What Should I Do if I Get Waitlisted for College? snlb001 Thu, 09/26/2024 - 13:04 Brooke Thames Admissions Blog September 26, 2024 Getting waitlisted at your top-choice school can be disappointing, especially when it causes uncertainty about your enrollment plans for the upcoming year. If you've been waitlisted, you might have a lot of questions about what that means and how to proceed. Perhaps you're even wondering if it's worth pursuing admission to your dream school and when it's time to move on to different options. This guide will answer some of the big questions about being waitlisted and steps you can take moving forward. What Does it Mean to be 'Waitlisted'? When an applicant is waitlisted, it means they've been added to a running list of applicants who may be admitted if spots open up after the enrollment deadline. Waitlisted students have not been accepted, deferred or denied. They are in a "waiting room," so to speak, hoping for a space to open up in a university's incoming class. Let's say a school has room to admit 1,000* first-year students, and 1,500* students meet all of the admissions criteria. Through a rigorous review process, the admissions committee will accept the 1,000 applicants they believe will be the best fit — and a number of the remaining 500* qualified students will be added to the waitlist. This process varies school by school. In some instances, students may be asked if they would like to be placed on the waitlist and must formally accept in order to be listed. At the end of the day, not every student admitted to a university will choose to enroll. As some enroll elsewhere, students from the waitlist may be offered admission to fill those open spots. *Keep in mind that these numbers are hypothetical since every school has a unique admissions process and size capacity. When Do Waitlist Decisions Come Out? Admission offers for waitlisted students will typically be extended after the enrollment deadline. If admitted students are required to submit their decisions by May 1st (regarded by most colleges as National Decision Day), you can expect to hear from an admissions officer sometime between May and July. What are the Chances of Admission When Waitlisted? Every school handles waitlists differently, so there's no way to predict the exact odds of admission. There's no magic number that all schools abide by regarding how many first-round admits need to deny enrollment before working through the waitlist. At a school like Bucknell, the waitlist isn't ranked or weighted in any particular order, which places all students on equal footing. However, it is worth pointing out that 20% of waitlisted students receive admission offers on average, according to the most recent data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. At the most selective institutions, that figure sits lower at 7%. What to Do if You're Waitlisted If you've been waitlisted at your dream school but are still interested in pursuing admission, there is some action you can take. Let's review some of the next steps for waitlisted applicants. 1. Accept a Spot on the Waitlist Once notified that you've been waitlisted, you need to accept a spot on the waitlist as soon as possible. Instructions for accepting or denying your spot might have been attached to your admissions decision letter. If you have questions, contact the school's admissions office to clarify the next steps. 2. Submit Requested Materials Some admissions offices require waitlisted students to submit supplementary materials before extending an official offer of admission. These materials may include: An email expressing their desire to be admitted Completed financial aid application (if seeking need-based aid) Additional letters of recommendations Final transcripts Updated test scores Even if your school doesn't request supplementary materials, it is a good idea to express continued interest. You can reach out to your admissions counselor to share: New accomplishments or awards that might make you a stronger candidate If you'd like to change your desired major Your intention to enroll if offered a spot in the incoming class We'll discuss more specifics on writing a waitlist letter a little further along in this post. 3. Accept Admission Elsewhere official offer of admission. As previously mentioned, May 1 is a common enrollment deadline amongst colleges and universities. It may be worth depositing at another school you'd like to attend to feel secure in your plans if you don't make it off the waitlist. But be aware that you may not get that deposit back if you rescind your enrollment later. 4. Wait for an Acceptance Time for the waiting game — again. But be careful not to sit idly while anticipating the answer you hope for. If you've submitted a deposit at another school, now's a good time to flesh out your potential plan to attend that college in the fall. Start thinking about housing options and course offerings, and make any decisions that you can without creating too much of a financial commitment. 