bucknell essay requirements

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Bucknell Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Bucknell's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Bucknell and build a strong application.

School location: Lewisburg, PA

This school is also known as: Bucknell University

Admissions Rate: 32.6%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Bucknell is 32.6% . For every 100 applicants, 33 are admitted.

This means the school is very selective . If you meet Bucknell's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.

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Bucknell GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.63

The average GPA at Bucknell is 3.63 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.63, Bucknell requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.63, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Bucknell hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Bucknell will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Bucknell SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1280

The average SAT score composite at Bucknell is a 1280 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Bucknell Competitive for SAT test scores.

Bucknell SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1180, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1390. In other words, a 1180 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1390 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Bucknell has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Bucknell will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Bucknell forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1390, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Bucknell ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Bucknell likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 29

The average ACT score at Bucknell is 29. This score makes Bucknell Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 27, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

Even though Bucknell likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 27 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 29 and above that a 27 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 32 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Bucknell, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 32.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Bucknell considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission . If you're able to score a 1390 SAT or a 32 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as Bucknell, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1390 SAT or a 32 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Bucknell here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 1
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office February 15

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 2
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 April 1
• Yes November 15, January 15 December 15, February 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: One Dent Drive Lewisburg, PA 17837
• Phone: (570) 577-2000 x2000
• Fax: (570) 577-3538
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Bucknell, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Bucknell.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Bucknell. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Bucknell, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Bucknell, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Bucknell is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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We don’t feed your GPA and test scores into some sort of algorithm. We read your application personally and carefully, absorbing everything you provide so we can understand all that makes you unique.

When you’re ready, apply using either the Common Application or the Coalition Application. We look forward to meeting you.

Learn about applying at bucknell.edu/apply

All Applicants

Two years of a foreign language (in the same language) in secondary school

Math and Science Applicants

Three years of college-preparatory math

Engineering Applicants

One year of chemistry or physics, plus one year of precalculus

A note about test scores : Bucknell is now test-optional, meaning you decide whether to include SAT or ACT scores when applying. Your choice has no bearing on our admissions decision. If you share your scores, we’ll consider them when reviewing your application. If you don’t, we won’t.

*Recalculated unweighted average

• Select a college : You’ll apply to one of our three colleges: Arts & Sciences, Engineering or the Freeman College of Management. Take a moment to explore the majors and minors within each college. (Note: For the Freeman College of Management, you must be admitted into the college as a first-year student. You can’t transfer into the Freeman College later.)
• Be yourself : We don’t require a Bucknell-specific supplemental essay, but we are eager to see the personal essay you’ll submit with the Common or Coalition app. We read these essays closely and enjoy getting to know the real you.
• Choose a major … : We’ll ask you to select a first-choice major (and a second, if you’d like) and briefly (250 words or fewer) explain the reason behind your choice.
• … or apply undecided : Unsure of your major? There’s no penalty for applying undecided; in fact, it’s a great way to explore multiple interests. First, select the college to which you’re applying. Then choose “undecided” as your first-choice major.
• Apply for a scholarship : Through our robust scholarship program, we invest in students who are talented, inquisitive and equipped to make the next big breakthrough. Apply when you apply for admission.
• Select a college: You’ll apply to one of our three colleges: Arts & Sciences, Engineering or the Freeman College of Management. Take a moment to explore the majors and minors within each college. (Note: For the Freeman College of Management, you must be admitted into the college as a first-year student. You can’t transfer into the Freeman College later.)
• Be yourself: We don’t require a Bucknell-specific supplemental essay, but we are eager to see the personal essay you’ll submit with the Common or Coalition app. We read these essays closely and enjoy getting to know the real you.
• … or apply undecided: Unsure of your major? There’s no penalty for applying undecided; in fact, it’s a great way to explore multiple interests. First, select the college to which you’re applying. Then choose “undecided” as your first-choice major.

