College Admissions Insider

It’s one of the oldest professions and a job that touches nearly every aspect of our lives, from finances and real estate to commerce, health care, and beyond.

That far-reaching trade is law, which encompasses far more than the intense courtroom scenes we see in crime movies and TV shows. In fact, there are more than a dozen major fields of law and an array of even more nuanced concentrations offered at law schools around the country.

But for those who dream of attending law school one day, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. What undergraduate majors will lay the right foundation? What courses should you take in college to acquire and hone the skills you’ll need in any legal field? And what can you do now — in high school — to set yourself up for future success?

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll provide a guide to all that and more.

Our guest is Dianne McDonald, a pre-law adviser at Bucknell who helps students plot their journeys to a career in law.

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:

• Pre-law advising at Bucknell
• 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

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 [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:

• 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

If you're on Bucknell's mailing list, you might have seen an email telling high school students that when they apply to Bucknell, a real human — not some computer algorithm — reviews their application personally.

At Bucknell, we're proud of that fact. But that statement might raise a follow-up question: Who are those humans who will review my application?

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, you'll meet two members of the team that reviews Bucknell applications. Whether you're planning to apply to Bucknell or not, we think you'll enjoy peeking behind the curtain to see how application readers approach the review process.

We'll discuss questions like:

• What does the application review system look like?
• How many people will read an application?
• What are some reasons an application might be denied?
• And the most important question of all: What can an applicant do to stand out?  

Longtime listeners might remember that we've used this exact topic before in our fourth episode. That episode has been so popular that we've decided it's time for a sequel.

Our guests are: Jill Medina, Bucknell's senior associate dean of admissions, and Josh Wilkinson, associate director admissions for communications.

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:

• 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

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.

There's no better resource for learning about a university than its students.

Nobody else truly knows what it's like to live in that campus community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students are the ones who take the classes, attend the events, participate in the clubs and live in the residence halls.

That's why it's so important to talk to actual students when researching colleges. By hearing why they chose that school and learning what life is like there, you'll gain a clearer picture of what that university offers.

In that spirit, we're bringing you a special episode of College Admissions Insider. Instead of our typical approach of talking about colleges in general, this one's all about Bucknell. You'll hear from three current Bucknell students about their journey from high school to Bucknell.

They'll also answer some of the top-searched questions about Bucknell, helping listeners learn more about life in Lewisburg.

Please enjoy hearing from Caitlin, Catherine and Tiffany for this special episode.

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:

• 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

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.

Sometimes you travel a long distance to go see a college or university that interests you. Other times, if you're lucky, that college or university comes to see you.

They're called counselor visits, and they're a great way to learn more about a university without leaving school grounds.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll share our top tips for making the most of these counselor visits. We'll cover it all — what happens during a typical counselor visit, whether students should prepare for these visits — and if so, how — and whether it's necessary to send a follow-up message to the counselor after their visit.

Here to help us break it all down is Ben Kavanaugh, associate director of Admissions for 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:

• 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

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.

A lot of emotions go through a student's head as their mouse cursor hovers over the "submit" button on a college application.

There's excitement. There's hope. And yes, there's probably a fair amount of second-guessing, anxiety and maybe even a dash of all-out panic.

To be fair, that's a pretty important click in the life of a college student. But if you have prepared in the right way, it doesn't have to be so terrifying.

That's where College Admissions Insider is here to help. In this episode, we'll cover all the last-minute reminders students need before clicking "submit." What should you double-check? Who should you trust to review everything? And when is the right time to start all these final checks?

To help us cover all our bases, we're joined by Kristin Morrow, Bucknell's Assistant Director of Admissions. 

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:

• 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

Imagine this: Every time you visit a college, email a counselor or even click a link in an email from a university on your list, you’re helping your chances of getting admitted.

For schools that consider demonstrated interest, those scenarios are often a reality.

Some schools keep a record of the actions you take to, as the name implies, demonstrate that you're interested in that school. It’s one way for those colleges to know whether an applicant considers that school one of their top choices — or closer to the bottom of their list.

Those could be important factors when a school is considering whom to admit or choose from a wait list.

But how do you know whether a school considers demonstrated interest? What actions count as demonstrated interest? And is there such a thing as too much demonstrated interest?

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll explore this important concept in detail. Our guest is Lisa Keegan, Bucknell'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 [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:

• Blog post: What is demonstrated interest?
• 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

When applying to college, so much of a high school student's experience is laser-focused on perfecting every step of the college application journey. As a freshman, you build your initial list of schools you want to explore. As a junior, you begin visiting schools and reaching out to admissions offices. And as a senior, you wait with anticipation for good news.

But the journey of preparing for college doesn't end with an acceptance packet.

There's a whole new set of challenges — and opportunities — once you arrive at college for your first semester. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll dive into that exciting chapter.

We'll answer questions like: What is new student orientation really like? How does a first-year student make friends, find their classes and get help if they need it? And what can high school students do right now to prepare themselves for their first semester?

Our guest is Adrienne Jensen-Doray, Bucknell's director of first-year experience and orientation.

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:

• Plan a visit to Bucknell
• Learn more about Bucknell's location
• Undergraduate admission requirements
• @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram
• Info about applying to Bucknell
• Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook
• Latest news for prospective students

In a household where a parent or family member completed a four-year college degree, a high school student has someone right under their roof who can answer any question that student might have about the college search process.

But some students don't have that luxury and might need to find other ways to get the information they need to find, apply to and prepare for college.

They're called first-generation college students, or first-gens. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll offer advice and support to these first-gens — and the members of their families who might be helping them along this journey.

We'll cover questions like: What exactly counts as being "first-gen"? What should first-gen students know when looking at colleges? And does being first-gen weigh into a school's decision on whether to admit someone?

Our guest is Jenny Kim, Bucknell's regional associate director of admissions. Jenny is based in San Diego and works with students from California, Nevada and Hawaii. She's also first-gen herself and a proud graduate of 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:

• Plan a visit to Bucknell
• Learn more about Bucknell's location
• Undergraduate admission requirements
• @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram
• Info about applying to Bucknell
• Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook
• Latest news for prospective students

Choosing a college home is a bit like choosing an actual home. It should be the perfect size, offer the features you want, and feel safe and comfortable.

Just like shopping for a house, searching for a college starts with that one key word: location.

So where exactly do you start when considering a school's geographic location when planning your college search? What factors should you absolutely keep in mind and which might you be okay to ignore?

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we provide some helpful advice for choosing your home away from home. Our guest is Candace Leake, Bucknell’s associate director of admissions for access and outreach. Candace works with high school students in eight different states, coordinates off-campus and on-campus experiences for high schoolers, and handles Bucknell’s diversity equity & inclusion initiatives within admissions.

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:

• Plan a visit to Bucknell
• Learn more about Bucknell's location
• Undergraduate admission requirements
• @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram
• Info about applying to Bucknell
• Build a Bucknell Custom Viewbook
• Latest news for prospective students

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.