5. Revert to Plan A If you receive the news that you've been admitted from the waitlist, take a moment to celebrate. You can now move forward with the enrollment process at your top-choice school. Submit your enrollment deposit, secure housing and get ready to start college. Don't forget to withdraw your admissions acceptance from your second-choice school, if you deposited. Thank the admissions office for the opportunity to attend, but let them know you've accepted an offer elsewhere. Waitlist Letters 101 Writing a waitlist letter/email can help keep you top-of-mind for admission consideration. It is important that your waitlist letter showcases some sort of improvement from the first time you applied or explains an extenuating circumstance that might have put a damper on your application the first time around. For example, if you were dealing with a serious illness or had experienced a tragedy in the family and it affected your grades, explain it. However, it is inappropriate to make up excuses for a lackluster application, so don't try to spin a sympathetic story. How to Structure a Waitlist Letter Structure your waitlist letter in a way that clearly conveys your intentions and your message. You can follow a format like this: Introduction: State your intentions to be admitted from the waitlist. New accomplishments and updates: Talk about new impressive accomplishments that you didn't include on the first application; If applicable, this is also an appropriate place to talk about any changes to your application information (like your intended major) or extenuating circumstances discussed above. Reiterate interest: Emphasize your interest in attending the school and thank the reader for their time. Again, the point is to appeal to the admissions board and showcase that you'd be a valuable addition to their campus. It is also important to keep things concise and to the point so it doesn't take much of the reader's time to review and process. Learn More About Admissions at Bucknell If you're interested in applying to Bucknell University, our Admissions & Aid page is a good place to start. Review our online admissions guides, or contact us at admissions@bucknell.edu to learn more. Stay up to date throughout your Bucknell journey Join our contact list OffBell Tower

Bucknell Gets High Marks in Engineering, Innovation from 'U.S. News & World Report' msf014 Thu, 09/26/2024 - 10:28 Mike Ferlazzo Tags Engineering Impact stories Student experience University news News News September 26, 2024 Tags Engineering Impact stories Student experience University news Bucknell University achieved one of its highest rankings on the Best Undergraduate Engineering — Non-Doctorate list, ranking 5th, in the new U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, published Tuesday. Bucknell also ranked 6th among Most Innovative Schools — National Liberal Arts Colleges. In addition to its overall Engineering ranking, Bucknell was 4th in Mechanical Engineering, 5th in Civil Engineering, tied for 5th in Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering, and tied for 6th in Computer Engineering. The University also ranked in the top 20 in First-year Experiences, ranking 17th. Overall, Bucknell tied for 31st among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the rankings. The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings report was calculated using 17 factors. More than half of a school's rank now comprises varying outcome measures related to schools' success at enrolling, retaining and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and postgraduation success. Information presented in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings was collected during the spring and summer of 2024 via U.S. News' annual online statistical survey of colleges. In total, U.S. News has collected data on more than 1,800 institutions. College of EngineeringOffBell Tower

Evelyn Bliss '27, Biology kan008 Mon, 09/23/2024 - 15:46 Tags Math & Science Student experience Student Story Student Stories September 26, 2024 Tags Math & Science Student experience "Being at Bucknell is a special experience. The connections I've made here, both in and out of the classroom, have been incredible." Evelyn Bliss '27 first stepped onto Bucknell's campus as a high school sophomore when she competed in the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Kinney Natatorium. "I immediately fell in love with the campus and with Lewisburg," she says. "I felt a little sad though because I really wanted to swim in college, and I knew that I wasn't fast enough to swim at Bucknell." Little did she know, her path to Bucknell wouldn't come through the pool but through a different arena entirely. A shift in sports and a willingness to embrace a new challenge would ultimately earn her a spot not only on the Bison track & field team — but also in the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and the U20 World Championships. Growing up in Rimersburg, Pa., Bliss dedicated 13 years to swimming. After her sophomore season, she joined her school's track team as a way to stay in shape, and she decided to try her hand at javelin. "Because I played baseball when I was little, I thought I could probably throw," she says. But it wasn't an immediate, natural fit. Javelin throwing is a highly technical sport that requires precise form, shoulder mobility and synchronization of the body. It's a quick motion, starting with a walk that transitions into a jog and finishes with a powerful throw. "Any slight misstep can throw off the entire process," Bliss says. Evelyn Bliss ’27, who first visited Bucknell as a high school swimmer, found her true calling in javelin. