a big city with lots of stuff to do, this isn't the school for you. But we do know how to have TONS of fun with what we've got here, so don't worry--if you come to Bucknell, you're guaranteed to have a good time and make the best friends of your life.

The academics are for the best of the best. Professors are always available to help you as much as they can, but ultimately your fate is in your own hands. I can't begin to tell you how many all-nighters I've pulled during finals week. The stress can be a lot sometimes, but the light at the end of the tunnel pushing all of us forward is the fact that we earned the degree that says Bucknell University on it--one of the bets institutions in the nation.

Almost all of the dorms have AC. They are all pretty spacious, and everything on campus is in easy walking distance--it only takes about 8 minutes to walk from the farthest edge of campus to the other. Your freshman hall oftentimes becomes your family and closest friends throughout your four years here. Some of the dorms are a little older, but have gone under extensive renovations in the past few years. And by 2014, we will have brand new dorms for upperclassmen, which are rumored to be apartment-style.

My friends and I have had visitors who have told us that our dining hall is thousands of times better than theirs at other public and private universities. In Bostwick Dining Hall, or The Caf as we call it, the food is buffet style and you always have a choice of friend foods and burgers, pasta, salad bar, cooked-to-order stir fry, a cereal wall with every type of cereal you can imagine, an egg bar, an awesome dessert table, and everyone's favorite, an ice cream bar with both hard and soft serve. Freshmen are required to get the unlimited caf plan for their full first year, so the caf is often full with other first-years. For the upperclassmen, The Bison, which is located on the floor below the caf, serves as their main source of food and hanging out. The Bison has Mexican, Pasta, Pizza, an all-day breakfast bar and grill, deli sandwiches and subs station, and hundreds of other choices of candy, chips, salads, fruits and veggies, and drinks. The only complaint that many have is that the food here is very overpriced, and oftentimes we have to add money to our dining dollars at the end of the semester so we can eat. It costs a fortune to attend Bucknell as it is, and we shouldn't have to worry about whether or not we can afford meals for two weeks at the end of the semester.

Join a club or sports team!!! There are tons of clubs to join, and at freshman orientation there is a HUGE club fair where you can walk around and see what everyone has to offer, and sign up for them there. The Susquehanna Valley Mall is only 15 minutes away, so if you have a friend with a car, you can hang out there. At least once a month, ACE, the student activities club, puts on trips to nearby cities like Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York. They are only about 3 hours away and you get to spend all day there. We also always have comedians or student performances going on that always draw big crowds. Being as Bucknell is in a rural area, fun things to do can be hard to find, and we do have a reputation as a big party school. Fraternities host huge dance parties every weekend, and things get hot and crazy there. But if that's not your thing, there is plenty of shopping to do in downtown Lewisburg or the surrounding areas; you can float down the Susquehanna River; you can go for a hike or bike ride along one of the many nature trails around here; or go to the corn maze at Ard's Farm. There is a lot to do if you want to explore.

Although it is expensive, the education you'll get at Bucknell is invaluable. It is one of the top liberal arts institutions in the nation for a reason; you'll be pushed to your academic limits, but you'll come out a better person in the end. And you will make the best friends of your life here, which is something you might not find anywhere else.

During freshmen orientation, all the first-years walk through the Christy Mathewson memorial gates during convocation, and only walk through them once more, at graduation. It marks the beginning and end of your time at Bucknell.
Legend has it that if you kiss your sweetheart on the Academic Quad above Freas Hall at sunset, you'll get married!
Hunt Hall, our sorority house, is said to be haunted by a past sorority girl, who likes to steal clothes and misplace items of the current residents.
If you're a sports fanatic, the Sojka Psychos are the student group on campus dedicated to dressing up and being as loud and rowdy as possible at our men's basketball games--which almost always are packed with students and fans.
On the Wednesday before finals start, we have Reading Day, which is a day with no classes in which you can relax and reset your mind to get ready for finals, or spend all day in quiet studying for your first test. During Finals week, the caf offers free food every single night, starting with Breakfast with the Deans in which Deans and Professors are behind the grills, making all your favorite breakfast foods.

Academically driven, athletic, and outgoing students. With not much to do here, making friends is imperative! You also really need to know how to balance your priorities. Partying is a huge distraction, but as long as you know how to get your work done and done right, you should have no problem having a good time and still get good grades.

There are tons of clubs on campus, from intramural sports, to student activities, to comedy and performing arts troupes. Anything you want to do, we have it here at Bucknell. Sports are huge, too--whether you are on a varsity team or just like to go watch, almost everyone here is into sports in some way.

About 70-75% of the students at Bucknell are in a fraternity or sorority. It goes without saying, then, that Greek life here is HUGE. The fraternities have their own houses, while the sororities live in one sorority mansion as we like to call it. All of the frats and sororities are extremely close to one another, and often host parties and campus events together. If you want to join an organization that does good things for others and also provides you with a support system and family here, then Greek life is for you.

