Bucknell University Reviews

Everyone Drinks, but Drugs Not So Much

The vast majority of students here drink, with quite a few binge drinking. I wouldn't say that there is pressure to drink, however. Rumor has it that one sorority has a cocaine habit, but the only drug use I've actually heard about is occasional pot smoking, which definitely is not all that prevalent and there is no pressure.

Drugs aren't really a significant...

Drugs aren't really a significant part of student life at Bucknell at all, unless you want to count alcohol. Some students might get bored sometimes and smoke pot, but that's about it. A few people smoke. Mostly everyone drinks. I hear rumors about people doing coke, but I don't know of anyone first-hand.

Most students live on campus until...

Most students live on campus until senior year, when about half of the senior class moves off campus. Housing is fairly easy and cheap to find, though quality housing is limited, so students should look to sign a lease early. Some students have had difficulty obtaining permission to live off campus from the Bucknell administration, though efforts have been made to rectify this problem for future students.

With the new housing policies, it...

With the new housing policies, it is basically impossible to live off campus until you are a junior. There is a big spectrum in quality of dormitories, and it is hard to get to live where you want. So, if you aren't in a fraternity or sorority, living off campus is absolutely worth it, and most of the social scene takes place downtown in off-campus houses.

Professors are incredible with few...

Professors are incredible with few exceptions. They challenge you to do your best and genuinely want to be here. I've had lunch at a professor's house and made cookies with a professor's children. They want to get to know you both academically and personally.

There's housing reasonably close...

There's housing reasonably close to campus and fairly priced, but the school is limiting the number of kids allowed to live off campus. The more kids living on campus means more room and board fees for the school.

The town of Lewisburg is so tiny...

The town of Lewisburg is so tiny that public transportation is not an issue, but the nearest mall and the Wal-Mart are farther away. Bucknell offers shuttles to both places, but they are not always offered. The school also offers cheap day trips to New York City and Washington, DC, but these are rare. In general, people don't leave campus unless they have a car of their own.

It's not really convenient because...

It's not really convenient because you have to get approved to live off campus, and that is a difficult process. It is usually seniors who live off campus, and they normally have to sign a lease at least a year in advance.

The professors are usually great,...

The professors are usually great, but there are some bad ones. The workload is a lot. If you know what classes are easy, it's nice to balance those with harder ones but expect a lot of work. All of my professors have basically been great at meeting with me whenever I needed help.

Drinking is by far more popular...

Drinking is by far more popular than smoking, seeing as that almost everyone I know drinks. If you're looking for people to smoke weed with, you can definitely find someone, but it's not something that everyone's doing. I've also heard of instances of coke, but I think that, overall, it's very rare.

Not that many people choose to...

Not that many people choose to live off campus after freshman year. It's just so much easier to do it through the school and live on campus. However, I've heard a lot of good things about renting a house in downtown Lewisburg as a senior. It's a great way to spend your last year and get a glimpse into the real life of living on your own.

The weather at Bucknell is like...

The weather at Bucknell is like any other school in Pennsylvania. The end of the summer is hot/warm until about the end of October, and then it get's very cold and a bit windy through the beginning of spring in March. However, we get some funky weather, and we'll have some really warm days in the middle of winter for days at a time. Always have jeans and a warm coat, but prepare for warm weather!

The teachers are excellent here....

The teachers are excellent here. We have a great core group of professors who really have a vested interest in the students. They are required to hold office hours during the week and are more than happy to schedule other times to meet, as well. The workload at Bucknell is pretty heavy. The rigors of the education here are said to really set Bucknell students apart from others in the real world, and it doesn't surprise me. Spending around four hours a day outside of class, per course, is a common practice. Bucknell is widely known for its superb engineering school and is recently being recognized for its business school.

Off-campus housing before junior...

Off-campus housing before junior or senior year is next to impossible. The University is trying to keep the dorms filled to a certain capacity, and since the University guarantees four years of on-campus living, it is difficult for many people to have the privilege of living off campus. For juniors and seniors who have houses, the quality is fair at best. The apartments and houses are situated between downtown Lewisburg and the campus. Campus housing is really nice, especially as you get older, so for me, it makes sense to use campus housing.

A quick walk downtown to Market...

A quick walk downtown to Market Street will satisfy many tastes. Classic bar cuisine can be found at the Bull Run, more expensive European-inspired food can be found at Elizabeth's, and interesting Spanish appetizers can be sampled at Marco's Tapas. Just a quick two-minute drive down Route 15 is Damon's, a sports bar restaurant with a screening room. A Bucknell classic called the Lewisburg Freez is a five-minute walk from campus, as well.

Most guys and girls here are...

Most guys and girls here are rather rich, considering the tuition, and it tends to show in the brand names that they wear. Lacoste seems to be a staple of most wardrobes, along with other high-end upscale brand names.

Almost every student here is in a...

Almost every student here is in a frat or sorority. There are also heavy stereotypes associated with which ones are the "cool and popular" sororities or fraternities, and which ones are not. You tend to feel a little left out if you are not a part of Greek life. But, if you are on an athletic team, you can find your niche there.

Almost everyone lives on campus...

Almost everyone lives on campus all four years, except most students study abroad their junior year. It is definitely a pain to get approved to live off campus.

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.

In general, the guys are your...

In general, the guys are your typical frat boys—outgoing and generally intelligent when they step in the classroom, but mostly just looking to have a good time. Girls generally fit the sorority stereotype—many are blonde, friendly, and fashionable. There are other varieties of people, but they're in the minority.

Once you're on campus, there's no...

Once you're on campus, there's no point in driving from class to class simply because parking can be pretty competitive. Plus, it's not that large of a campus anyway.

A lot of students are involved in...

A lot of students are involved in sports and the athletic facilities are very nice. However, there's not a lot of support from unathletic students.

The food is pretty good. All...

The food is pretty good. All freshmen are required to buy an unlimited meal plan at the Caf, but the Bison, where upperclassmen eat, has a la cart options and good wraps. All students living on campus have to get some sort of meal plan.

Greek life is huge—about half of...

Greek life is huge—about half of students are in it. You can't rush until sophomore year, but the delayed rush is nice because you get a chance to make friends and join clubs outside of your frat or sorority. The frats and sororities all have different reputations. The girls wear their letters all the time.

Even though it's in the middle of...

Even though it's in the middle of nowhere, there aren't a lot of parking spaces. But, the campus is small enough so that most people walk to class anyway, except for sophomores in the Mods and some students living off campus.