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications With guidance from her father, a former collegiate thrower, and many hours of practice, Bliss gradually improved. Together, they watched YouTube videos and pieced together her technique. By her junior year, Bliss had a breakthrough, with three standout meets that earned her a spot at the Pennsylvania state meet. There, she finished in second place, throwing 140 feet. That got Bucknell's attention, and Bliss was invited for an official visit to campus where she stayed with a javelin thrower. "I could see myself thriving here," she says. "I'm from a rural area, and I didn't want to go to a big city or large school." When she arrived as a student at Bucknell in 2023, she says she immediately felt at home with the tight-knit track & field community and appreciated the personalized support she received. She and coach Ryan Protzman formulated three goals for her first year as a Bison thrower: winning the Patriot League Championships, qualifying for the NCAA National Championships, and qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. She did all three. At the Olympic Trials in June, Bliss competed as one of the top 24 javelin throwers in the country. "I was up against these high-caliber athletes who I knew from YouTube — I had learned how to throw by watching their videos," she says. "It was surreal." On day two of the competition, Bliss set a new personal record and made it to the finals. In the final rounds, with her parents and coach there to watch, Bliss delivered outstanding performances — throwing a career-best 183 feet, 2 inches — and secured a spot in the finals. Then in August, she won the bronze medal at the U20 World Championships in Peru, throwing 177 feet, 2 inches. Balancing her athletic life, which entails four to five hours of daily training, with her studies as a biology major isn't easy. But Bliss feels she has the support she needs to succeed at Bucknell. "Some of my first classes felt a little overwhelming," she says. "But I saw a tutor and attended office hours for calculus and chemistry, and it made my learning experience so much better. I asked a lot of questions and got to know the professors better. I love having the Bucknell support system. It's amazing." Her future goals include qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics and a career in chiropractic care. In the meantime, Bliss continues to embrace the opportunities Bucknell offers. Whether she's in the classroom, on the field, or participating in the biology club, she's making the most of her time at Bucknell. "Being at Bucknell is a special experience," Bliss says. "The connections I've made here, both in and out of the classroom, have been incredible." See how far you can go at Bucknell Apply BiologyOffBell Tower

Journalist Yamiche Alcindor Speaks About Reporting and Politics mjj013 Wed, 09/25/2024 - 10:38 Matt Jones Tags University news News News September 25, 2024 Tags University news While there is no singular quality that makes a good journalist, there are certain attributes and practices that are critical to the profession: a healthy dose of courage, a commitment to truth, a willingness to listen and, perhaps most of all, a deep and sincere curiosity. "My mom will tell you she didn't like this when I was a little girl, but my favorite question was 'why?' " said Yamiche Alcindor, NBC News Washington correspondent. It was the kind of question that seemed simple at the time, but which she would spend "a whole lifetime, a whole career, trying to answer." Alcindor shared the history of her journalism career as the first speaker in Bucknell's 2024-25 Forum series, which is focused on the theme "World in Transition." Following a private question-and-answer session with students, she delivered a keynote address entitled "Truth in Journalism: Reporting on Politics and Identity in America" on Sept. 24 in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. NBC News Washington correspondent Yamiche Alcindor attends a question-and-answer session with Bucknell students. Photo by James Giffen, Marketing & Communications Before joining the NBC News team, where she covers the Biden administration and the intersection of race, culture and politics, Alcindor was public broadcasting's White House correspondent for the national news flagship PBS NewsHour and the anchor of PBS' Washington Week. She has worked as a reporter for The New York Times and USA Today and is a frequent MSNBC contributor. The recipient of the White House Correspondents' Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists Journalist of the Year Award, Alcindor has traveled all over the world to cover politics and breaking news. "I became a journalist because of a woman named Mamie Till who used her pain to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice in the name of her son," said Alcindor, relaying the story of Emmett Till, an African American teenager who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman. Till's mother's courageous decision to hold an open casket funeral — based on a desire to draw attention to the violence of racism and the vulnerabilities of democracy — motivated Alcindor to become a "professional witness" and "bring hard truths to the forefront of America." Alcindor's commitment to shining a light on truth has led her to cover stories about environmental racism in Lowndes County, Alabama; abortion rights in Idaho; and access to clean water in Baltimore. During the question-and-answer session with students, she was asked about the "worst story" she had ever covered. "My journalism also brought me to Newtown, Conn., to cover the consequences of one of the worst mass shootings in America. That, of course, being the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School," Alcindor said. "It is still one of the worst stories I've ever covered, but it's also one of the stories that I'm proudest of because we have to look things like that in the face. We have to look horrible, horrible