Graham Heckert ’23 put Bucknell on his radar because he was looking for a smaller school where he wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. The mechanical engineering major from St. Petersburg, Fla., also wanted to conduct meaningful research into electric vehicles right away — not after a year or three of lectures.

Bucknell made his short list, and a Presidential Fellows scholarship — one of several scholarships available to incoming students — cemented Graham’s decision to come to Bucknell.

“I thought, I can end up going to a big school, or I can go to a small school with one-on-one interaction with teachers and all the research opportunities I could possibly imagine my very first year,” he says. “It was a no-brainer.”

Bucknell University Supplemental Essay 2022-23

Bucknell supplemental essay 2022-23.

A top private liberal arts college, Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. If you are considering applying to Bucknell, you’re likely a motivated student with many accomplishments. As such, your application to Bucknell might include high grades, several extracurriculars, and perhaps stellar test scores. But, it’s important not to overlook a key part of your application: the Bucknell supplemental essay.

In this guide, we’ll review which Bucknell essays are required and how to write a standout  Bucknell supplemental essay. We’ll discuss Bucknell essay prompts—including the very common “why major” essay—and how to approach them.

Before writing your Bucknell supplemental essay, it’s important to learn more about Bucknell University itself. Learning about a school can help you write a strong Bucknell supplemental essay.

Bucknell Essays: Quick Facts

• Bucknell University Acceptance Rate:  33%.  U.S. News  ranks Bucknell as a more selective school. 
• 1 (~600-650 word) personal statement
• 1 (~ 250 word) Bucknell supplemental essay
• Bucknell University Application:  Students must submit their Bucknell University application through the  Common Application or the Coalition Application . Make sure to have all of your Bucknell University supplemental essays and other  required application materials  ready when applying. 
• Early Decision: November 15th
• Early Decision II: January 15th
• Regular Decision: January 15th 
• Bucknell University Essay Tip:  There is only one Bucknell University supplemental essay to complete. Use the space to provide specific information about your interests and how they fit with Bucknell’s offerings. 

A Closer Look at Bucknell University

Bucknell is a small liberal arts school with a student population of 3,741 as of fall 2021. Each year, around 12,000 bright students apply to Bucknell, of whom just under 4,000 are admitted on average. As a result, the Bucknell acceptance rate stands at around 33% . This makes Bucknell admissions fairly selective.

Without a doubt, Bucknell is one of the best colleges in Pennsylvania . The Bucknell University ranking in U.S. News is #37 among liberal arts colleges. With 64 areas of study and a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Bucknell offers students an array of academic opportunities in an intimate learning environment.

Students can enroll in one of Bucknell’s three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences , the College of Engineering , or the Freeman College of Management . Moreover, Bucknell connects students with a wide array of research opportunities and experiences beyond the classroom like study abroad and internships.

Socially, Bucknell’s rural location helps in fostering a strong sense of community among students. According to student reviews in Niche , Bucknell’s fraternities and sororities are also a major part of social life on campus.

As we can tell, Bucknell has much to offer students. However, in your Bucknell essays, it’s important to showcase not only Bucknell’s strengths but yours as well. As we continue, we’ll dive more into the Bucknell essays and, specifically, the Bucknell supplemental essay.

Does Bucknell have a supplemental essay?

Yes, Bucknell does have a supplemental essay. Now that we’ve answered the question “Does Bucknell have a supplemental essay?”, let’s get into the details. There is one Bucknell supplemental essay that is 250 words in length. The Bucknell University supplemental essay prompt is:

Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major, should you opt to list one.

In the world of college essays, most prompts are asking students to talk about the same few topics. This question is what we consider a “why major” essay. Later, we’ll discuss this type of essay and how to write a compelling response. Before we do so, let’s take a look at all of the requirements for Bucknell essays. 