We have our own Campus police, or p-safe as we like to call them. They are on call 24 hours a day, for anything from emergencies to something as simple as getting your car jumped. There are blue light emergency phone booths that are visible from any point on campus, so if you should be in an emergency outside at any time, safety is near. However, the crime on Bucknell's campus is virtually non-existent; the biggest things we have had to deal with are drugs and alcohol problems and sexual assault among the students. No outside trouble makers have ever found their way onto our campus as far as I can recall. Lewisburg is a quiet, very safe area.

The number one thing I was looking at during my college search was the school's academics. I knew of Bucknell's great scholastic reputation going in, and it was easily why I chose Bucknell over all the other schools I applied to, but I can't begin express how much I have already learned after just my first semester! My courses were so academically stimulating that I found myself at times going to the library to do extra research. I was always excited to go to my professors’ office hours to ask questions because they were always excited to help their students. I was told students at small schools have one-on-one relationships with their professors and at Bucknell this really is true. I cannot wait to start the next semester!

College is a scary thought for someone who hasn’t been away from home for a long time. I remember it was for me, but Bucknell does such a good job at settling first years in. Their orientation program is exceptional at getting everyone comfortable with one another. You make tons of friendships with your hall and really get to know those living around you. The cafeteria has a wide variety to choose from and I can always find something good to eat. Whenever I walk around campus I often find myself in awe that there could be such a place as amazing as Bucknell.

Although I haven’t been at Bucknell for more than one semester, I would say I am definitely getting what I pay for. Looking at the overall cost, Bucknell is quite expensive. It’s overwhelming at first, but they do give out a good amount of financial aid in the end. I will have quite a few loans by the time I get out, but I think it is definitely worth it to continue going to Bucknell.

What really did it for me was the visit. On paper Bucknell University seems like a nice place with a great academic program, but once you visit it will be clear that it is much, much more. While Bucknell is a very tough school to get into, don’t let that discourage you from applying if you really believe that’s where you want to go. The Admissions team looks at the applicant as a whole and decides based on more than just your scores. I still wonder to this day how I made it in, but the point is that it is not impossible. Attend Bucknell and you will not be disappointed!

If you decide Bucknell is the place for you, I would say you should be ready to be worked, but have a lot of fun too! You may find that course work takes up a good deal of your time, but it is so worth it because this is where you can really explore your interests. Socially speaking, get ready to feel right at home here. If you truly want to get to know the professors on campus and the students on your hall, in your classes, and in the activities you join then Bucknell is for you. There is something for everyone at Bucknell!

Classes are definitely challenging, but the Professors are great! All of them offer office hours and are more than willing to help you if you ask. The library is a great place to study if your dorm room isn't quiet and the downhill dorms that are away from the library often have study rooms that are just as comfortable. It's a great learning environment and I don't know many students who aren't happy with the educational aspects.

Being a freshman is difficult at any school, that's for sure, but the orientation process is impeccable at Bucknell. You become SO close with your hall and many other freshman immediately, even the orientation assistants. I, myself, have become very close with both of mine. Furthermore, Bucknell is BEAUTIFUL, the cafeteria is great and the Bison (the order your food place) is great too. I've heard that it's much better than other college cafeterias. There are a million clubs to get involved in and the people are genuinely nice and caring. There is something for everyone. I'm proof.

Being a freshman, I can't fully attest to this just yet, however my classes are great, I have no complaints about the quality of my room or the food because, of course, it is a dorm, and it is a cafeteria. I think in the end, my degree will be quite valuable. Also, by going to Bucknell, you are guaranteed a great liberal arts education that many employers appreciate. The career development center is incredible and hooks students up with interviews with prior Bucknellians in many professions and financial aid is great.

Apply Early Decision if you definitely want to go here. It increases your chances of acceptance and of course it's great to know a head of time, and get it out of the way! Furthermore, don't be scared off by the tuition. They are more than willing to help you or your parents with Financial Aid. Visit, do an overnight stay, do whatever you can to really get a feel for the campus. I knew I loved it when I arrived.

Academically driven, those who want an INCREDIBLE greek system, those who want to KNOW their professors, those who want to be really close friends with their freshman hall, those who want a small community, those who want a liberal arts education, those who want to have fun, those who want to be around people who will challenge their skills in the best way possible, Engineers especially, (great program) there are a lot of english and psychology majors, international politics, economics, and a lot more! Check out the website for list of offered disciplines.

Be ready to spend a lot of time on campus!
Bucknell is not in a major metropolitan area and students tend to spend most of their time on campus or in the downtown area that borders campus. Despite the rural area, Bucknell brings good

Engineers will find that they spend more time in class than their liberal arts counterparts (this should really be a 5 star review for engineering). The engineering programs are among the top in the country, and the ability of the professors to teach undergraduates is unsurpassed by any institution that I have encountered. Most liberal arts students could complete a double major with decent planning. Regardless of one's major, students benefit from the undergraduate focus at Bucknell and often have the opportunity to do research with their professors.