things like that in the face to understand the hard truth in America." As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, Alcindor shared how important her familial background has been in shaping her coverage of Springfield, Ohio, and Charleroi, Pa., two communities which have garnered national attention after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance spread debunked claims about Haitian immigrant communities. "There are few Haitian journalists on TV who can speak in Creole and translate an interview," said Alcindor. "So I really embrace that and see that as a challenge and a skill." While objectivity is central to her work as a journalist, Alcindor shared that these stories have served as crystallizing moments in her career, in which the totality of who she is can be used as a tool on the job. Alcindor closed her speech by reminding the audience that we are roughly six weeks out from a national election. "We're gearing up for an election like nothing any of us has experienced," she said. "We're in this moment where the world is chaotic, both globally and domestically, and where each person is being called, in my view, to use their skills in any way possible, and their talent in any way possible." Up Next The Bucknell Forum speaker series will continue this fall with W. Kamau Bell on Oct. 22. Bell is an Emmy-award winning comedian, TV host, author and producer. Explore upcoming Bucknell Forum events Learn More OffBell Tower

Episode 84: A Parent Perspective from Admissions Professionals bdw008 Tue, 09/24/2024 - 09:35 Brooke Thames Tags University news Admissions Podcast September 23, 2024 Tags University news While it may be the student who gets admitted to college in the end, they aren't the only ones with a hand in the process. From those initial Google searches to campus visits and beyond, parents and families are discovering and learning right alongside their student. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're taking a closer look at the parent and family experience. We'll talk about the role that parents and families play in the college search process. Our guests are two parents who also happen to be admissions professionals at Bucknell. Lara Schmitt '20, P'26 is assistant director of admissions for access & outreach, and Brett Basom P'22 is associate director for international recruitment. If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Stay up to date throughout your Bucknell journey Join our contact list Links for the Episode Resources for parents and 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 Episode 84 Episode 84 Transcript [INTRO] [00:00:06] BHA: While it may be the student who gets admitted to college in the end, they aren't the only ones with a hand in the process. [00:00:11] BT: From those initial Google searches to campus visits and beyond, parents and families are discovering and learning right alongside their student. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're taking a closer look at the parent and family experience. I'm Brooke Thames from Bucknell University. [00:00:27] BHA: I'm Becca Haupt Aldredge, also from Bucknell University. Today, we'll be talking about the role that parents and families play in the college search process. [00:00:35] BT: Our guests are two parents who also happen to be admissions professionals at Bucknell. Lara Schmitt is assistant director of admissions for access & outreach, and Brett Basom is associate director for international recruitment. Welcome to the podcast. [00:00:49] BB: Great. Thanks for having us. [00:00:51] LS: Yes. Thank you, Brooke and Becca. [00:00:53] BHA: Can each of you tell us a little bit more about your work at Bucknell and your children who are in or have been through college? [00:01:00] BB: Yes. I've been at Bucknell for about seven years. I do the international admissions piece here at Bucknell, so I get the joy of working with students and parents from around the world. Even though I've only been at Bucknell seven years, I've been in higher ed most of my life in one form or another. I have one son who graduated from college two years ago in 2022. He is successfully navigating the world of adulthood. We're slowly cutting the financial ties, so Mom and Dad are happy. [00:01:28] LS: I'm Lara, and I have been with Bucknell for going on 13 years now, and in the admissions office all 13 years prior to that. I was at another school for about a year in admissions. I have three children. My oldest daughter just recently graduated from a college down in Florida, and my son is actually a rising senior right here at Bucknell. Our youngest daughter, she is actually in a school in Texas, and she just completed her first year there. [00:01:57] BT: Sounds like we have a wealth of knowledge here on the podcast today. I'd like to think that the first step towards college for a student and their family is talking about it. When did the college conversation come up in each of your households? Was it you who initiated the process, or was it your student? [00:02:13] LS: For my family, we actually started the conversation very early on. I’ve been working in admissions for over a decade. My husband actually was previously a high school teacher, and he was also an adjunct professor at other local schools here. We really started discussing college with them when they were young. I mean, my kids used to come here to Bucknell, so they were very comfortable with the campus, playing on the quad, hanging out in the library. It was definitely something that we always discussed, even when they