In our last College Admissions Insider minisode, we shared some advice for weighing your admission offers and making a decision. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. There's no one better to walk high school seniors through the process than students who were in their shoes not too long ago. In this episode, we've invited our very own first-year college students to share how they chose the school that was best for them. We'll talk about their journey from applying to deciding, as well as some advice they have for current college-bound students. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Resources for students who've been admitted to Bucknell Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

So far on College Admissions Insider, we've taken you through each step of the application process — from exploring what schools are out there, to making a decision on where you will be applying, and getting ready to submit your very best applications. Now, we've made it to spring and its decision season. It's an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful. Is there a magic formula to figuring out which offer you'll accept? Brooke and Becca walk you through how to decide. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Resources for students who've been admitted to Bucknell Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

While search engines provide millions of answers in less than a second, there is one life-changing question for which the answer doesn't arrive as quickly: Did I get in? When you want to know whether you’ve been accepted into your college of choice, things don't happen quickly. In fact, it may be months between the moment you press “submit” on your application and the day that acceptance notification appears in your virtual or physical mailbox. So what do you do in the meantime? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we’ll provide a few answers to that crucial question right here, right now. We’ll share tips for making the most of the time leading up to decision release day and advice for how to mitigate anxiety while you wait. Our guest is Jill Medina, Bucknell’s senior associate dean of admissions. Jill has more than 25 years of work in higher education under her belt, and she plays a role in the acceptance process at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell Undergraduate admission requirements @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Info about applying to Bucknell Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center Hi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

In the past few episodes of College Admissions Insider, we've covered academic disciplines one by one. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities, engineering and management. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're rounding out this series with the social sciences. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Michelle Johnson, associate Dean of faculty in the social sciences at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & Sciences Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities and engineering. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring management. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Matt Bailey, a chair in business administration and professor of analytics and operations management at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the Freeman College of Management Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

In this College Admissions Insider minisode, Brooke and Becca are diving in on their top recommendations for how college-bound students can best spend their last winter break of high school. You might be super excited for this break from learning — and from your college applications. But there are plenty of little ways that you can keep progress going on the college process. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, and humanities. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring engineering. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what engineering look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Erin Jablonski, associate dean of Bucknell's College of Engineering. Welcome to the podcast. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Engineering Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences and mathematics. We encourage you to jump back and listen to that episode if you haven't yet. Today, we're chatting about the humanities. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what the humanities look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Anthony Stewart, associate dean of faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & Sciences Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

There are so many important choices you'll make in college: which hall to live in, what to eat, how many extracurriculars to join. But most crucial is the decision of what you'll study. For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we'll be doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. This episode is dedicated to the sciences and mathematics. We'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what math and science studies look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Le Paliulis, associate dean of faculty for Bucknell's College of Arts & Sciences and professor of biology. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & Sciences Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Waiting is the most agonizing part of the college admissions process. You send off your materials and then keep clicking that refresh button until the decision arrives (or your phone dies). But for a select group of applicants, that waiting period is significantly reduced. These are the students who applied Early Decision or Early Action to their top-choice school or schools. These students could get a decision as early as December instead of the following March or April — a huge relief, to be sure. Plus, many schools admit Early Decision applicants at a higher rate than Regular Decision applicants. But before you click submit on an early application, you'll want to make sure you've gone over all the pros and cons for doing so. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, Dean of Admissions Kevin Mathes ’07 covers everything you need to know about Early Decision and Early Action. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Bucknell admissions dates and deadlines General info about applying to Bucknell For prospective students For parents of prospective students Blog post: When to apply for college Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center Hi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Think about the latest TV series you binge-watched. Did it start by saying, "In this TV show, you'll meet a messed-up family with lots of problems." Probably not. It likely threw you right into the story, sharing something interesting just a few moments after you pressed "play." In other words, it hooked you quickly, and it did so by showing, not telling. What if you applied this same strategy to application essays? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll share how to create an application essay that an admissions office won't be able to stop reading. We invited two Bucknell students who wrote killer application essays to share a little about their process. They'll also read an excerpt from the essays, to give you an idea of how they turned their unique story into unforgettable prose. Our guests are Meghan Tran, a management student from New Jersey, and Kelley Francis, an arts & sciences student from Colorado. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Essay tips from Bucknell Admissions Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell Undergraduate admission requirements @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Info about applying to Bucknell Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Hi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Are you wondering how to take your high school athletics game to the collegiate level? Determining whether you should seek to compete in NCAA Division I, II or III sports or continue your involvement at the recreational level can be confusing, but we’re here to help you make the best decision for yourself, based upon your level of commitment and investment. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring the different ways students can pursue athletics in college. Our guest is Natasha Wilson, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Athletics at Bucknell Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Whether you're looking to graduate early, get a taste of college level learning or simply challenge yourself with an advanced class, taking an AP, IB or dual enrollment course could take some work off your plate once you get to college. Courses like these often earn students transfer credits, which can be applied to your college transcript and count towards certain required university courses — all before you’ve even arrived. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll further define what transfer credits are, how you get them and the process of submitting them to the school of your choice. Our guest is Sarah Paris, transfer records coordinator at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about transferring credits to Bucknell Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Life is full of firsts, from our first steps to our first car, to the first time we leave home to attend the college of our choice. But no one faces life's milestones alone. Experiencing every new phase alongside us are the family members who nurture and cheer us on. This episode of College Admissions Insider is for those family members who are preparing to send their student off into their next new phase: college. We'll hear advice for navigating the emotions, shifting dynamics and increasing independence that comes with your child's first year away. Our guests are John and Son Huang, two Bucknell parents who gone through the college transition several times with several children. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info for prospective parents & families Info for current Bucknell parents & families Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