Bucknell Essay Requirements

As you put together your Bucknell application, you’ll want to give special attention to the essays. The Bucknell essays are an opportunity for you to showcase parts of your personality and experience not evident elsewhere on your application. These can range from hobbies and personal interests to influences from your unique background.

In total, there are two Bucknell essays required for the application. First, there’s the personal statement. Both the Common App and Coalition App require you to write a personal statement . This same personal statement is then submitted to all the schools which require one. But you might be wondering, what is a personal statement?

A personal statement is an essay of 650 words or less that introduces you to admissions officers. It showcases your personality and unique voice. You may find that many sample personal statements do not focus on something spectacular or life-changing. Instead, effective personal statements demonstrate the writer’s unique qualities, are detailed and compelling to read, and are well-written. 

Secondly, you’ll have to submit a response to the Bucknell supplemental essay prompt. Since this essay is only 250 words in length, you’ll have to be concise as well as compelling and convincing. In a later section, we’ll provide tips for how to write the Bucknell supplemental essay.

Bucknell Supplemental Essay #1- Why Major Essay

By now, we’ve explored the Bucknell essays you’ll write for your college application. In this section, we’ll dive deeper into how to reply to the Bucknell University supplemental essay prompt. As a reminder, the Bucknell supplemental essay prompt is: 

This type of essay is called a “why major” essay. In a “why major essay,” your goal is to share your academic passions with admissions officers. If you have already chosen a major, your essay should provide a compelling story for your interest in that area. For undecided applicants, a strong Bucknell supplemental essay still illustrates their academic curiosity and interests.

Basic Tips for the Bucknell Supplemental Essay

To brainstorm, consider your earliest memories of being interested in that subject and consider what prompted your interest. Did you watch films that sparked your interest in math? Maybe you used to spend long summer days reading in the park. Or perhaps, you have a passion for taking apart electronics to see how they work.

Your essay doesn’t need to be extremely formal, either—rather, prioritize showing your genuine passion for your major. Admissions officers are interested in how your mind works and what energizes you. This is, after all, a big part of why they would want to admit you.

Furthermore, another goal of the ‘why major’ essay is to emphasize why you want to study at a specific school. Bucknell’s admissions staff know you are applying to multiple schools and could probably find your major at many of them. As such, they might be wondering, why Bucknell? To answer this question, you’ll have to do some research and learn more about what makes Bucknell special.

For example, in the Bucknell supplemental essay, you might emphasize research questions that intrigue you. Other common themes are specific research opportunities you’d want to explore or professors whose research aligns with your interests. Furthermore, you might highlight study abroad opportunities you would take advantage of or clubs that would feed your interest. 

How to choose a major?

You might be wondering, what if I don’t know which of the Bucknell majors is for me? There are so many majors that it can be hard to choose , but being undecided is no problem. You’ll notice in this prompt that Bucknell allows you to write about your undecided status as well. With this option, you should still give admissions officers a sense of what kinds of questions or topics interest you.

We’ve learned a lot about the Bucknell supplemental essay. You might be curious how to even begin writing the essay. In the next section, we’ll look at more suggestions and tips for writing the Bucknell supplemental essay.

How to write the Bucknell Supplemental Essay?

Up until now, we’ve explored how the Bucknell supplemental essay is a “why major” essay. We’ll now take a look at additional tips for writing a strong Bucknell University supplemental essay. 

Write about what genuinely interests you

Undoubtedly, the Bucknell acceptance rate is competitive. With an estimated 12,000 applications each year, Bucknell admissions officers must read many essays. Indeed, they probably hear about many of the same common or “safe” topics and interests over and over. Surely, there are few things more boring than reading the same essay a thousand times. For that reason, it’s critical that your essay stands out . 

One of the most important things in an impactful essay is to write about topics that genuinely interest you. In this way, your essay will inevitably feel authentic and contain your unique voice. Don’t try too hard to make your essay sound interesting—it will be if it’s about your life. For example, if you know you love chemistry because you love studying the ingredients in makeup, then write about that. No topic is too small to be the focus of your essay.