Almost every dorm is air conditioned and have more than enough room for students. There are a few older dorms that are still being updated, but the vast majority of students have few if any complaints. Additionally, the custodial staff is incredibly friendly!

Tasty, but a little pricey. If you ever abandon your cafeteria plan after first year (all first years are required to have an unlimited meals plan), you will dearly miss the desserts.

Students who want a balance between academics and social life. The guy you see out imbibing on a weekend night might have a 4.0 in chemical engineering.

You will not find a school of this size with more activities. On top of that, you can set up new organizations with relative ease and receive funding from Bucknell Student Government. That being said, students are sometimes spread too thin because Bucknellians tend to be involved in multiple activities including Greek organizations.

Most fraternities are great. Some provide a greater degree of brotherhood than others. Sometimes students become overwhelmed with the social scene as it is dominated by Greek Life. Unfortunately, some Greek organizations make poor decisions and have been removed from campus in recent years.

Sororities are questionable, but incredibly popular. Girls are friends with many of their sisters, but not the majority of their sisters because sororities are so large.

Public Saftey officers truly have the students' needs in mind. Despite the fact that they have full jurisdiction over campus (they are a legitimate police force as defined by the laws of PA), they are not out to bust students. Students know that the officers care about students and have no problem calling the department if things get out of hand.

Bucknell is a great place to challenge yourself academically in any field you so choose. Professors are dedicated to their students and are open to questions and very flexible with office hours. There is plenty to get involved with on campus such as intramural sports club or varsity along with a myriad of clubs and organizations.

Study hard and take as many AP classes as you can; these will better prepare you for college rigor.

The rigor I find depends on how much each student is willing to push his or herself. This also seems to depend on intended major. For students in the College of Engineering for example, academics are much more focused on Math, Physics, and ENGR general edu. courses. These, from what I see, require a lot of determination and dedication to be successful.

Dorm life is a large part of the college experience. Living with other students is exposure to other parts of the world, traditions, and cultures. People are friendly and are looking to make friends especially during orientation. If any student has a problem on the hall, RA's are there to talk to and solve any conflicts.

The food at Bucknell is fine. I personally enjoy the salad bar and make elaborate salads to add variety to my meals. I try and shy away from the pizza and heavy pastas on campus.

For fun there is always movie watching in common rooms or simply hanging out with friends. There is delayed rush at Bucknell so many Freshman, especially Freshman boys stay away from Fraternity parties.

Bucknell is extremely expensive but there are a lot of scholarship options available.

Bucknell is great for students who prefer individualized attention from professors in challenging classes. Lectures are larger than normal classes but still not overwhelmingly large, your professors will know your name.

All of the students and faculty members are friendly and super approachable.
Bucknell offers a wide variety of different courses, and is known for its academic prestige.
The campus is absolutely beautiful, the dorms are very nice (aka Hotel Bucknell) and the cafeteria food is more like restaurant food--it is delicious!

Get involved! Whether it be a sport, club, or sorority/fraternity, it is great to be involved at Bucknell because there is a great sense of community and togetherness. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions! The staff at Bucknell is great at answering any questions or concerns you may have.

Bucknell is almost Ivy League--it is most certainly a tough school, but the professors/staff are very helpful, and you feel like you are truly learning.

Hotel Bucknell is the nickname of the dorms--all of them are very nice and clean. Out of all of the colleges that I visited, Bucknell had by far the best dorms. Plus, they are always updating the dorms every couple of years.

The cafeteria is great! Seriously, it is gourmet. Fish, good meat, tons of fresh fruit and vegetables (grown locally!), great breads, vegetarian options, and the oh-so-wonderful dessert table.

The town of Lewisburg is quaint and offers tons of cute shops. A lot of Bucknell students are involved locally through volunteering and other activities. The presence of Greek life also makes Bucknell a fun place to party, and the school itself offers plenty of social events and options, such as concerts and trips.

Bucknell is expensive ($56,190) a year but I would say that it is definitely worth the money. The education at Bucknell is great, the campus is beautiful, the dorms are nice, the people are friendly, the food is great, the sports teams are pretty good...I really can't complain. You get what you pay for!

The Bison statue--ride it!
First Night--a ceremony for first-year students
Bucknell has a deep history, so there are a lot of cool traditions.
Ray' Bucknell!

Smart, Friendly, Preppy, Engaged and Interested, Open to learn new ideas/things

There are so many different clubs and activities! It is great to be involved--you won't get bored at Bucknell.

The frats make partying fun! Plus, the fraternity and sorority houses are pretty nice....they kinda look like mansions!

It's in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania--rural, very, very low crime rate, great place to raise children...it's safe.