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Bucknell supplemental essays
All 1 required prompt for 2025-2026, each with its own deep guide: what it is really asking, annotated examples, and what to avoid.
The trap is treating this as two essays stapled together: a paragraph on your major, then a paragraph of Bucknell facts. The best version is one continuous argument where the major and the school are inseparable. You want a reader to finish thinking, "Of course this person needs Bucknell to study this." That means your Bucknell reasons should flow from your specific interest, not from a campus tour brochure.
Do the homework that the word count forces you to use sparingly but well. Find one or two genuinely specific things: a course like a 300-level seminar, a named program such as the Managing for Sustainability major or the Bucknell Engineering Success Alliance, a research lab, a study-abroad option, the open curriculum room to take a second-choice major seriously. Then connect each one to a concrete moment of your own curiosity. One precise detail that clearly required research beats five generic compliments about small class sizes.
Mistakes that sink Bucknell essays
The prompt is about *this major* at *this school*. Skip the throat-clearing about how education opens doors. Start inside your specific interest and stay there.
'Small classes,' 'beautiful campus,' and 'caring professors' describe hundreds of schools. Replace them with named courses, programs, professors' research areas, or traditions you could only get at Bucknell.
Because the Why Bucknell part feels urgent, many writers shortchange the 'why this field' question. Admissions wants evidence your interest is real, so anchor it to something you have actually done.
If you list a second choice, give it a real (if brief) reason or skip it. A throwaway second major signals indecision; a thoughtful one can show range, especially with Bucknell's flexible curriculum.
Bucknell essay FAQ
How many essays does Bucknell require for 2025-26?
One supplemental essay, capped at 250 words, on top of your Common App personal statement. It combines a Why Major question with a Why Bucknell question. There are no separate program-specific prompts for first-year applicants.
What is the Bucknell supplemental essay prompt for 2025-26?
Verbatim: 'Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major (should you opt to list one) and why you would choose Bucknell University to pursue your interest(s).' The limit is 250 words.
Is Bucknell test-optional for 2025-26?
Yes. Bucknell is test-optional and has extended that policy through the 2026-27 admissions cycle, so you can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. If you do submit, the admitted middle 50% has recently been around 670-740 EBRW, 670-760 Math, or 31-34 on the ACT.
What are Bucknell's application deadlines for 2025-26?
Early Decision I is due November 1, 2025. Both Early Decision II and Regular Decision are due January 10, 2026. Bucknell does not offer Early Action; both ED plans are binding.
How hard is it to get into Bucknell?
Bucknell admitted about 32% of applicants to the Class of 2028, and its rate has held in the low-to-mid 30s for years. A specific, well-researched supplemental essay matters because fit is a real factor at a small school.
Do I have to list a second-choice major?
No. The prompt makes a second-choice major optional ('should you opt to list one'). If you include one, give it a genuine reason; a throwaway second choice can read as indecision rather than range.
Prompts and facts verified against Bucknell Undergraduate Admission Requirements, Bucknell Decision Plans (Course Catalog), Bucknell Admissions Dates & Deadlines, College Essay Advisors: Bucknell Prompt Guide and CollegeVine: How to Write the Bucknell Essays 2025-26 (Bucknell University, 2025-2026 cycle). Supplements change yearly, re-verify each cycle.
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