College is more than a place to learn, meet interesting people and grow. For most students, it's also where you'll live — perhaps for four years of your life. Young people who may be accustomed to living in their own room at home will suddenly be sharing a room (and bathroom) with others. That fact makes finding the right housing fit just as important as finding the right academic fit. So how do you do it? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll swing those doors wide open. Our guests are Stephen Apanel, Bucknell's Director of Housing Services, and Ashley Hubler, Bucknell's Assistant Director of Housing Services. Listen as we discuss the benefits of off-campus and on-campus housing, specialty housing options like Affinity Houses, and roommate selection. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Bucknell Housing Services Residential Colleges at Bucknell Bucknell's Affinity Houses Info about applying to Bucknell Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Hi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Maybe you've spent years volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, helped establish a community garden in a food desert or raised a significant amount of money for a medical organization close to your heart. These kinds of passions can follow you to college, where you can continue to get involved and even receive funding to do it. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we are talking about how you can translate your passion for service into amazing college experiences. We'll cover the different types of engagement opportunities you might find at college, how to best present your past service activities on your application and how you can even receive scholarships to continue your engagement work as a college student. Our guests are two Bucknell staff members: Lynn Pierson, director of Bucknell's Office of Civic Engagement; and assistant director of admissions Carrine Phillips. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Bucknell's Office of Civic Engagement Explore our Community Engagement Scholars Program Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

There's no singular path when it comes to continuing your education. For many, heading to a four-year residential university is a natural leap. For others, pursuing trade school or other professional training might be the next logical move. Then there's the option of community college, which gives students the opportunity to ease into college life, explore a variety of academic disciplines and earn a degree—all in preparation for the next big step. This episode of College Admissions Insider is all about the role community college can play in a student's educational journey. We're chatting about how community college differs from four-year universities, why a student might consider attending this type of school, tips for transferring into a bachelor's degree program and more. Our guests are two staff members from Bucknell's Office of Admissions: associate dean of admissions and director of partnerships Caro Mercado and admissions counselor Aries Contreras ’22. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore Bucknell’s Community College Scholars Program Info about transferring to Bucknell Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

By now, high school seniors have probably received the college admissions letters they've been waiting for. While you may have gotten into one, two or several of the colleges on your list, you may have also received a different kind of decision: one that's placed you on the waitlist. Many colleges take advantage of waitlists in the admissions process, giving certain applicants who weren't admitted in the first round a shot at still attending the institution. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're peeling back the curtain on how college waitlists actually work – from the factors that might lead to being waitlisted to how students can navigate Decision Day while awaiting an offer. Our guest is Candace Leake, associate director of admissions for access & outreach at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center

You researched every fact and figure about your choice institutions, wrote and rewrote the perfect admissions essay, and connected with everyone from current students to admissions counselors — all in hopes of receiving that life-changing notification that says, “Congratulations! You’ve been admitted.” Well done! You should be quite proud. But after the confetti settles to the floor, there's still work to be done. Receiving an acceptance letter on Decision Day is far from the end of the process. Amid the excitement, celebration and relief are numerous decisions to make and actions to take to secure your spot in the incoming class. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll cover what lies ahead after you've been admitted. How long do you have to make that final decision? How do you officially enroll? And what tips can you use to decide which of the schools you've been admitted to is ultimately right for you? Our guests are Becca Haupt Aldredge and Lauren Furman, who both serve as senior assistant directors of admissions. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell Undergraduate admission requirements @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Info about applying to Bucknell Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center Hi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Succeeding in college is about much more than what you accomplish in the classroom. Truly thriving as a student means growing through self-discovery, intellectual exploration, community relationships and more. That kind of success requires an ecosystem of support that not only encourages a student throughout their journey but opens up doors for them along the way. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're taking a look at how universities are increasing access and enhancing support for college-bound students. We'll discuss what access and success programs can look like on a college campus where prospective students can find support and why expanding access to college is so crucial. Our guest is Lisa Keegan, Bucknell University's vice president for enrollment management. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Access & Success at Bucknell Explore Bucknell's scholarship programs Info about applying to Bucknell Application dates and deadlines Plan a visit to Bucknell @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook Latest news for prospective students Bucknell Virtual Welcome Center