Focus on a core theme

The Bucknell supplemental essay asks you to write about your top one or two academic areas of study, or majors. As a high school student, you may have multiple interests that you are exploring. While this is totally fine, remember that you have only 250 words of space in this essay. As such, it’s important to pick one or two themes to focus your essay on.

How do you choose which of the Bucknell majors to highlight? Spend some time reflecting on your academic and personal experiences. Look for trends between them. For example, perhaps you had many pets growing up and loved studying animal anatomy in biology class. Perhaps this is a sign that biology—and a pre-vet path—could be for you. 

Remember, you can always change your area of study once you get to college. Maybe once you arrive there, other Bucknell majors will draw you in. That’s perfectly okay. In fact, it’s very common. An estimated 50-75% of undergraduate students change their major at least once while in college. No one at Bucknell will look back at your supplemental essay and critique your decision to switch majors. Most importantly, admissions officers want to see that you’ve given thought to your future and are specifically interested in Bucknell’s offerings.

Be specific

Without a doubt, the key to writing a convincing and compelling Bucknell supplemental essay is to be specific. Rather than saying, “I have always been interested in biology,” find a story that illustrates your long-held interest in biology. For example, maybe you played with science experiment kits as a child. Describe your experience with those kits and their connection to the present day. With these details, you’ll set your essay apart from the thousands of others that the admissions officers must read.

Reference Bucknell 

One of the most important ways to be specific in your Bucknell supplemental essay is to reference Bucknell. For example, identify specific areas of study, research opportunities, study abroad programs, or anything else that relates to your interest. By referencing Bucknell’s offerings, you demonstrate that you’ve not only done your research but truly want to attend the school.

The Bucknell supplemental essay is critical for having a strong application. However, it is only one piece of your application. Now that we’ve reviewed key tips for writing a good Bucknell supplemental essay, we’ll investigate the role that the essay plays in the admissions process. 

Bucknell Essays and the Bucknell Admissions Process

At this point, your core question might have shifted away from “Does Bucknell have a supplemental essay?” You may be asking, ”What role does the Bucknell supplemental essay play in the Bucknell admissions process?” In this section, we’ll explore the factors that influence admissions. 

First, it’s important to recognize that the Bucknell acceptance rate isn’t very high. This is one fact that influences—or is influenced by—the high Bucknell University ranking. As such, it’s important to give your application thought and make every effort to stand out.

Thankfully, you have many opportunities to make your case, since the admissions process is holistic in nature. This means that admissions officers look at multiple aspects of your application to consider who you are as a whole student to understand whether you would fit well at their school. From transcripts to recommendation letters , each piece of the application requires careful consideration. 

Now, we’ll explore a few of the key pieces of your application and how they fit into the admissions process:

Undoubtedly, a critical piece of your Bucknell application is your transcript and Secondary School Report (SRS). You probably know about transcripts, but the SRS is a form that reports your grades and facts about your school. Through these records, schools can get a sense of your academic performance over your high school career.

They might be looking at factors such as class rigor, changes in your grades over time, or your electives. Besides your transcript, the SRS gives further context for your school environment. An SRS may include your class rank, counselor notes on your character, or your school’s demographic and academic information.

Test Scores

As of 2020, Bucknell is piloting a five-year test-optional policy. As such, SAT or ACT scores are not currently required for the 2022-2023 school year. This doesn’t mean that you can’t submit scores. In fact, if your scores strengthen your application by being at or above the average range for admitted applications, then you’d likely choose to submit them. If they are omitted, then admissions officers will weigh other components of your application more heavily. 

One important note is that if you are admitted to Bucknell, you are still required to submit test scores for the school’s internal research. However, at this point, your admission will be guaranteed regardless of your test scores.

