Photo: Bucknell University. Retrieved from: www.bucknell.edu
Bucknell University is a top liberal arts school offering approximately 50 majors and more than 60 minors. It comprises the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, and the College of Engineering. Compared to some colleges in the top tier of liberal arts school rankings, Bucknell has a relatively sizable undergraduate population of almost 4,000 as well as a thriving graduate student population of almost 200.
The academic programs in management, engineering, music and education are top notch. Many students that have benefited from Bucknell’s world-class academic programs went on to become industry leaders. Many students also go to Bucknell to take up pre-law and pre-med courses.
School History
Bucknell university was originally the University of Lewisburg. This school was founded in 1846 from a group of Baptists from White Deer Valley Baptist Church. The group’s objective was to set up a literary institution in Central Pennsylvania. In 1845, Stephen William Taylor, prepared a charter for the school and played a big role in the development of the university. The charter was granted under the condition that 100,000 dollars should be collected for the university to be given full corporate status. The school opened using the basement of the First Baptist Church in Lewisburg.
In 1850, the first building of the campus was built and is now known as Taylor Hall. The building served as the class hall of men and women students until the establishment of the Female Institute in 1852. By the time the first graduation was held, the board of trustees had asked Howard Malcom to become the first president of the university.
A significant change happened in 1881, when the school had to seek the help of a charter member, William Bucknell, for financial assistance. He endowed the school with a fifty thousand dollar donation and the board of trustees decided to name the university after him in gratitude.
For over a century, the university has continued to strengthen its academic programs, particularly the laboratories for science majors. The financial security of the school has also been addressed and by now, the campus resources are significant enough to continue nurturing individuals with unique talents.
Campus Life
For most students, Bucknell is a second home where friendships are forged and like-minded individuals shared their views on common interests. Many students are intellectuals, and all of the students are eager to learn. The faculty members are all approachable and they are made up of professors who are academically inclined and supportive of their students’ academic performance.
Students can choose form nearly 200 student organizations, including music and drama clubs, as well as political groups. The Greek presence in campus is one of the strongest in the nation, with active fraternities and sororities pioneering various events including those geared towards the community. Some say the presence is too strong, and socializing may be difficult for those that don’t join the greek life, but there are so many students with diverse interests to make friends with, regardless of the club they are affiliated with.
The campus can only be described as beautiful, with buildings and services that serve as an ideal backdrop for learning. Many of the students become excellent multi-taskers, and they can easily juggle academic life, fraternity or sorority life, and extracurricular activities.
Financial Aid
Bucknell is known for accepting students that show potential academically, regardless of their family’s financial status. Each application is considered objectively, and the most appropriate financial aid package is constructed. The types of aid given to students in need of financial assistance include scholarships and grants, federal loans, parent loan, financing options, student employment and federal work-study.