were kids, the idea of attending college eventually. My husband actually, he got his masters here at Bucknell as well. He was doing that part-time while he was working full-time, so the kids were really very much aware of the whole college atmosphere and what it means after high school to go on to college. [00:03:02] BB: Looking back on it, for us, I don't think there was any one defining moment where we sat down and had "the talk." I think it's just something for us that prepped into the conversation over the course of the years. Kind of similar to Lara, my son grew up around a college campus. I was not working at Bucknell at the time, but it was at another small liberal arts college. A lot of his friends…his friend group was mostly professors’ kids. His preschool was actually on the campus of the previous college, so he was always around it. He would come to visit me in the office. I think it was kind of an unspoken expectation that college would be in your future, so it just kind of crept into the conversation as he grew older. [00:03:40] BHA: It sounds like for both of your families, working at a college or university was a big part of exposing your students to what college could look like for them. While college might be the assumed next step for some students, it might not be a given for others. Was gauging your students’ values around higher education part of the initial conversations? What did that look like? [00:04:02] LS: In my household, it wasn't really assumed, even though they were really exposed to the whole idea of going to college and the college campus. My husband was especially, particularly, was very clear on letting them know that college isn't necessarily for everyone, so it wasn't an assumption. I mean, we did talk to them about attending college. Talked to them about their future goals, where they saw themselves, and line of work they might be interested in when they got older. But it was something that he also made clear to them that it's not for everyone, and there's a lot of careers out there that you don't need to attend college. [00:04:39] BB: Yes, and I totally agree with that. I think there's some kind of higher ed for everyone, but it's not necessarily college. I’m a strong believer in improving yourself and such. But our conversations, we tried to really keep them age-appropriate. When my son was in elementary school, we weren't asking, “Where do you want to get your PhD?” There was nothing like that going on, but we were asking things like, “What's your favorite subject? What do you like in school, and what can you see yourself doing when you're grown up?” That kind of led to us looking at what were his strengths. It was pretty clear by the time he got into high school that he's probably not going to be an English literature major. But he was definitely more analytical, and we could see that, yes, probably something in the technology field or some kind of stem field would be appropriate. The questions kind of evolved to things like, “How far from home do you want to be? I mean, do you want to see Mom and Dad a lot? Or do you not want to see us for four years? Can you see yourself thriving in a large, big flagship university or a smaller environment?” Those are the kinds of questions that we were asking just to kind of gauge his values and what type of place he might want to go to. [00:05:44] BT: Yes, I love that series of questions that both of you asked in your households about whether or not college is right for the student and then probing a little bit deeper to what kind of place do you want to go. When it came time to start looking at colleges, I wonder if you felt that being admissions professionals yourselves gave you a leg up. Were there certain things you were looking for as a parent that you encourage your student to keep an eye out for as well? [00:06:08] BB: Yes. Of course, I thought I was an expert. I thought I knew it all, but I quickly realized that I didn't know anything. When I put on the parent hat, it was definitely looking at colleges from a different lens. I mean, I knew a lot about my institution but not so much about some of the other schools. Things I really emphasized with my son to really do your research upfront, even before visiting. Find out what schools have your major. The questions that I thought were important from just my experience in working in a college, how engaged are the faculty with the undergrads? I mean, are they teaching, or are they off doing research? I wanted an environment where the undergrads are actually actively engaged with the faculty. I also wanted to know what kind of experiential learning opportunities were there. Were there opportunities to do research and study abroad, leadership development, that kind of stuff? Of course, the basic question of, "What do students do on the weekends, and what happens after they graduate? How successful are they?" Those were the things that I wanted to know upfront and kind of emphasized with my son to look at those things. I even would tell him, just when you go onto the college campuses to visit, the admission people are all wonderful people wherever you go. But really look beyond that. Try to connect with some of the students on campus, maybe the faculty to really see what it's like and to see how you match up with that. Just grab a campus newspaper and see what the real issues are. [00:07:33] LS: I have to agree completely with Brett. I feel like he answered exactly the way I was planning on answering. Yes, we did the same things with our kids. Really encouraged them to think