Writing strong responses to the Bucknell essay prompts is an important part of your application. This is especially true if your grades or test scores aren’t as strong as other students who apply to Bucknell. As we mentioned, your essays will be weighed more heavily if you choose not to submit test scores. So, to create a strong application, spend time responding to the two Bucknell essay prompts. 

To summarize, the first essay is the personal statement, which is required for most Common App or Coalition App applications. The personal statement is your introduction to Bucknell and showcases your personality to admissions officers. The second essay is the Bucknell supplemental essay, which provides more context on your academic goals should you attend Bucknell. In this essay, it’s important to be specific about why you want to attend Bucknell. More specifically, admissions officers want to know how attending Bucknell will help you pursue your academic passions.

Indeed, every part of your application is critical. However, the essays are the best place within your application to showcase your uniqueness. If you respond authentically to the Bucknell essay prompts, admissions officers will have a hard time turning down your application.

Bucknell Supplemental Essay – 5 Takeaways

When applying to college, there are many steps in the process. In this article, we introduced you to the Bucknell essay prompts and focused on the Bucknell supplemental essay. We’ll now highlight five takeaways that you should keep in mind as you work on your Bucknell application:

Main Takeaways

1. bucknell is a competitive school with lots to offer.

As we described above, getting into Bucknell isn’t easy. The Bucknell University ranking makes it one of the top schools in the nation. Specifically, it shines in the liberal arts, which offer a well-rounded approach to education. Bucknell’s offerings allow students to learn both in and out of the classroom. The school attracts motivated students who want to be part of its strong community. The essays in your Bucknell application should demonstrate your keen interest in specific aspects of the school. 

2. Applying to Bucknell requires a thoughtful approach

At CollegeAdvisor, we help students take a thoughtful approach to their college process. For example, we work with students to develop an application strategy, like workshopping essays and deciding on application deadlines . When you apply to Bucknell, it’s important to be thoughtful about how your application will look to an admissions officer. Not just essays, but your test scores and extracurriculars as well, will determine the strength of your Bucknell application.

3. The Bucknell essays are your chance to stand out

When colleges use a holistic admissions process, it means that they don’t strictly base admissions on one factor, like grades. Rather, they want to know who you are as a person on many different levels. As such, your essays are your opportunity to show who you are and what makes you different from other students. Take the time to brainstorm topics, draft a cohesive essay, and get feedback from others.

4. Strong essays are compelling

In this article, we’ve discussed some tips for writing a strong essay. The bottom line is that strong essays are compelling. In other words, they aren’t general or vague—they illustrate who you are through specific life events or details. They demonstrate that you have given thought to what your experience at Bucknell would be like. Lastly, they represent your unique voice. Reading various essay examples can help as you draft and revise your essays.

5. Be yourself

Our final and perhaps most important piece of advice is to be yourself, especially when writing your essays. If you find yourself wondering what admissions officers want to hear or embellishing experiences to impress, you’ve probably gone astray. Rather, spend time thinking about what is most important and interesting to you. Speak from your own heart, and you’re much more likely to be a successful applicant.

Now that we’ve introduced you to the Bucknell essay prompts and the Bucknell supplemental essay, it’s up to you to craft your essays. If you’re fighting stress over applications to Bucknell or any other school, CollegeAdvisor is here to help. With everything from essay guides to personalized advising, we’ve got what you need to succeed in your college admissions journey. In fact, our advisors can help you brainstorm topics, edit your essay, and put together a winning application strategy.

This Bucknell University essay guide was written by Courtney Ng . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu .

