Anonymous wrote:I have a DD at Bucknell, but we looked at both. Bucknell is about 700 students larger - really a great size for a LAC. From what we hear from friends of DD who go to Colgate, it's a nice place, and very cold. Colgate probably considered the "better school" if you look at USNWR etc. (I say as someone who sends their kid to BN), but the pros of Bucknell also counter-balance some of the perceived prestige. Both are heavily greek and sporty - my DD is an athlete. I agree probably a coin toss on a lot of issues, but those chasing prestige will likely say Colgate.
I know Colgate a bit better than Bucknell but I know kids at both schools and they love their schools. I agree that they are both similar sporty/greek/play hard but serious academics schools. More similar than different. From a straigh Econ perspective Colgates Econ department is quite a bit more active and better thought of from a RePec perspective; they publish quite a bit more and are cited more often but both are excellent programs.
I would pick based on fit.