about their career goals as well, to see which school would set them up best for that to reach their goals, as well as looking at the other activities that they could do outside of an academic setting also at the schools. One thing, though, that was also big in our household was with three kids, we did have the opportunity for them to get Tuition Exchange through Bucknell. My husband is also actually in the military, so they also had a GI Bill option. That was something that we reminded them of. But, really, in the end, it was their choice whether or not. Of course, they wanted to look at schools that were strictly in the Tuition Exchange program. That was something that I think really affected their choice in the schools that they would be looking at. [00:08:29] BHA: That also sounds like a really nice way, Lara, to blend finances and fit into the conversation so that they are keeping some of those things in mind when exploring schools that are going to be the best fit for each of your students and your whole family. [00:08:44] BT: With different life experiences and personalities in play, maybe a few in the case of Lara, I imagine that there are moments where parents and their students might not always see eye to eye or agree on the same things. Were there moments where your student was really excited about something and you came in maybe with a soft counterpoint? [00:09:05] BB: For us, music was always a big part of my son's life, so it was kind of weighing. Is this something he can do as a career or not? Looking at colleges, it was about finding a career that was going to get him somewhere but keeping music in his life, even though he's probably not going to be a professional. But let's keep it as part of his life, so finding an institution that would fit that need. [00:09:28] LS: For me, I would say it's similar but almost the opposite. For our son, for instance, we really felt that the hobbies that he had in high school and even when he was younger really, to us, spoke to what we felt would be best major choice for him. But he didn't go that route. He actually chose a major that he felt would be more practical for what he wanted in the future. Then he ended up changing his major to history which is really the major that we thought because it was such a passion of his, not just in an academic sense but even just in a personal sense. He was always reading up on history in school. We were very surprised that he decided to go the other route at first, but then he came back to it. [00:10:08] BHA: Let's zoom out a bit and take a closer look at your involvement throughout the process. From those initial college searches to when your student got their acceptance letter in the mail, did you find that your student took the lead? Or did they require more support from you? How did you balance being supportive versus being over involved? [00:10:28] LS: Well, with three kids, I can say that they were all very different. I think my daughters tended to take the lead in pretty much everything, and that definitely translated into when they were doing the college search. They really did take the lead on that, whereas my son not as much. He did know what he wanted — or thought he knew what he wanted — as far as a major, for instance, but he really needed a little bit more support from us. I like to joke sometimes about the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. My kids are the three bears, right. They're very different in their approaches just in life in general. They really needed different levels of support, each of them, definitely less on my end with my daughters than with my son. [00:11:12] BB: I intentionally took a step back. I wanted it to be clear that I was not taking control of this. I didn't want to be seen as controlling because of my experience working in a college. I wanted it to be clear that this was his search. This was going to be his college, his life. But I wanted to be a resource, too, so I wanted to let him know that I was there when he needed me, if he had questions. I'm kind of that parent who kept a wide orbit. I didn't want to be hovering too closely, which I think, in general, is pretty good parenting advice. But I was there when he needed me. There were certainly some check-in points. I made sure that he did have a list that looked pretty good of schools. I made sure that he was hitting the deadlines because, as we all know, they vary from college to college. But interestingly enough, his initial college visits he made with his friends. We weren't a part of. He went with some friends. I believe his school had a trip where he went with this guidance office to visit a college. But we made sure that once we got down to the top choices and when he was making the final selections that we were a part of that process. We were on those visits, so we were seeing things, too, so that we could give our input. [00:12:21] BT: As Brett hinted at earlier, it's easy to think that being admissions professionals would make the whole process a breeze. But you both and anyone who listens to our show can tell you that admissions can be really complex. Is there anything you wish you'd known at the start or even mistakes that you made that might be good advice for others? [00:12:39] BB: I think it's always good to expand your vision. Look beyond the 10 big-name schools and do know that there are other really good places out there. Don't just listen to your friends where they're going or all the students from your school are going or what school has the best football team, unless you play