It probably started when you were a kid. 

You started questioning why things work the way they do. You began taking apart electronics to see if you could put them back together. You reshot your favorite movie scenes, performed kitchen science experiments or ran a business in your front yard.

In short, you stepped off the beaten path to find your own way. That journey of learning, and all the experiences and discoveries along the way, has been leading you to something great. At Bucknell University, we're ready to help you get there.

How to Apply

You'll apply to Bucknell using either the Coalition Application or the Common Application — it's your choice. 

Applications for Bucknell's Class of 2026 will open Aug. 1, 2021. The first deadline (Early Decision I) will be Nov. 15, 2021. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants must apply by Jan. 15, 2022.

We'll review each application personally, looking far deeper than test scores and GPA to find students who are engaged in the world around them and passionately in pursuit of their own distinct purpose.

See the full application timeline

Expert Admissions Advice, Now in a Podcast

Listen to College Admissions Insider, the podcast that delivers helpful strategies for each stage of your college search. Guests include experts in Bucknell's Office of Admissions, but the advice is designed for students interested in any school. New episodes drop every two weeks. Available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Listen now

Visit Options

In-person visits are on hold until the end of February 2021 as we work to keep our staff and visitors safe and healthy. 

Until then, we have enhanced our virtual visit options, which you can explore at the link below.

Virtual Visits

Use the link below to learn about:

• Virtual information sessions, hosted by an admissions counselor and current student(s) 
• Virtual student ambassador chats covering a range of topics relevant to you 
• Guided virtual campus tours hosted by current students

Schedule your virtual visit

Coronavirus and Your Academic Record

Bucknell understands that a student's educational opportunities have been disrupted by COVID-19. We want prospective students to know they won't be at a disadvantage because of how their high school chose to handle the spring and fall 2020 semesters. We've adjusted our admissions policies in the following ways:

• Expanding our test optional policy for the 2020-21 application cycle to include home school, international students and recruited athletes.
• Accepting the Duolingo English Test for international students for whom English is not the first language or whose primary language of instruction for at least three years of secondary school was not English.
• Accepting AP Scores from the spring 2020 examinations.
• Understanding that high schools across the globe handled the pandemic differently. This may include various methods of instruction, grading and alterations to school calendars. The Admissions Office understands this and will continue to evaluate each student in the context of their high school. No student will be at a disadvantage for how their school decided to continue their education.
• Understanding that spring extracurricular opportunities were cancelled and fall opportunities will be different. Further, we understand that summer opportunities were largely cancelled or greatly altered given how each community considered how to handle the pandemic. Students will not be penalized or disadvantaged for their extracurricular activities being different than what they were before the pandemic.
• Understanding that, given all of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, it is okay to focus on your mental health, your family and the things that bring you joy.
• Understanding that prospective students and their families are making the best decisions for their personal situation.