To apply for admission as a first-year student, please use the Common Application available at commonapp.org , or Coalition Application available at coalitionapp.org . For your application to be complete, you must submit the following:

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Questions specific to Bucknell University;

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​In the academic year 2019-2020,  Bucknell began a five-year test-optional pilot program so students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application.  Please note that home-schooled students, international citizens and recruited athletes are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, all students who choose to enroll at Bucknell will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores before they begin their first year. These scores will only be used in the assessment of the test-optional program and will not impact the admission decision already made . Note: If you have never taken the SAT or ACT and do not have scores available, you will not be required to submit a score upon enrollment. Also p lease note that, for the 2020-21 application cycle, home-schooled, international and recruited athletic applicants may choose to be test-optional because of challenges applicants may face in taking standardized testing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This policy change will be re-evaluated at the end of the 2020-21 application cycle.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Language Tests (PTE), or Duolingo English Test (DET) if English is not your first language or if it was not the primary language of instruction for at least three years of your secondary school education.

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If you are applying as a transfer student, you must submit:

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• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Language Tests (PTE), or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores if English is not your first language or if it was not the primary language of instruction for at least three years of your secondary school education.

If you applied previously to Bucknell, the application fee may be waived and the official secondary school report may be retrieved.

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Bucknell University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

Bucknell University 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: One e ssay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major (should you opt to list one) and why you would choose Bucknell University to pursue your interest(s). (250 words maximum).

This prompt is asking you to describe what you want to major in and explain why you like it so much that you’re willing to dedicate four years of life to its study. The admissions officer reviewing your application will likely expect you to connect your intended major to some prior experience and/or passion as well, so tell a story. The essays that stick with us are the ones that jump off the page with concrete descriptions from real life. What interests you and why? How have you gone about learning more about your subject of interest? Have you spent hours doing a deep dive on Reddit or learned a new skill from a TikTok tutorial? What will this degree (or dual degree) allow you to do? While you don’t need to narrow in on the exact moment you became interested in Geology or Music Education, try to focus on one significant experience. Then stress why Bucknell, specifically, is the best place for you to pursue this chosen major (or, if you’re undecided, why it’s the best place for you to explore different interests in the interim). If you can point to specific resources (classes, professors, clubs, etc.), your response will be stronger for it. 

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3 Tips for Writing the Bucknell Supplemental Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Show the depth of your passions, be specific, use your words effectively.

In this article, we share strategies for writing the Bucknell University supplemental essay , including how to show the depth of your passions, be specific in your writing, and use your words effectively.

One critical thing to keep in mind when writing the Bucknell supplemental essay is the importance of demonstrating the depth of your passions. Ideally, you want to go an extra layer deeper about the subjects and concepts that you want to explore at Bucknell.

For example, if you are interested in studying economics, writing simply, “I love economics,” is not the strongest way to approach this prompt. Instead, writing your essay about monetary policy and delving into a specific concept like inflation targeting would show much more insight into your passion for economics as a subject.

After choosing a specific topic related to a discipline that you are interested in, the next step is to highlight the related opportunities that you want to pursue at Bucknell. Continuing the economics example, an effective essay would next talk about a monetary policy-specific course track or extracurricular opportunity at Bucknell, showing that you have done your research and are committed to attending Bucknell.

Include Specific Details But Don’t Waste Space

Another factor to consider is including college-specific content in this essay response. This can be difficult for some students to achieve, but it is critical to include a few specific details that are unique to the college while not spending too much time doing so. 

A good rule of thumb for including school-specific details is to aim for spending no more than 10% to 20% of the total essay length on them, so between 25 and 50 words at most for this particular essay.

Highlight a School’s Unique Philosophy or Approach to Teaching

The best thing that you can write about in this section of the essay is a unique philosophy, teaching approach, or opportunity that the program you are interested in at Bucknell has. For example, at the University of Chicago, the economics program is renowned, as is the interdisciplinary learning academic approach at the University of Pennsylvania. 

That said, even if you can’t quite fit this into your essay, just talking about classes and extracurricular opportunities and connecting them to why you want to study your major at Bucknell will be good enough. When doing this, be careful to avoid just name-dropping a factoid without adding insight as to why it’s important to you. Instead, try to include a specific detail, such as a course name, and connect it back to why you want to study the major in the first place.

