Is Bucknell really that bad?

[Anonymous]

I have a few friends who went to Bucknell in the 80's. They are very bright and accomplished. However, the descriptions of their social lives during college does not appeal to me. They were in sororities and it seemed kind of exclusionary. There were good sororities and bad, and only some frats you would want to socialize with. This was a long time ago, but I can't seem to get that out of my mind when I think of Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

The engineering school has its own vibe. Tougher admissions (much lower acceptance rate, higher grades and test score averages) and definitely more studious and focused cohort. If your DD is considering school of engineering that makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kind of student who chooses Bucknell had the cool parents who let them drink at home.

Lol. This completely describes the one kid I know there.

[Anonymous]

Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only know one person who went there and he happens to be one of the biggest douchebags I know.

+1...but my friend was female.

She was the mean girl in high school and went on to become a lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

The poster's point (I am an NP) still stands - small, remote colleges (even more so in cold temps) are more likely to have heavy drinking climates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

The poster's point (I am an NP) still stands - small, remote colleges (even more so in cold temps) are more likely to have heavy drinking climates.

+1

The poster's point was pretty clear that small, remote schools located in colder climes more like to rely on drinking as a socializer. It doesn't need to be every night of the week but still predominate on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a bunch of people who went there. They all come from money and are bright. All do very well 25 years later, and they are still friends with Bucknell people.

This is same for the Bucknell grads I know. All smart and professionally successful, but also started on second base due to well to do upbringings. They also seem to have a lot of loyalty/fond memories of the school.

Similar, interactions with Buknell grads - come from money, have connections, end up doing fine for jobs (some do well but I wouldn't say superstars, unless job is very social skills heavy - like sales). They are all still very social and like to party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

The poster's point (I am an NP) still stands - small, remote colleges (even more so in cold temps) are more likely to have heavy drinking climates.

+1

The poster's point was pretty clear that small, remote schools located in colder climes more like to rely on drinking as a socializer. It doesn't need to be every night of the week but still predominate on the weekend.

You are avoiding discussion of the frat vs no frat culture. It's own toxic brew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

OP here...I literally have no dog in this fight whatsoever. I was naming a couple of schools where I had friends attend who commented that there was not much to do but get trashed. Find and replace with whatever remote, cold-weather schools you want.

I think it is crazy to believe that drinking does not play an outsized role in the social life (greek or non-greek) at these remote schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to be faculty there. The students mostly were very rich and not very good—but the few who were good could get a really great education, because the faculty are really devoted.

What years were you teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Are you kidding? NO ONE would put Bowdoin or Williams in the same category as Bucknell.
You must have a kid who went there, and are embarrassed.

According to UNIGO, at Bucknell, 55% of students describe greek life as "everything", while 0% at Bowdoin and Williams chose that option (in fact 91% and 100% respectively report that there is NO greek life on their campuses).

73% of Bucknell students say "there is some drinking going on every night of the week", whereas 27% of students at Bowdoin and 21% of students at Williams report that.

No comparison, as I said..

OP here...I literally have no dog in this fight whatsoever. I was naming a couple of schools where I had friends attend who commented that there was not much to do but get trashed. Find and replace with whatever remote, cold-weather schools you want.

I think it is crazy to believe that drinking does not play an outsized role in the social life (greek or non-greek) at these remote schools.

Sure, stare at numbers that contradict your hunch and then reject them out of hand. This is why we (as a country) can't have nice things.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of people with kids there. It seems to be a popular school for kids these days who, a generation ago, would have gone to Middlebury/Bowdoin, but with the increased competition these days, can’t get in. So, I bet there are plenty of smart, competent and normal kids at Bucknell, they just aren’t pointy enough to get into higher ranked schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems unfair to dump on Bucknell specifically.

The culture of many of these smaller schools in the middle of nowhere (especially in places that are cold for 2/3 of the college year) are vey much the same. Not much to do in the general area, and heavy drinking is the primary social scene.

Replace Bucknell with Bowdoin, Williams, Lafayette and about 100 other similar schools and you will get the same response.

Haha!