football, of course. I think just doing your research upfront to find the right fit for you. That's probably the most important thing about this whole process. Don't stress out too much about it. It all works out in the end. There are so many good colleges out there that would love to have your son or daughter. Just knowing that is just finding them and then finding the ones that fit best for them. [00:13:17] LS: I think, for me, I would say that the main thing that I wish I had taken a closer look at to better support my kids…Because, like I said, the girls were pretty independent as far as doing their own college searches and things like that, and my son was as well in that area. But really, I think it would have helped if I had had a better understanding of the whole financial end of things with financial aid and the FAFSA and that whole process. It's interesting now also because on the other end of it with my oldest daughter, who just graduated, just really being able to guide her now with things like her student loans and that whole process….I think it would have been better if I had taken a much more closer look at that four years ago so that I could better support her in that area. [00:14:05] BHA: That's really thoughtful advice that I'm sure our listeners will take with them. But to play a little bit of devil's advocate, is there advice that you were given that you didn't take, and did that impact the process for the better? [00:14:18] LS: One of the bits of advice that I had been given was regarding post-acceptance college visits versus pre-acceptance visits. At the time, five years ago now, when my oldest was looking at schools, we were advised that we don't visit the schools until after she was accepted to them. That's something that now I feel like would have been better if we had visited the schools ahead of time, which we did end up doing with my son and with our youngest daughter. That was one thing that I feel it impacted the process for the better that we did not follow that advice the second and third time around. [00:14:57] BB: Yes. I can think of a couple of things. One bit of advice was that you have to apply to 20 or 30 colleges. You have to look at so many colleges, and I don't agree with that. I mean think about the cost of application fees and such. I think, again, if you're doing the research upfront, finding schools that look like they're a good fit, visiting them, you can narrow that list down to a reasonable amount, three, five, eight, whatever it may be, to start the process. The other thing I think I found was not to value, or maybe over-value, one person's opinion too much. This could be anything from a tour guide you met or the neighbor down the street who had a bad experience or even things that you see posted on social media. Again, it's just one person's opinion, and a college or university is made up of many, many people, and most of whom have really good experiences. Again, doing your research so that you can make your own informed decision that works best for you. [00:15:54] BT: What I've heard throughout this episode is that this journey like any has its ups and its downs and its failures and its successes. But I'd love to round out this episode with some praise for both of you. Ushering a child into the next phase of their life is no small feat. What’s something that you feel you did really well as a parent in the admissions process as a whole? [00:16:16] BB: Yes. I guess just keeping it low-stress, trying to check in as needed, and to be a resource. From an academic end, I guess through my experience of working in a college and reading thousands and thousands of transcripts over the years, just understanding what a good course selection in high school would be. I was able to advise my son on, yes, these are good courses that colleges are going to want to see and will make you competitive versus taking too easy of a schedule or something senior year. At the same time, just really emphasizing just keeping a balance in life because, yes, you don't want to stress out too much. You want to be competitive. You want to work hard. But at the same time, there are other things that you need to round out your life, and there are certain soft skills in life that will enhance you wherever you go. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't give my wife credit. She certainly kept an academic tone around her house. I traveled a lot for work, so she was able to keep that going. Keep my son's nose to the grindstone when needed. That was very helpful, so definitely a team effort. [00:17:16] LS: Yes, I agree. With my husband and I as well, it was definitely a team effort, especially, I mentioned earlier about the financial end of things. He really did take the lead on that because I felt that I hadn't taken enough of a deeper dive into how best to advise my kids in that area. But I would say that the bits of advice that I did give my kids was that to tell them that there's lots of great schools out there and so many to choose from and for them to look into and so many options. Really, they needed to look at the school where they could really see themselves, where they could see themselves interacting with the professors. Getting the hands-on experience and the research and internship opportunities that they wanted, where they could see themselves hanging out with friends in the quad or in the library or downtown. Also, almost more importantly or just as important maybe is a school that would really set them up to reach their future goals. I think that was the largest piece