Admissions Q & A
Admissions Q & A
We have organized the following questions into three categories based on the admissions process timeframe:
If your question is not listed here or if you need a more detailed answer, please contact the Office of Admissions at 570-577-1101 to speak with someone directly or submit your question [askabison@bucknell.edu] via email.
Thinking about Bucknell
- How competitive is Bucknell?
- What is the academic profile of the average accepted Bucknell student?
- What types of courses does Bucknell offer?
- How do I arrange a campus visit?
- How much does Bucknell cost?
- I don’t think I can afford Bucknell. What type of financial aid and scholarships does Bucknell offer?
How competitive is Bucknell?
Bucknell is in the top four percent of the most selective colleges in the nation. In 2008, Bucknell received 8,024 applications and accepted 2,395 – just under a 30 percent acceptance rate.
What is the academic profile of the average accepted Bucknell student?
From a qualitative standpoint, Bucknell students are intellectually curious, academically engaged, highly motivated and community-oriented. For a quantitative assessment (GPAs, standardized tests) of Bucknell students, please click here.
What types of courses does Bucknell offer?
As a liberal arts institution, Bucknell offers an extensive range of pre-professional courses in humanities, social sciences, arts, natural sciences and mathematics, along with professional programs in engineering, education, management and music.
One of the best ways to get a sense of our course offerings is to look at the Bucknell Course Catalog, which is available for online viewing here.
How do I arrange a campus visit?
Campus tours are offered several times each day. Check out the online Visitation Calendar to see our tour schedule.
Alternatively, if you come to Bucknell at a time when the Office of Admissions is closed, you can pick up an information packet inside the foyer of the office at Freas Hall. The information packet includes details about campus buildings and landmarks as well as a campus map to lead you in your self-guided tour.
Appointments are not necessary for tours, but feel free to call the Admissions Office at 570-577-1101 if you have questions.
Tuition and fees (for students entering 2009-10)
- $40,594 for tuition
- $9,504 for room and board (estimated)
- $222 for student activity fees
Total: $50,320 (estimated)
Please keep in mind that any student who needs assistance may apply for financial aid. If you and your family were to qualify for aid, the amount you owe Bucknell would be less than the total for tuition and fees. Thus, the "sticker price" below does not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the amount you would owe. In fact, if you are awarded financial aid, it is possible that the amount you would be expected to pay Bucknell may be close to the same amount – or even the same amount -- at colleges and universities with lower tuition and fees. For your reference:
- About 45 percent of students receive financial aid from Bucknell, and 62 percent receive financial aid of some form.
- The average financial aid award for first-year students with financial need in the fall of 2008 is about $25,000, which includes scholarships, loans, and work study.
- The average loan total upon graduation is about $19,500.
What kinds of financial aid and scholarships does Bucknell offer?
Need-Based Aid
We offer a comprehensive financial aid program to assist families with meeting the cost of a Bucknell education. A family’s aid eligibility will be assessed through the submission of the CSS PROFILE, furnished by the College Scholarship Service, www.collegeboard.com, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), www.fafsa.ed.gov. The University values the important contributions of students with academic and other special talents and backgrounds. Institutional financial aid awards recognize students’ achievement and potential for future success.
Bucknell University also has a modest merit scholarship program. Students eligible for consideration of merit scholarships will be identified through the admissions application review process. No additional information is required to be considered for a scholarship.
Arts Merit Scholarships
Students interested in the creative arts (e.g., art, art history, music, dance, theater, creative writing) may be eligible for other merit-based scholarships. For more information regarding these scholarships, visit the Arts Merit Scholarships section of our website.
You can learn more about our financial aid program by visiting the Tuition & Financial Aid section of our website or by contacting the financial aid office at finaid@bucknell.edu.
Preparing to Apply
- What is the Bucknell application like and where can I get it?
- What are Bucknell’s application deadlines?
- Who should apply Early Decision?
- What’s the difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II?
- Can I apply for admittance in the spring semester?
What is the Bucknell application like and where can I get it?
Students applying to Bucknell must submit the Common Application as well as the Bucknell Supplemental Application form. The supplemental application includes a required essay and optional essay and serves as a place for you to show us why you are a good fit for Bucknell and why Bucknell is a good fit for you.
When are Bucknell’s application deadlines?
The Early Decision I deadline is November 15, 2009. The Regular Decision and Early Decision II deadline is January 15, 2010.
Who should apply Early Decision?
