Bucknell Through a Current Student's Eyes

roboguy12
Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:02:44 +0000

Hello, I am a current student at Bucknell University, and I hope every student who is considering to apply to Bucknell reads this, because it is true and I wish I had read something like this before I decided to come here. I looked at many other schools besides Bucknell, including Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, Cornell, and The College of New Jersey (as well as many others). I chose Bucknell because I loved the campus, as well as the academic prestige that it offered. I never had that “it felt right” feeling, but I chose Bucknell because it seemed to have made the most sense at the time.

However, I would have valued this priceless information before attending here, because it would have greatly affected my decision. While there is the quaint town of Lewisburg within walking distance, as well as shuttles to Wal-Mart and the nearby mall every weekend, and occasionally there is a movie playing somewhere, there is a bottom line to be drawn. IF YOU DO NOT DRINK/SMOKE THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. I am somebody who has chosen not to drink or smoke or engage in any type of drug at all, and I’m having quite possibly the worst time. I am generally a very outgoing, quirky, funny, and random person, and I have a very large group of high school friends with whom I still act myself. However, the fact of the matter is that, at Bucknell, I am merely a shadow of my true self, and mainly because I do not fit in anywhere. There are many frats on campus (I learned yesterday that one is known for its cocaine usage), but the trouble does not stop there. Freshmen like to throw parties in their dorms, and I know of several people who have already been caught (a girl was handcuffed the other night, too). There is a CHOICE group (substance-free living), but the guys who are members of it are the decidedly “weird” kids, no offense to those who are a part of it.

I went home this weekend and visited my family and my girlfriend (she attends The College of New Jersey), and I cannot express enough how happy I was…until I had to leave because the thought kept looming over me that “I have to go back there”. This, to me, is entirely unacceptable because college is supposed to be the best time of my life, but currently it consists of me counting down the days until I can return home.

That all being said, the school is fantastic academically. I am currently taking Calculus II, Physics, Latin, and a foundation seminar (every incoming freshman is required to take one). I am doing well in all my classes due in part to my academic perseverance, but also sadly due to the lack of activities or friends with which to do them.

In conclusion, Bucknell is good and you should attend if you under specific situations:

1. If academics are very important to you, and you don’t care as much about the social aspect.

2. If you enjoy parties and are a heavy drinker.

Do NOT attend Bucknell if you are:

1. A guy planning to make friends while also abstaining from alcohol/drugs. (I have found that girls have a much easier time making friends because it is the stereotype that guys are the ones who always drink.)

There will be people telling you that “drinking is everywhere” and “you can’t escape it”, but if you do not, please do not attend Bucknell with the goal of making friends. I am friendly with many people on my hall and in my classes, but that acquaintance-ship extends as far as playing videogames and grabbing a sandwich once in awhile. I am almost constantly alone at Bucknell and can safely say that I am having the worst time of my life here. I am right now, as I write this, looking up transfer information because I do not know how much longer I can live like this.

Best of luck to you in your college search, but keep the above description in mind when you are choosing, should Bucknell be on your list.

P.S. A little tidbit which is alarming to me and should serve as an adequate warning for anybody like me - search ‘House Party Weekend’ on UrbanDictionary.com and read the student-produced definitions. And keep in mind that, during Orientation week, the Orientation Assistant (who by the way told us about his drunken escapades and the number of times he’s smoked marijuana) for our floor told us how proud the guys on campus were when the first definition was added, and that the excitement grew as more were added. Just a little glimpse of what I have gotten myself into and what you should try to avoid.