of advice that I gave them, and they really seem to follow and help them to succeed. [00:18:18] BHA: I want to thank you both for being on this episode. You bring a wealth of knowledge not only as admissions professionals but also as parents in the process. We are so glad that you're able to share some of your words of wisdom with our listeners. Thanks for joining us. [00:18:33] LS: Yes. Thank you. Thank you for having us. [00:18:34] BB: Yes, thanks. [00:18:35] BT: Thanks to everyone out there for listening. If you're a fan of the podcast, please take a moment to rate, subscribe, and share this episode with the families in your life. [00:18:43] BHA: We'll be back with another new episode in a few weeks. In the meantime, send your questions, comments and episode ideas to podcast@bucknell.edu. We read every note you send. [00:18:54] BT: Finally, you're invited to follow Bucknell on your favorite social media apps. Just look for @bucknellu on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok. You can also follow our student-run Instagram account which is @iamraybucknell. [00:19:09] BHA: Until next time, keep reaching for your dreams and your dream school. 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NBC News Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor to Open 2024-25 Bucknell Forum Series Sept. 24 msf014 Tue, 09/17/2024 - 09:55 Mike Ferlazzo Tags University news News News September 17, 2024 Tags University news NBC News Washington correspondent Yamiche Alcindor will open the 2024-25 Bucknell Forum series on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, where she will discuss this year's "World in Transition" theme. The event is free and open to the public, although tickets are required (see details below). Alcindor is the first of four nationally renowned speakers participating in this year's Bucknell Forum — a speaker series that since 2007 has featured national leaders, scholars and commentators who have examined various issues from multidisciplinary and diverse viewpoints. About Alcindor Since early 2022, Alcindor has been a Washington correspondent for NBC News covering the Biden administration, the impact of federal policies on communities and issues at the intersection of race, culture and politics. She is also a former anchor and moderator of PBS' Washington Week, where she unraveled the steady stream of breaking news to help her listeners understand it all. Prior to joining the NBC News team, she was public broadcasting's White House correspondent for the national news flagship PBS NewsHour. As an MSNBC contributor, Alcindor often appears on shows like Morning Joe, Meet the Press and Andrea Mitchell Reports. Earlier in her career, she was a national reporter for The New York Times, writing about politics and social issues, and a journalist with USA Today, writing about criminal justice and fast-breaking stories. Alcindor's knack for following the story has taken her to places like Belgium for the 2018 North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting and to Helsinki, Finland, for President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She has also traveled to McAllen, Texas, to chronicle life on the U.S.-Mexico border and to gauge the impact of President Trump's family separation policy as well as to Jackson, Miss., to write about the impact of racial inequalities and poverty in America. In 2019, she served as a moderator for the sixth Democratic primary debate. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Alcindor has written extensively on the intersection of race and politics. She has covered the impact of President Trump's policies on the working class, immigration and breaking news coming out of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She has also reported on the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, the legacy of President Obama, as well as how police killings affect communities and children. As the recipient of the White House Correspondents' Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists Journalist of the Year Award, Alcindor has become a steady voice in journalism. Event Information All Bucknell Forum events are free and open to the public, although tickets are required. Current Bucknell students and employees may receive up to two free tickets at any campus box office location, or online, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. one day prior to the event. A valid Bucknell University ID is required to receive advance tickets. Use of multiple Bucknell IDs to pick up additional sets of tickets is prohibited. Remaining tickets will be available for the general public at the Weis Center box office beginning at 6 p.m. on the day of the event. All individuals may receive up to two free tickets, depending on availability. An ASL interpreter will be signing at the event for the deaf community. Attendees who need this service should contact sebright@bucknell.edu for seating arrangements. Questions regarding this event may be directed to the Division of Marketing & Communications at 570-577-3260 or theforum@bucknell.edu. Remaining Bucknell Forum Speakers All remaining speakers in this year's Bucknell Forum will appear at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts on these dates: Emmy Award-winning comedian, TV host and producer W. Kamau Bell on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Pioneering actor and civil rights leader George Takei on Tuesday, Jan. 28 A fourth speaker will also be added to the lineup and announced at a later date. President's OfficeOffBell Tower