Only students who have designated Bucknell as their first choice school should apply Early Decision. If you are accepted through the Early Decision process, you are automatically committed to attend Bucknell and must withdraw any regular decision applications you have submitted to other schools.
The only scenario in which you’d be released from your Early Decision acceptance is if your financial aid package is less than what you anticipated. In that case, we would encourage you to contact Bucknell’s Office of Financial Aid to request a reevaluation of your situation. If the subsequent financial aid package is still inadequate, you would be released from your acceptance.
What’s the difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II?
The only difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II is the deadline. If Bucknell is your first choice school but you don’t have your application complete in time for the November 15 deadline, you can send in your application for the January 15 deadline. Both Early Decision options are binding agreements, which means you must withdraw any regular decision applications for other schools if you are accepted to Bucknell.
Can I apply for admittance in the spring semester?
Bucknell does not offer an application process for students wishing to enter college in the spring semester. If there are special circumstances surrounding your late application or if you have questions about applying, please call 570-577-1101.
Applying to Bucknell
- Is it better to apply online or mail in my application?
- Is it beneficial to send more than one teacher recommendation?
- I’m not sure what I want to major in at Bucknell. Is it better to choose a major that I’m unsure of or apply undecided?
- Does the intended major that I list on my application affect my chances for acceptance to Bucknell?
- What is the deadline for submitting SAT/ACT scores?
- How do I submit an application fee waiver?
- How will I know if Bucknell has received all of my application materials?
Is it better to apply online or mail in my application?
In terms of evaluating your application, there is no difference between paper and online applications; the same standards are applied when reviewing an online application as a paper application.
Is it beneficial to send more than one teacher recommendation?
Bucknell requires one teacher recommendation (focused on your academic performance and potential) to be included in your application. Because of the large number of applicants and the amount of information included in each application, our admissions staff asks that any additional recommendations be submitted only if they provide a unique perspective on your character and skills.
An additional recommendation should not reiterate the information provided in the first. A good example of a useful second recommendation would be one from a sports coach, music teacher or employer since it could provide insight into your talents outside of a purely academic setting.
I’m not sure what I want to major in at Bucknell. Is it better to choose a major that I’m unsure of or apply undecided?
If you are undecided about a prospective major, we encourage you to list yourself as undecided. Just keep in mind that you will be asked to explain your choice – whether you know what you want to study or not – in the supplemental application form.
Does the intended major that I list on my application affect my chances for acceptance to Bucknell?
Your application will be reviewed according to your first-choice major or the first major listed on the form. Bucknell does admit students into their intended first-choice majors and frequently receives large numbers of applicants to certain programs. In some cases, the major you indicate may affect your chances for admission.
Management Program
The management program has limited space for students who enter Bucknell as undecided. Therefore, if you know you are interested in management, you should apply to that major; space cannot be guaranteed at a later time.
College of Engineering
The engineering programs are offered within the College of Engineering and lead to Bachelor of Science degrees in specific engineering disciplines. Applicants interested in majoring in engineering are strongly encouraged to apply for admission to the College of Engineering (“undecided” within engineering is acceptable for purposes of admission), as transferring into the engineering college from the College of Arts and Sciences cannot be guaranteed at a later time. If you want to apply for admission to a five-year dual-degree program, please select a major within the College of Engineering (“undecided” is acceptable) and list both the program and the engineering major on the supplemental application form.
What is the deadline for submitting SAT/ACT scores?
If your regular decision application arrives by January 15, we will wait to make a decision until we have your SAT/ACT scores. The latest test scores we will accept are from the January test date (as long as the scores are received in a timely fashion), but we would prefer to have earlier test dates on record. If you receive your scores after January 15, forward them to us immediately so we can include them in your application. If you anticipate your scores arriving late, you may wish to send a note with your application explaining the situation and requesting that the counselors postpone their decision until your scores have arrived.
How do I submit an application fee waiver?
If you wish to be considered for an application fee waiver, your high school guidance counselor must submit a written fee waiver request, stating the circumstances meriting the waiver. Mail the request to:
Office of Admissions
1 Dent Drive
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837
How will I know if Bucknell has received all of my application materials?
You should receive a confirmation letter in the mail within a week and a half after you submit your application. The letter will give you a user ID and PIN that gives you access to an application checklist so that you can see what materials Bucknell has received and what is still needed to make your application complete. If you misplace the letter, you can go to Bucknell’s website and submit a request for a forgotten username or password.
If you don’t receive a confirmation letter within two weeks of sending your application, you should e-mail the Office of Admissions at admissions@bucknell.edu or call 570-577-1101 to check the status of your application.