The third tip to consider when writing the Bucknell supplemental essay is to be concise. You only have 250 words to write this essay, so you don’t want to waste space on unnecessarily wordy responses that limit the number of actual points that you can get across. 

Additionally, stay away from explicitly rephrasing the prompt, like: “I am interested in this major because . . .”  First, a response like this can make you sound robotic, and second, it’s just a wordy way of saying something that you could instead show throughout the essay. 

Avoid or Reduce Anecdotes

Another tip for this essay in particular is to stay away from anecdotes entirely or only use one anecdote.

When you write an anecdote, it’s often easy to get too focused on the stories, and when you only have 250 words, this may not leave enough space to reflect on or articulate why you love your intended major. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Reduce Your Word Count Later

One final tip for this essay is to not be afraid to write beyond the word count. For the Bucknell supplemental essay, this could look like an extra 300 to 350 words. Then, cut back the essay to 250 words later in the editing process.

This strategy works because when you allow yourself to write more and explore your thoughts on the topic fully, it often brings out the best ideas and writing. Some people are afraid to cut back words and sentences, but after looking at an essay multiple times, you’ll find that it becomes easier to edit out the excess. It’s also simpler to reduce an essay that is too long than it is to add more good content to an essay that has already been drafted.

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• If you are a US citizen or permanent resident applying for financial aid, the deadline for submitting the CSS Profile for Early Decision I is Nov. 15. For Early Decision II and Regular Decision, the deadline is Jan. 15. When you file the CSS Profile, you will receive an acknowledgment from the College Board that will serve as your confirmation. Bucknell will not be able to download your actual CSS Profile data into our system until late November. International students interested in applying for financial aid should refer to our website for timeline details.
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Kevin McMullin

College admissions advice for students, parents, and counselors, essay advice for bucknell applicants.

November 17, 2009 by Kevin McMullin

A college doesn't necessarily need to require a novel's worth of essays to evaluate and better understand their applicants.  Take Bucknell University , for example. 

Bucknell applicants will likely be pleasantly surprised to find that Bucknell’s Common Application supplement contains just one additional required essay and a second that's optional.  But if you make the most of those two requirements, you can really help a Bucknell admissions officer learn more about you in ways that your application alone would not reveal. 

Here are a few tips on how to approach the Bucknell essays. 

Before you do anything, read the directions.

You can learn a lot about what a college is looking for by just reading the directions. Here are the directions for Bucknell's supplemental essays:

The following questions are your opportunity to demonstrate, within the context of the Common Application, what makes you uncommon and uniquely you. In your responses, be bold and have some fun – really! Tell us about your talents and interests so that we can know the “you” behind the transcripts.

A lot of students will totally ignore those directions and write about things that are common, that are not unique to them, and they will do so in a way that is anything but bold or fun.  They’ll hide behind safe stories about being diligent and determined, or how they learned valuable life lessons through student government, or how community service taught them that it’s important to help people.  Responses like that make you sound like every other applicant.  That's not good. 

Here are some prompt-specific tips.

What are the three most important things Bucknell’s faculty and students should know about you? (up to 200 words each)

First, assume that the aforementioned faculty and students have read your application.  They haven't necessarily, but the admissions officer who's reading your essay has.  So don't make one of your items, "I have volunteered for over 100 hours with National Charity League."  The person reading your essay knows that already because you listed it on the application.  

If you believe that the role community service has played in your life is one of the most important things the faculty and students should know, say so!  But don't write it like a resume.  Put some emotion behind your answer that wasn't apparent when you listed it on your application.  That sounds like this:

"I never feel better about myself than I do when I spend time at the local convalescent hospital.  I didn't know this about myself until recently, but I enjoy being needed.  I like how I feel when patients whose families don't even visit them light up when they see me.  I keep going back every Saturday because of how it makes me feel.  That's why I know I won't stop finding places where people need me once I get to college."

That's a kid I believe.

