You know the familiar movie scene: A family car pulls up to a cluster of old brick buildings and out jumps a bright eyed-student and their parents. After a drawn-out, emotional goodbye the family car drives off, leaving the student to start this exciting new chapter in their life called “college.”

Plenty of first-year students will experience a move-in day like on the Silver Screen. But many others won't, opting to live away from campus and commute to their school instead.

In this episode, we're decoding the distinction between the commuter student experience and traditional residential life — from resources commuter students should look for at a school to the value of living and learning on a college campus.

Our guests are Bucknell’s director of residential education Jackie Cetera and community director Ke’ Sims. Jackie works to cultivate a supportive living experience and facilitate learning and growth for students in residence halls. Ke’ actually lives on campus among the students as a professional staff member, developing opportunities that enhance academic success, community engagement and so much more.

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:

• Residential life at Bucknell
• Explore Bucknell's living-learning communities
• Application dates and deadlines
• Plan a visit to Bucknell
• @iamraybucknell, our student-run Instagram
• Info about applying to Bucknell
• 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.