Next stop my summer college tour: Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in the Susquehanna River Valley. If you’re looking for a mid-sized liberal arts college (3600 students) that offers engineering and business and has one of the most gorgeous campuses in the country, you must check out Bucknell!
1. Bucknell has 3 colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, which houses 65% of the student body; College of Management, which offers 4 majors; and College of Engineering, which offers 8 majors. You must apply directly into the College of Management or College of Engineering if you are considering business or engineering.
2. Though it’s technically a university, there are only 60 graduate students, so Bucknell is essentially an undergraduate institution.
3. There’s a core curriculum to help students explore academically and find their path. All students take the Foundations first-year seminar that teaches how to write using MLA and APA citations to prepare students for success for all classes.
4. Classes are capped at 30 students and taught by professors. Professors know your name and build relationships with students.
5. Bucknell encourages hands-on problem-solving in all disciplines. More than 50% of first years participate in research. You can pursue research in any field, not only your major. Just ask your professor in any course that interests you to get started in a research project.
6. Bucknell is an engaged community. The admissions office looks for engaged leaders who want to come to campus and participate. There are over 200 clubs and organizations, and 96% of students live on campus for all 4 years.
7. Because Bucknell encourages students to pursue rigorous academics and be active outside the classroom, the university is invested in creating support systems for students and building a culture where asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness.
8. 97% of the Class of 2017 were employed, in grad school, or volunteering within 9 months of graduation. The Career Center hosts job fairs twice a year and helps students find externships with Bucknell alumni during winter break so students can explore potential fields or jobs. These externships often lead to summer internships.
9. There are 8 fraternities, which have houses, and 8 sororities, which share a designated dorm. Greek events are open to all students, so there’s no social separation even if you don’t go Greek. There are also additional Greek organizations that are philanthropic not social.
10. There are merit scholarships from $2,500 to $20,000 as well as dedicated arts scholarships students can apply for.
11. The STEM Scholars program allows 15 students to participate in research for 5 weeks the summer BEFORE freshman year.
12. The Small Business Development Program allows all students to become entrepreneurs and compete for funding for new ideas. It also works with local businesses to help them grow, and the engineering school helps develop prototypes.
13. There are 3 Maker Spaces on campus, all free and open to everyone. You can walk in with an idea and leave with a thing.
14. The founders of companies as diverse as The Home Depot and Kiva are Bucknell alums. The orange of the Home Depot logo is the same as Bucknell’s orange :)