Bucknell University

Date: Jan 28 2010
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
I graduated from Bucknell in 1987 (hard to believe it's really 23 years ago!!) I happened across this comment sight while searching (out of curiosity) for 2010-2011 tuition rates. My oldest daughter is only 13, but I was curious as to what tuition is these days for more selective schools, including my undergraduate alma mater. In reading the comments from others, I was most taken aback by how little things have changed at Bucknell. Overall, I have to say that I received an excellent college education at Bucknell, but I'm not really sure it was worth the high tuition then (nor do I think it is worth the high tuition now). I believe you can attend much less expensive schools and get just as great an education. Bucknell touts small classes and personal attention, and you can get that very easily. You just have to take the time to talk to your professors for help or just further insight. I worked for a few years out of Bucknell and then went back to law school and business school. I have been practicing corporate law for 17 years. I did feel very well prepared to succeed in graduate school as a result of attending Bucknell.

However, if you are looking for diversity in the student body, you will not find it here. It didn't exist 23 years ago, and it doesn't appear to exist now. I enjoyed my social life even though I wasn't a member of a sorority, but it is easier for girls not to be Greek and still get into a frat party/have a fun social life. I had friends in many different Greek organizations because I was involved in theatre and some more artsy stuff, and had a pretty large, cool group of friends. Basically we made our own fun, and we had our share of parties with drinking, hookups, etc., but I don't think that was all we were focused on. When I read other reviews, I see that the focus on getting smashed every single weekend is still the same as it was when I attended. It's a little disconcerting to be in that atmosphere constantly. Overall, students then were very white bread, conservative, a bit racist, definitely sexist, and really only interested in people just like them - very little interest in expanding horizons at Bucknell. Based on other stuff I've read here, that doesn't appear to have changed.

I have to say the campus is absolutely beautiful - I've been back for class reunions and stuff and the administration has really updated campus with new buildings and facilities, and it's just a pretty campus overall. However, Lewisburg is very rural, and it's definitely out in the middle of nowhere.

If I had to do it again, I would go to a school that was a bigger than 3500 undergrads (5000 to 10000), with more diversity and less of a Greek life - way too much emphasis on being Greek for me when I look back, even though I found my way. I would not recommend Bucknell to my daughter, which is really saying something because many alumni go on and on about how it was the best 4 years of their lives. REALLY?? Wow - just another example of how shallow Bucknellians can be. I think I would shoot myself if I thought my best years existed between 18 and 22 - don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my college years, but it was not everything.

My advice is to really think about what you are looking for from a college experience - if you want to expand your horizons, diversity and people who have had different experiences than you is the way to go. Think about whether that high tuition and "name" is going to get you anywhere - my experience is that once you get that first job after college, no one really cares about where you went to undergrad, only what and who you are and what you bring to the workplace.

Good luck!!