a new 'ask a recent graduate your bucknell questions' thread... - Page 6

ilmor · 05-11-2008, 12:19 AM

Well, your application was evaluated based on your intended major, neuroscience, and not english. So it would make sense to me that they wouldn't let you switch majors so easily. But again, this is all speculation on my part. They may let your switch before classes start. Maybe Eric could shed some more light on this.

Ashelia · 05-11-2008, 03:51 AM

Wow, breck, that's a ridiculous coincidence. I applied as a neuroscience major as well (for premed and personal interest) but am thinking of switching to English... Though I am also considering talking to my (future) adviser to set up a custom major. Something along the lines of neurolinguistics. If that sounds interesting to you as well, maybe consider it? I feel it's a happy marriage between neuroscience and language (my interests).

ericatbucknell · 05-11-2008, 07:35 AM

to address the recent questions:

TRANSFER STUDENTS: i know there is an orientation for transfers, some of which overlaps with freshman orientation. and because bucknell takes its freshman orientation programs VERY seriously, i have no doubt the transfer orientation program will be sufficient in terms of social opportunities. that said,i dont know the current housing situation for transfers, but in the past they were assigned spaces as they were made available. so while it was possible that two transfers would get assigned a room together, the more probable outcome would be to end up with a returning student. i would think this to be a desirable outcome, anyway.

FALL BREAK: i would agree that most people within decent driving distance go home. a few people with money to burn fly home, as well. the dining halls are still open, though (one is closed each day over the weekend for deep cleaning), and there are still decent numbers of people of campus, so its not a bit deal. (some people will also spend the weekend with a local friend on the hall, though this is more common for thanksgiving/easter.)

REGISTERING: i cant address the specific issues with registration because incoming freshmen didnt register online back in the day. however, the registration issues are the same.

basically, within liberal arts, there are b.s. majors and b.a. majors. because b.s. degrees are more difficult to fulfill (there are more required courses within the major, some of which are sequenced), and bucknell really does want you to graduate in four years, theyre basically forcing you to take what you need now (bio, calc and chem) so that you can graduate on time.

my suggestion? call the school. a click of a button will likely get you 'unhooked' from your b.s. path at this point, though i make no guarantees. but... it cant hurt. (also, should things for whatever reason not work out, transferring out of a b.s. program after your first semester is not a big deal... at all.)

kaleigh3 · 05-11-2008, 12:04 PM

Hi Eric, ilmor and satn87,

Thanks so much for your on-going responses to questions on this forum!

We are looking at the Bucknell Laptop program and at first we were sure that getting a Laptop through Bucknell would probably be the best option to be sure that my daughter was equipped with what she needed and compatible with all the University resources. But it appears this it is not the most cost-effective option. In your opinion, are the support and compatibility advantages of purchasing through the University worth the price?

kaleigh3 · 05-11-2008, 12:12 PM

Ashelia and Breckw,

On page 6 of your registration packet, it states that you may switch degree programs by providing a written request to the Admissions Office (an email contact is provided on that page). Good Luck! I think Neorolinguistics sounds really interesting!

breckw · 05-11-2008, 12:56 PM

thank you so much for quieting my greatest fears, kaleigh... i thought i was going to have to take calculus again.

i'll check it all out when i get my registration packet, hopefully tomorrow...

ilmor · 05-11-2008, 01:15 PM

kaleigh3, the large advantage of purchasing a laptop from the University is that the tech desk will fix pretty much anything should anything go wrong. That isn't to say that if you buy a laptop from outside the University, the tech desk won't try to fix it. But if something extremely horrible goes wrong with it, you're pretty much on your own with regards to ordering replacement parts. I think as long as you back up your data and be careful about transporting your laptop from place to place, you don't really need to buy a laptop through Bucknell. Also, I know quite a few people who purchased a computer elsewhere and compatibility with University resources wasn't an issue for them.

breckw · 05-12-2008, 01:13 PM

i just emailed the contact for switching majors yesterday, and she emailed me back this morning saying i had been approved and it was no problem. yay no chemistry for me!

Ashelia · 05-13-2008, 05:32 AM

Awesome! And very prompt transmission.

JustaMom5465 · 05-13-2008, 07:16 AM

My daughter is thinking about getting a computer through the Bison Laptop program...and she is considering switching to a Mac for the first time. As an engineering student does it matter whether a Windows-based or Mac is used? Do plenty of students use both? Is tech support strong for both?

I guess what I am most concerned about is the possibility of her needing to use different software for Engineering and its compatability with a Mac.

thanks again students & grads, this info in INVALUABLE! I so appreciate you taking the time to check these boards and answer all these questions!!

ilmor · 05-13-2008, 10:42 AM

I personally don't know of any engineers who own a mac, but that isn't to say there aren't any who do. Any engineering programs that you will use will be available to you at the various computer labs. The only way to get these engineering programs on your personal computer is to purchase them, which can be a substantial price. So, most people just go to the computer labs. Your laptop is mainly used for word processing, so I think whether you buy a mac or windows-based computer is a non-issue.

kaleigh3 · 05-13-2008, 11:11 AM

How necessary is having your own printer in your dorm room? I know it would be convenient but is space an issue?

Thanks again!!!

ilmor · 05-13-2008, 11:38 AM

Having a printer isn't necessary; however, depending on whether you live uphill or downhill, making a trip to the library just to print something out may be inconvenient . But if you're one of those people who always works in the library, I guess you wouldn't need a printer. I did all my work in my dorm room, and I loved having my own printer. There's plenty of desk space, so that shouldn't be a problem.

satn87 · 05-13-2008, 12:29 PM

i haven't had a printer for 2 years and got by fine. it depends on where you live i suppose, if whether not having a printer will be a problem. some dorms have computer labs (like Smith and larrison, for example) while others are close to these dorms so printing is easy. you can print from your computer to any bucknell university printer on campus, so printing to the closest one and retrieving the paper is all you have to do.

if you do get a printer, space is not a problem. You could have your printer as a backup and print primarily to the school printers.

satn87 · 05-13-2008, 12:32 PM

most people i know got their computers from elsewhere, not the laptop program. there haven't been any compatibility issues or so. Basically, buy whichever laptop that you like. the tech desk is usually able to fix problems when they occur.