Bucknell University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Majors: Triple major in Political Science, History, and Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies.
Minor: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Heterosexual Female
Summary
Varsity Athlete, Inner Varsity.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Private school in Los Angeles, CA with a graduating class of 150 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First Generation College Student: No
Majors: Triple major in Political Science, History, and Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies.
Minor: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Extracurricular Activities: Varsity Athlete, Inner Varsity.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience? In what ways?
Being part of a varsity sport at a Division I school has been one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences. It’s made me balance my time and makes me realize how much I procrastinate when I don’t have things to do. It helps me get involved in the school and meet this whole community of people I wouldn’t have access to if I weren’t part of athletics.
Academic Experience
Can you describe the weekly coursework for your majors?
They are all pretty reading and writing heavy. For History, I read a lot during the week on top of papers. Political Science has readings and tests, and for Classics, it’s a good mixture of exams and writing.
Is there anything you feel that any of your majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
I think all majors complement each other and the faculty allows me to make connections between the majors. The teachers are very supportive of fostering your interests, even if it’s not their specific class.
How would you describe the learning environment? Is it particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s pretty collaborative. Everyone comes from high achieving backgrounds, especially athletes. Overall everyone wants to achieve and is interested in learning, but not at the expense of another person’s detriment. We all have the same goals that we work toward.
What is your favorite class you’ve taken for your majors?
Political Theory was my favorite, which was required for the Political Science Major.
What is the least favorite class you’ve taken for your majors?
My least favorite class has been my International Politics class. I don’t think I was engaged with the professor’s style, so it wasn’t just the class itself.
How accessible have the professors in your department been?
Very accessible. They are available during office hours but are also flexible if I need to go outside of office hours at a specific time because of practice schedule. I’ve never gotten turned down.
How is managing both your sport and coursework?
It can get difficult during the height of the season. There are a lot of late nights, but we can turn to a lot of resources as well, such as free tutors. There is also that collaborative aspect, so teachers are understanding when it comes to giving extensions if I’m away for a game.
Reasons to Attend
1) The campus is beautiful and is what convinced me to go.
2) You get a small college town experience without the hassle of being in a city. It lets you delve into the college atmosphere.
3) Bucknell does a good job of welcoming you during orientation and is where I made a lot of my friends.
4) It’s close to all the big cities like D.C, New York, or Baltimore. You really get to experience the East Coast.
5) The community. People are really proud of Bucknell.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) It’s a lot of work but it is rewarding. If you aren’t willing to work for your academics, it’s not the school for you.
2) If guys don’t have an interest in Greek life, it might be difficult to have a good social scene.
Around Campus
Where have you lived during college?
Freshman: Smith Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Affinity House
Junior: Affinity House
How was transitioning from Los Angeles to Lewisburg, PA?
It’s very different. It’s nice to have a break from the city every once in a while, and I’m so busy with school and Volleyball so I don’t notice until the off-season when I have time on my hands. I like having the contrast because when I go home, I get to experience city life.
Social Opportunities
What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in?
Bucknell has a really good social scene, which usually happens on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. We usually party during the day on Saturday or at night at fraternities. There are also athlete houses that we go to. The bars are also a big scene, but I just haven’t explored them much because I’m not 21. The gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas is when we usually go out on Wednesday’s as a team because we are not in season.
How happy are you with the nightlife at Bucknell? Is there anything you would change?
I personally love it. There is always something to do, but also there is not the pressure that you always have to do something.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I met them on my freshman hall where there were a lot of athletes. There isn’t a big divide between the athletes and non-athletes, but we can relate to each other by having similar schedules.
How would you describe the overall social scene?
I think it’s a close community. I came from a small high school, [so Bucknell] is bigger than what I’m used to but I always get to say hi to people I recognize during the day. With that said, I am still constantly making new friends anywhere I go on campus.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I think they are pretty integrated into the community. There isn’t a stark difference, but the school is not that diverse to start with. When it comes to those people of a different race or gender identity, the integration doesn’t involve hesitation or awkwardness. It feels pretty normal. [About 74% of students are White.]
How would you describe the student body?
I like it, and I think it’s a great size. There is a culture of achievement among the students which is nice to be around.
What is the impact of Greek life on social life?
I have a lot of friends in it, so I don’t think I’m very affected by it. All the people who do it love it, so I think it’s a positive thing on campus.
How has the size of your school influenced your social experience?
I think it’s a good size with [about 3,600 undergraduate students], given the fact that I’m still meeting new people in my junior year. I’m also able to create bonds with those I made freshman year. Because there is so few of us, it makes me feel like our presence matters.
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
I’ve gone to a few alumni events for [my sport], and it’s cool getting to know the job market through them. There have been job fairs put on where you get to travel and network. The alumni network is really strong.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I have used it for resume editing and talking to them about the process of going to law school. They have been helpful in helping me navigate the internship scene. It can be hard to get an appointment, but once you do they are very helpful.