Anonymous wrote:DD originally had eyes set on UMD or Tech for engineering, but just heard about Bucknell. The size of the school is appealing to her, but not sure how the engineering program stacks up to the bigger schools. Hoping to visit at some point, but would appreciate any insight on the program there, job placement, internships, etc.

Oh and another note from PP who taught at Bucknell:

UM is a huge, huge place. You will have near infinite research opportunities at UM and in the broader DC area--however, you will have to seek those opportunities out and nothing will be handed to you nor will you receive a lot of career direction. It will also be easy to get lost. There will be a lot of not-so-great engineering students, in addition to some brilliant ones who will go on to MIT PhDs. UM is not focused on undergraduate education. You can do really well there, but you need to be a student who is completely independent, self-motivated, and not easily intimidated by the huge and impersonal. You will have a lot of discussion sections with TAs who may or may not speak great English. At Bucknell, no TAs; there will still be a few huge classes but the discussions will be led by professors.

IMO, Bucknell engineering is best suited for a student who needs some nurturing, and can benefit from a small environment. UM engineering is best suited for somebody really academically aggressive, who doesn't need a lot of handholding and can stand out in an engineering college of thousands of people.

I used to teach engineering students at Bucknell. You do get what you pay for: It offers an incredible education, with a lot of personal attention devoted to individual students' success--and engineering is one of the top departments. The faculty there truly love their students, and teaching, and go out of their way to see that students can engage in research and go on to the best opportunities.

Of course, not all of the students are going to take advantage of the resources, and part of that is that the student body is largely wealthy WASPy kids from PA, NY, etc. who were good but not remarkable students in high school and spend a lot of time getting drunk at their frat houses.

But if you are a serious student, as far as the education, it's still a great place to go.

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Anonymous wrote:Does your daughter like to drink? Like to drink a lot? That's the main activity there.

As opposed to the ice cream socials they have at your kid’s college, right?

NP. Bucknell is very, very drinking heavy.

Every college is very, very drinking heavy. Trust me. I have a kid at Lehigh who tells me everything. He has friends at VT, JMU, UMD, Umass, Tufts, Auburn, and yes, one at Bucknell. It’s all the same. Alcohol is readily available at any party, any night of the week. There are kids who seek that out and kids who don’t. No college should be overlooked because kids there drink heavily. You can even find that at Liberty if you’re looking for it. Every college has plenty of kids who don’t partake and plenty of things for those students to be involved in.

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Anonymous wrote:Any idea if Bucknell is generous with their merit money?

I would not go there is you need a lot of aid. It’s a school for rich kids from CT and PA who can’t get into the top schools. It’s a very good school. I know a lot of people who went there, and they all have good jobs and live in multi million homes, but they all grew up at least UMC and could afford full pay.

I do know one person who went there on scholarship, and they also happen to be a graduate of the engineering program. Really smart person with a good job now.

Don’t forget NJ. Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, and any NE LAC could almost be considered in state schools for NJ because there are so many NJ students there.

Oh heavens! Not New Jersey people! Some of them don’t even believe in Jesus!

Oh just wait. You’ll see. NJ kids don’t Typically socialize with non nj kids if given a choice.

Stereotype much? Have you learned nothing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your daughter like to drink? Like to drink a lot? That's the main activity there.

As opposed to the ice cream socials they have at your kid’s college, right?

NP. Bucknell is very, very drinking heavy.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea if Bucknell is generous with their merit money?

I would not go there is you need a lot of aid. It’s a school for rich kids from CT and PA who can’t get into the top schools. It’s a very good school. I know a lot of people who went there, and they all have good jobs and live in multi million homes, but they all grew up at least UMC and could afford full pay.

I do know one person who went there on scholarship, and they also happen to be a graduate of the engineering program. Really smart person with a good job now.

Don’t forget NJ. Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, and any NE LAC could almost be considered in state schools for NJ because there are so many NJ students there.

Oh heavens! Not New Jersey people! Some of them don’t even believe in Jesus!

Oh just wait. You’ll see. NJ kids don’t Typically socialize with non nj kids if given a choice.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea if Bucknell is generous with their merit money?

I would not go there is you need a lot of aid. It’s a school for rich kids from CT and PA who can’t get into the top schools. It’s a very good school. I know a lot of people who went there, and they all have good jobs and live in multi million homes, but they all grew up at least UMC and could afford full pay.

I do know one person who went there on scholarship, and they also happen to be a graduate of the engineering program. Really smart person with a good job now.

Don’t forget NJ. Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, and any NE LAC could almost be considered in state schools for NJ because there are so many NJ students there.

Oh heavens! Not New Jersey people! Some of them don’t even believe in Jesus!

Anonymous wrote:Does your daughter like to drink? Like to drink a lot? That's the main activity there.

As opposed to the ice cream socials they have at your kid’s college, right?

Anonymous wrote:Does your daughter like to drink? Like to drink a lot? That's the main activity there.

This.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea if Bucknell is generous with their merit money?

I would not go there is you need a lot of aid. It’s a school for rich kids from CT and PA who can’t get into the top schools. It’s a very good school. I know a lot of people who went there, and they all have good jobs and live in multi million homes, but they all grew up at least UMC and could afford full pay.

I do know one person who went there on scholarship, and they also happen to be a graduate of the engineering program. Really smart person with a good job now.

Don’t forget NJ. Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, and any NE LAC could almost be considered in state schools for NJ because there are so many NJ students there.

Does your daughter like to drink? Like to drink a lot? That's the main activity there.

Anonymous wrote:Any idea if Bucknell is generous with their merit money?

I would not go there is you need a lot of aid. It’s a school for rich kids from CT and PA who can’t get into the top schools. It’s a very good school. I know a lot of people who went there, and they all have good jobs and live in multi million homes, but they all grew up at least UMC and could afford full pay.

I do know one person who went there on scholarship, and they also happen to be a graduate of the engineering program. Really smart person with a good job now.

GWU has a relatively small engineering school, with strong research program (that you would not find at colleges like Lafayette or Bucknell). It also has one of the highest proportions of female students in the nation.

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Anonymous wrote:DD originally had eyes set on UMD or Tech for engineering, but just heard about Bucknell. The size of the school is appealing to her, but not sure how the engineering program stacks up to the bigger schools. Hoping to visit at some point, but would appreciate any insight on the program there, job placement, internships, etc.

I don’t know much about the program, but when we visited the school just seemed so...bland. And insanely overpriced. All identical brick buildings. Two of my kids’ friends are going there and they are very average students (like national average sats).

Bucknell's 25% ACT is 28, and the national average is around 21, so at least 3/4 of the students there are substantially above average.

Data: it's your friend! Anecdotal opinions not so much.

They went test optional this year, so I’m guessing my kid’s friends didn’t submit their scores. One of them got a 960.

Yeah no one gives a frig about your kid’s friend, or your horrible nasty bitter attitude about him. Also you don’t know how statistics work. Data doesn’t lie.

The engineering program is very good.

The kids who are premed will likely be weeded out. Back in my day, we took Organic Chem first semester freshman year.