<p>Hi, I’m a high school student, and I am anxiously waiting for my letters from Bucknell and Lafayette. </p>
<p>Does anyone have children who attend either of these schools?
What do they like about it and what do they dont? how are the dorms and Financial aid? Are they close to airports (im from Southern california so I will be traveling back and forth for vacations). Any input would be much appreciated, thank you</p>
<p>Hi Boonies13~
My son is a sophomore at Lafayette and loves it! He was also accepted at Bucknell, but “the fit” was right for him at Lafayette. He is a Marquis Scholar, which provides a very nice $16000/ year merit scholarship with remaining determined need met by grants instead of loans. Notification of being a Marquis Recipient came mid-March as opposed to the April 1 deadline, which was great! He got a likely letter from Bucknell, but if I recall correctly, the actual acceptance letter was much closer to April, and the FA package after that. </p>
<p>Another benefit of the Marquis is a fully funded interim trip abroad. S went to Kenya & Tanzania in January–what a fabulous experience! Many students take the interim trips as well as do semesters abroad.</p>
<p>So far his experiences at Lafayette have been all positive. He is involved in a variety of things, has had the opportunity to do summer EXCEL research, (the opportunity for research across all majors is impressive) has made great friends, experienced wonderful professors, pledged a frat, plays a club sport, attends on campus performances & lectures, has dined with the president, and the list goes on. Oh and the football rivalry with Lehigh is intense–The Leopards have prevailed the past two seasons! He especially likes the small size of his classes and the opportunity to really interact with the profs. The facilities are quite nice–from the library to the sciences to the art studios, we are impressed. Campus is lovely. Not terribly big, which means you can be anywhere on time! His freshman dorm was nice-sized, big walk-in closets. Soph housing is a 3 room suite with 2 BRs and a common room, the dorm is not in the greatest condition, but he loves it! He doesn’t complain about the food too much, because as a 19 year old guy as long as there IS food he is happy. He now gets some meals at the frat house, which is actually a better deal for him and he likes the variety. As for airports, we are about a 90 minute drive so it doesn’t affect us, but there is the Lehigh Valley International Airport, in Allentown, which is very close. If you are looking for a bigger one, Philadelphia would be closest. There isn’t really an airport convenient to Bucknell–I think the closest would be at Harrisburg, perhaps one in State College.</p>
<p>Son (and Mom & Dad) are extremely happy with Lafayette. The admissions staff was wonderful, attend an accepted student day if you can. The freshman orientation staff is top-notch–son enjoyed his experience so greatly that he is now an Orientation Leader himself! The one complaint he has had is getting into one or two classes has been hard, but he either ended up getting in or taking something else that was a good choice. He has taken advantage of the Liberal Arts selections, and as a primarily science oriented guy has greatly enjoyed Art Studio and a Music Class–he has expanded is horizons for his major and minor.</p>
<p>Please feel free to ask more questions if you think of any!</p>
<p>So great to hear such nice things about Lafayette! Airport-wise the one in Allentown is nice and close (really a great little airport) and if you book enough in advance you can get good deals. I would say that Newark is closer then Philly though for a big airport by about 20 minutes. I’m picking up my daughter from LVI next Sunday! BTW, if you look for a sample flight for Lehigh Valley airport the code is actually ABE. It used to be called Allentown- Bethlehem- Easton airport and I guess they couldn’t change the airport code.</p>