Bucknell University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Students at Bucknell often say they wish they could pick up the Bucknell campus and community from its central Pennsylvania location and transplant it closer to a city. Bucknell is definitely not the school for someone who needs to constantly be in a city environment. Many Bucknellians come from suburban and urban areas, and rural, central Pennsylvania—the heart of Amish country—is definitely a big change for them. However, the amount of activity happening on campus makes up for the lack of excitement in the community. Bucknellians often talk about the “Bucknell Bubble” because of the isolation of the campus. It can be annoying to not hear about national events until you talk to your parents on the phone or happen to catch the news on the televisions at the gym.

Lewisburg is really cute small with some amazing restaurants. It’s an upscale town and the main street, Market Street, is well-kept and safe. Unique shops and the Campus Theater, which was featured in USA Today, can be found downtown. In general, locals are very nice to students, especially in the downtown area. However, when you get out to the strip-mall areas of Lewisburg, the economic differences between the academic community and locals is very obvious. Often, students will see Amish and Mennonites shopping in the local Wal-Mart! Occasionally, locals in this area are not as friendly as they are on Market Street, but it does not seem to be a huge issue for students.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

BucMG says: Bucknell University 2016 Law and Legal Studies

Lewisburg is a relatively small... Lewisburg is a relatively small town with about 5,000 residents. There are some nice places to eat in town, and it certainly has that small-town feel. Students have the option of going into town to see a movie at the Campus Theatre, get ice cream at the Lewisburg Freez, or take the shuttle bus to Wal-Mart on Saturdays, among other things. Being that Bucknell is in central Pennsylvania, there is not a whole lot surrounding the area. However, some students travel to Penn State to see friends, which is about an hour away. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 26, 2009 Report

shannonest says: Bucknell University 2015 Social Sciences

We have the "Bucknell Bubble,"... We have the "Bucknell Bubble," mostly because Bucknell is so fabulous no one really sees the need to leave. We'll go to concerts at nearby Susquehanna University or visit friends there, but mostly there's no reason to leave campus. ACE (Activities and Campus Events) plans a ton of activities all the time, and downtown Lewisburg is filled with cute shops and excellent small restaurants. We have pretty a good relationship with the locals, and although they never enjoy the massive amounts of partying, they still respect us as long as we respect them. The town and college are very intertwined. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 26, 2009 Report

BucNH says: Bucknell University 2015 Arts, Visual and Performing

It's a great small town—quaint and... It's a great small town—quaint and charming in every way, from the park in the center of town to the old buildings lining the streets. If you visit, you will find yourself instantly enchanted. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 26, 2009 Report

BucBP says: Bucknell University 2015 Engineering

Lewisburg is a relatively small... Lewisburg is a relatively small town but has a lot to offer. There are little festivals and street fairs all the time. Stay away from East Lewisburg and pretty much everything on the other side of the bridge, except the Lewisburg Diner. The best places to eat are Pizza Town, Bull Run, Damon's, Applebee's, Reba and Pacnho's, Domino's, La Casa de Pizza, and lots more! I'm sure the girls would like me to mention the cute little shops and places to go. There is a mall nearby, which is pretty awesome, and a new shopping center that just opened up—yay Starbucks! 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 25, 2009 Report

BucLA says: Bucknell University 2013 Engineering

The atmosphere of the town is very... The atmosphere of the town is very rural, quaint, and has a few Amish people in it. The best things to do are go out to dinner and visit the drive-in movies in the fall and summer. There are also local farmer's markets and fairs in surrounding towns. Wal-Mart was a big deal when it expanded here. There is nothing to stay away from and universities nearby include Penn State, Susquehanna, Lehigh, and Lafayette, but none of the schools are really that close, so university interaction is rare. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 24, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Lewisburg:
• Downtown Lewisburg is very quaint, with gingerbread porches, carved wooden doors, and three-globed streetlights.
• There are many historical sites, including an Underground Railroad station.
• There is a farmers’ market every week that brings Amish people from the area in their buggies.
• Lewisburg is ranked 15th in the nation in the book The 100 Best Small Towns in America.
• Every year downtown on Market Street there is a Chocolate Lovers’ Fantasy Festival, Ice Sculpture Festival, and Christmas Tree lighting.

Famous People from Lewisburg:
Frank Roessler– From the Real World Las Vegas
Christopher Mathewson – Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player

Local Slang:
Since Bucknell is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country, here is some Pennsylvania Dutch slang:
Flossie in a black apron dress – Young woman in traditional Amish or Mennonite attire.
Make wet? – Is it going to rain?
Outen the lights – Turn off the lights.
Tastes like More – Delicious.
Wootz – A person who pigs out eating.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Jen Adams
Hometown: Washington, PA
Major: Economics/Political Science

Jen can play the steel drums.

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.