College Admissions Insider

What comes to mind when you think of the word engineering? A hardhat and paper blueprints, a computer with complex modeling software, or maybe a bunch of wires, gears and other technical parts? Engineering can involve all of those things and so much more.

When looking for the engineering major, you might want to study in college, you might find that they're grouped together in a school of engineering within a larger university. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're diving deep into this educational track — from the types of professions the engineering field includes to what a general engineering curriculum might look like and far beyond

Our guests are three faculty members from Bucknell’s own College of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering Professor, Eric Kennedy; Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Professor, Wendy Wright; and Chemical Engineering Professor Kat Wakabayashi.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Explore the College of Engineering
• Engineering majors and minors 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

With myriad majors and courses to choose from, the possibilities of a college education are limitless. But these programs don't exist on islands all on their own. 

Oftentimes, you'll find similar majors grouped together in colleges or schools within a larger university — like a school of medicine, or a college of art and design, or a school of business. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're talking all about that last type: a school of business or management.

We'll cover different educational approaches of various business or management schools; how students interested in pursuing careers in business can get a sense of what majors appeal to them; what high schoolers can do right now to get a head start, and more.

Our guests are Melissa Intindola, associate professor of management and organizations, and James Lawson, assistant professor of accounting.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Explore the  Freeman College of Management
• Management majors and minors 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

We believe that there is no limit to what you can accomplish with an innovative outlook and a curious spirit. But you don't have to just take our word for it.

On this podcast, we look for every opportunity to let real college students do the talking — which is why we're inviting students from all three of Bucknell's colleges to tell you about their experiences conducting research as undergrads.

In this follow-up to our last episode on undergraduate research, we're asking current students about how they got involved in research, what it's like working side by side with faculty, why they recommend research to incoming undergrads and more.

Our guests are biology major, Claire Marino '23; critical Black studies and environmental studies double-major Reece Pauling '24; and mechanical engineering major Tobi Odusote '25.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Explore Undergraduate Research at Bucknell
• Opportunities beyond the classroom
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

The universe is full of mysteries. What worlds lie in galaxies beyond our own? Why was Stonehenge built? How do the connections in our brains really work.

Every day, countless theorists, analysts, investigators and more chase down answers to fascinating questions like these. But they aren't the only ones.

Students at colleges and universities across the globe are also hard at work researching some of humanity's biggest curiosities – and discovering new groundbreaking solutions.

On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're on the hunt for answers about how students can make the most of research experiences while in college. We'll discuss what research opportunities look like for students of varying interests, the kinds of resources students should look for and how doing research as an undergraduate sets students up for success.

Our guest is is Margaret Marr, Bucknell’s director of undergraduate fellowship research.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Explore Undergraduate Research at Bucknell
• Opportunities beyond the classroom
• 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

Our world today is bursting with endless choices and possibilities. We like to believe that with a combination of drive, talent and optimism, there's so much that a person can do with their life. So in a world where you might do virtually anything, why go to college? 

On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're spending some time considering that essential question. After all, determining why you might want to go to college is the first step in any student's college admissions journey. 

We'll chat about why a student might consider pursuing education post-high school, how college experiences aid personal growth, the lifelong influence of a college education and more.

Our guest is Joe Tranquillo, the associate provost for transformative teaching & learning at Bucknell.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Get to know Bucknell University
• Explore Bucknell's majors and minors
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

What do you want to be when you grow up? It's a question many of us are asked from the time we're little. For a college student, deciding what to study for four years might feel like finally choosing an answer.

But with so many disciplines to choose from, it can feel stressful or even dissatisfying to toss all of your eggs into one academic basket. After all, no one is interested in just one subject or topic — which is what makes the option to declare a minor in college so powerful. 

On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're looking into what a college minor is and how exploring one or more minors can enhance a student's educational experience.

Our guest is Ghislaine McDayter, Bucknell’s associate provost for research and creative inquiry.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Explore Bucknell's majors and minors
• 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 don't have to look very far to find tons of guidance on just about every aspect of your life — from social media videos on what to wear and articles about keeping healthy to podcasts on how to maximize your chances on getting into the school of your dreams. 

On College Admissions Insider, we focus on providing expert advice on what you can do to make the most of your college admissions journey. But today we're turning the podcast on its head a bit, as we discuss what not to do during the college admissions process.

Our don'ts will include mistakes to avoid on the college application, who you shouldn't ask for a recommendation letter, what not to forget after applying and more.

Our guest is Kevin Mathes, assistant vice president and dean of admissions at Bucknell.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Find more college admissions tips on Bucknell's Admissions Blog
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

If there's anything we know about securing financial aid at college, it's that it can be a pretty complex process. That's why we've dedicated the past few episodes of College Admissions Insider to outlining each aspect of the financial aid process to help you and your family fund your dream education.

Today, we're rounding out our discussion on financial aid by chatting about what happens after your financial aid offer has been calculated. How do you find out what you've been awarded? How do you accept an offer? What should you keep in mind when finalizing your payment? We're diving into all of that and more.

Our guests are two experts from Bucknell's Office of Financial aid: Erin Wolfe, the interim director of Bucknell financial aid office; and Jamie Lowthert, the associate director for financial aid.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Learn more about financial aid at Bucknell
• Financial Aid Calculators
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

The choice to attend college isn’t just one decision. It’s a whole matrix of considerations, each one a crucial part of the journey to pressing submit on an application form. Perhaps, none is more important than the ability to finance your education.

Today, we’re diving into part two of our financial aid series on College Admissions Insider: how to apply for financial aid.

In this episode, we're breaking down acronyms like FAFSA and CSS, discovering just how student’s financial aid package is calculated, and chatting a bit about how the process might differ for students of various family structures and circumstances.

Our guests are two experts from Bucknell's Office of Financial aid: Erin Wolfe, the interim director of Bucknell financial aid office; and Jamie Lowthert, the associate director for financial aid.

Read a transcript for this episode

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Learn more about financial aid at Bucknell
• Financial Aid Calculators
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

If you've begun your college search, then you know there are myriad types of schools. But what's the one thing all of these options have in common? They all cost money to attend.

While higher education is one of the best investments you can make, figuring out how to fund that journey can also be one of the most daunting aspects of the college process. But it doesn't have to be!

This episode of College Admissions Insider is the first in a three-episode series about financial aid. We'll demystify the financial aid process as we cover everything from financial aid options, to the steps required to qualify for assistance, to how to accept a financial aid award after you're admitted, and so much more. In this first installment, we're focusing on that first piece, getting a clearer sense of the options available to help you pay for college and how you can determine the kind of aid you need.

Our guests are two experts from Bucknell's Office of Financial aid: Erin Wolfe, the interim director of Bucknell financial aid office; and Jamie Lowthert, the associate director for financial aid.

Read a transcript for this episode.

If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell University.

Links:

• Learn more about financial aid at Bucknell
• Financial Aid Calculators
• 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

When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.

This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.