Types of students at Bucknell?

ricegal · 01-16-2008, 12:40 PM

So, the impression I got from visiting Bucknell is that the students tend to be the "popular" kids from high school. They seemed good-looking, athletic, out-going, etc. I'd like to hear from some self-professed nerds as to how they like the school. Do all sorts of kids fit in, or do nerds find themselves on the fringes as in some American high schools? How about kids from the mid west or west coast? Is it too overwhelmingly eastern prep?

Also, I'd like to hear from seniors as to whether the small-town location gets old after four years.

texastaximom · 01-26-2008, 10:14 PM

My son is definitely a nerd. Now that he has grown a full beard I guess you could say he's a hippie nerd political science/philosophy major from Texas that plays in a rock band. *I* think he's good looking, because I'm his mom. He's not athletic. Definitely not preppy, but he lives with one. He has really enjoyed Bucknell and hasn't had any trouble finding friends or things to do. They do road trip to Philly or NYC occasionally, but there is a lot going on around campus, too. He graduates in May, and I know he will miss it.

ricegal · 01-28-2008, 10:55 PM

Thanks, texastaximom.

mythmom · 01-28-2008, 11:14 PM

i must say, no matter how different these schools appear on paper, the many student bodies at NE LAC's seem to turn out very similar.

A nerd of my acquaintance is very happy at Bucknell. With the engineering school there nerds will congregate. (A good thing, IMO.)

satn87 · 01-29-2008, 09:22 AM

I'll agree with mythmom about the similarity of the student bodies at NE LAcs. they do tend to shoot for the same mix usually and have the same goals as to the student body they want to maintain. As for Bucknell, there are about 180 engineers in my 2nd year class of 900 or so. & there are 188 in the freshman year. Plus you have your science and math types as well. bucknell is a good engineering school so it draws its share of "nerds". Anyway, you meet many different types of people in college and very few people will feel left out. You're likely to meet people like yourself and who have your interests eventually.

I am an international student who missed both the international student orientation, the normal orientation, and the first week of classes. I had no problem adjusting and settling.

but to be sure, you'll see the "popular kids", as you put it. but if you're not one of them, you WON'T be left out.

satn87 · 01-29-2008, 09:26 AM

Here are some demographics for the current freshman class:

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

------------------Applied------------ Admitted------------ Enrolled

Pennsylvania ------1,739--------------- 512----------------- 209

New York ---------1,500--------------- 485------------------ 131

New Jersey-------- 1,340-------------- 388------------------ 144

New England------- 1,247-------------- 374------------------ 138

Western------------ 930--------------- 286------------------- 75

Delaware/Maryland/
Virginia/DC ----------882--------------- 300------------------ 105

North Central-------- 544--------------- 164------------------- 48

Southern------------ 311---------------- 108------------------ 38

Overseas
Addresses----------- 452---------------- 58-------------------- 20

satn87 · 01-29-2008, 09:27 AM

PUBLIC/PRIVATE SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION

---------Applied---------- Admitted-------- Enrolled

Public---- 6,016------------ 1,795------------ 643

Private ----2,928------------ 880-------------- 265

satn87 · 01-29-2008, 09:32 AM

Lewisburg is a small town like you mentioned, but there are trips on the weekends to NYC, Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, and so on. Plus there is always stuff to do on campus to keep yourself busy. Some people will drive to Harrisburg or to the Penn State Campus in State College for a change of scene.

It does get boring sometimes but you might like Bucknell so much it doesn't matter, or you're able to overlook it, for the most part.

I am not a senior by the way, i'm second year.

ericatbucknell · 02-07-2008, 03:29 PM

what a wonderful question! or, at the very least, what a wonderful question for me to address!

for those who are relatively new, some background: i graduated from bucknell in may of 2006 with a double major in mathematics and economics and am now pursuing a phd in the former. i used to post here frequently; then i got busy.

so, a senior? not quite. a nerd? oh heck yes.

is the 'typical' bucknell student one of the popular kids from high school? i guess... though in a very, very good way. by that i mean this: he is an outgoing, athletic, fun, intelligent kid who was nice to everyone in high school and everybody actually liked. the kid who was actually popular, in other words. not the rich, snotty kid who was only 'popular' when the word was surrounded by quotes.

as has been mentioned, the schools large engineering college and a growing arts presence marginalizes even the positive stereotype portrayed above. there is definitely a critical mass of duct tape/video game/anime kids, just as there is a critical mass of hipsters and, yes, 'popular' kids who are a little too concerned with how theyre seen relative to who they are. almost everyone, though, is NICE. even the two kids on my freshman hall i grew to absolutely abhor (they were definitely 'popular' with quotes) were nice. its almost scary, really.

the only 'negative' thing i will say is that a 'nerd' or whatever else may not find himself immediately surrounded by other 'nerds' on his hall. well, at least not sufficiently nerdy nerds (most everyone at bucknell is smart enough to be at least a little quirky). however, after a few weeks in classes and a couple meetings of club x, y or z, all of that will take care of itself. until (and well after) that time? oh, there will be plenty of really outgoing people on every hall knocking on doors, inviting everyone to every dinner and concert they can.

all those former student council presidents need something to do, after all.

collegemom16 · 02-07-2008, 10:26 PM

What about a kid who wants to be an engineer, dresses preppy, is nice to everyone, is just a little bit shy, is handsome, is not the slightest bit stuck up, loves sports, loves video games, is an athlete, would enjoy playing with fireworks and duct tape, was on student government (but not the president) loves math and science, likes both rock and rap, and has friends from every group. Would he fit in? (can you tell I hate stereotypes?)

5757 · 02-09-2008, 07:35 AM

thank you eric for your perspective. it helped a lot.

Undeadpaladin · 03-03-2008, 01:07 AM

Nick McIlwain went here for 7 years, I suggest you proceed with caution. Nuff said.

Whistle Pig · 03-03-2008, 05:45 AM

And as Blutarski, or one of his pals in "Animal House" duly noted upon the dean booting him for some fraternal indiscretion ...

"7 years! Down the drain!"

I hear Nick is now an astronaut, deciding if he should run for president.

yesnomaybeso7 · 03-16-2008, 12:30 PM

I think BU is big enough that anyone could fit in. I have a close friend who, I'm not gonna lie, is one of the weirdest people I know. She's quiet and doesn't dress well but once she's comfortable with you she's very animated and funny. I visited her a couple weeks ago honestly expecting her to be quiet and not talk to anyone because she wouldn't have warmed up to, but actually she does have a group of ecclectic weird friends, and she's really happy.