Bucknell University isn’t exactly an easy school to earn admission into, so if you were recently waitlisted to the Class of 2030, rest assured that you’re among some good company. And you have an edge that the other waitlisted students don’t: you’ve turned to Ivy Coach to make sense of this setback. We will review the waitlist acceptance rate data at Bucknell to give you a sense of your prospects now that you’ve been placed into admissions limbo.

Bucknell University’s Waitlist Acceptance Rates and Statistics

Below is Bucknell’s waitlist data for the Class of 2028 through 2021, covering recent admission cycles that have been published in the Common Data Set. 

Bucknell University Class Year	Number of Students Waitlisted to Bucknell	Number of Students Who Chose to Join Bucknell Waitlist	Number of Students Accepted Off Bucknell Waitlist	Bucknell Waitlist Acceptance Rate
Bucknell Class of 2030	Not Yet Available	Not Yet Available	Not Yet Available	Not Yet Available
Bucknell Class of 2029	Not Yet Published	Not Yet Published	Not Yet Published	Not Yet Published
Bucknell Class of 2028	3,122	1,470	115	7.82%
Bucknell Class of 2027	2,714	1,233	1	0.08%
Bucknell Class of 2026	3,463	1,544	10	0.65%
Bucknell Class of 2025	3,743	1,736	64	3.69%
Bucknell Class of 2024	2,942	1,180	115	9.75%
Bucknell Class of 2023	3,149	1,379	125	9.06%
Bucknell Class of 2022	2,726	1,188	78	6.57%
Bucknell Class of 2021	2,883	1,301	55	4.23%

Your Chances of Admission to Bucknell After Being Waitlisted

The numbers shared above convey a pretty sizable degree of variability in the waitlist acceptance rate from year to year. For the most recent cycle we have on record, 7.82% of the students who were placed in admissions limbo ultimately earned a spot in the Class of 2028, but for the prior year, this figure was a mere 0.08% (only one lucky student was admitted off of the waitlist that year!).

While it might be frustrating to hear, this variability is by no means unexpected, as it is a reflection of Bucknell’s yield rate from year to year (or the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll). The higher Bucknell’s yield, the lower the likelihood they reach deep into their waitlist.

Unfortunately, the yield rate is not in your control, so whether Bucknell dips into their waitlist at all this year is up to the admissions gods. But we at Ivy Coach like to remind our students of the things they can control. We’re here to help you ensure that if they do dip into the waitlist, you will be the first student they select for an acceptance letter.

Your Chances of Admission to Bucknell After Being Waitlisted with Ivy Coach’s Help

Ivy Coach has a time-honored approach to getting our students off the waitlist, and it all boils down to a two-fold technique:

1. Complete Ivy Coach’s PostMortem application review. We (and you) must first understand why you were waitlisted if you want to have a shot at admission. This session is an opportunity to dissect what went wrong and give you the tools you need to pivot your approach.
2. Submit a compelling Letter of Continued Interest. The way we do such letters is a little different than one might expect. Our letters contain no brags and updates. Yes, you read that right. Instead of coming across as conceited, we position our students as highly likeable and highly knowledgeable about Bucknell specifics.

What Not To Do If You or Your Child Was Waitlisted by Bucknell University’s

1. Drag your feet around and delay your Letter of Continued Interest. Time is of the essence. The sooner you act, the more enthusiastic you will seem to Bucknell admission officers.
2. Fill your letter with unlikable brags and updates. This includes grades, test scores, and other college acceptances. Telling Bucknell where you got in will surely backfire!
3. Reach out to the Bucknell admissions office. The last thing these overworked professionals need is to field calls from an anxious student.
4. Send follow-up letters after submitting your Letter of Continued Interest. Less is more, and subsequent letters will only drown out your initial one.
5. Conduct ridiculous waitlist campaigns. Anything you’re thinking of doing now has been done before, and guess what? It hasn’t worked!

Getting Started with Ivy Coach on Bucknell Waitlist

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission off Bucknell University’s waitlist to the Class of 2030 with the help of our team of former elite college admission officers, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form and indicate that Bucknell has waitlisted you. We’ll then be in touch with an outline of our services.