Second, don't pass up the opportunity to share something about yourself that they never would have known from the application, even if it's not serious. 

One of our former female Collegewise students wrote a number of responses to application questions like this one about how she could out-eat most of the boys on the football team (she was a swimmer and apparently had a metabolism resembling that of a cheetah).  They would challenge her to eating contests, like, to see who could eat the most slices of pizza.  And she would beat them.  Every time.

A number of her acceptance letters had personal notes from admissions officers that referenced this. Those stories were something that all her friends, but none of the colleges, knew about her.  So she shared them, and they made her more memorable and likeable. 

I'm not suggesting that you should be flippant and share trivial things about yourself.  But remember, the question invited you to be playful.  So don't be afraid to give a playful answer, especially if it's something about which the people who know you well would say, "Oh yes–that's totally you." 

Finally, don't be afraid to address the audience directly. 

When you have an emotional point you want to drive home, one effective way to do that is to speak directly to the readers.  Tell them that you want them to know it.  That sounds like this: 

"I wrote my essay on this application about my experience with an eating disorder I had in my sophomore year of high school.  I was scared to share that because I'm afraid the admissions committee will think I'm damaged goods.  But I wrote that essay anyway because I'm proud of the work I've done to recover and get healthy.  And I'd like the students and faculty at Bucknell to know that you don't have to be afraid to admit me.   I am happy, healthy, and excited for college.      

The reference to “you” in the second to last sentence personalizes this response and actually makes it a more powerful.  

What about the "optional essay"?

A lot of people say that "optional essays" on college applications shouldn't be considered optional, that you should always do them because you'll look lazy if you don't.  I don't agree with that.  I think you should do them if you have something you want to say. 

A lot of students find they’re able to share everything they want to share on a college application.  They’ve got nothing left they feel strongly about discussing, and to try and come up with something (or to submit an essay you wrote for another school) just weakens the application.

You should always thoughtfully consider optional essays.  Think about your life and your stories and what you could share that you'd be excited about.  But if the choice you’re left with is to submit a mediocre optional essay or to submit no essay at all, submit no essay at all.  

Here's the optional essay prompt:

At Bucknell, students are free to take creative and thoughtful risks. In fact, we encourage them to do so, and we support them along the way. As students realize their own potential through risk, so, too, do they better understand how valuable risk can be in understanding – and making a difference in – this interconnected world. We’re interested in the kind of positive risk-taking energy you would bring to our University. Please describe a time when you found the courage to step outside of your comfort zone to do something unexpected and completely unlike you. Why did you take this risk? What have you learned from the experience? (up to 500 words)

First, consider why a college would ask this question.  The most engaged, successful students in college take risks.  The math major who enrolls in a philosophy class because it looks interesting, the student who's never traveled but studies abroad, the shy student who puts her hand up in class and then visits the professor during office hours, the high school soccer player who decided to try club rugby, these students are not only going to get more out of their college experience, but they're also going to make a bigger impact while they're in college. 

Think about where you've taken a risk like that in high school that was absolutely not typical for you.  Remember, it doesn't necessarily have to end in success to be valuable.  That math major described above might have failed the philosophy course, but a college would still like a math kid who had the guts to mix it up with Plato. 

As is the case with pretty much every essay in the college admissions universe, honest, thoughtful responses are far more effective and interesting than are responses that are contrived to impress.  Don't tell them that you were nervous before your state debate competition but were very pleased and surprised to win.  C'mon. That sounds like a kid who’s just trying to wedge in the fact that he was a state debate champion.  If you were good enough to make it to state, how were you "stepping outside your comfort zone to do something unexpected and completely unlike you"? 

And if you really don't have an experience like that to share, then opt-out of the optional essay.  Just make sure your other supplemental essays show that you were willing to put effort into the application. 

Note:  Before you follow our tips, we recommend you read our "How to" guide here: Download HowToUse30Guides

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