FYI from FYE, May 2024
Welcome to Skidmore!
Congratulations and welcome to the Skidmore College Class of 2028! As the Director of the First-Year Experience Program, it's an honor to invite you to officially begin your Skidmore journey.
Choosing your college is a profound moment in your educational journey, and we are excited you have elected to attend Skidmore. As you celebrate this milestone, we are eagerly preparing for your arrival on campus and look forward to welcoming you this fall.
Over the next several weeks, you will receive information from a variety of campus offices that will outline tasks you need to complete to prepare for your fall arrival. You can find a summary of these tasks and deadlines on on our website, but you will complete and track your progress through the FYE Checklist.
As you work through this checklist, you may want to reach out to family, friends, high school teachers, and others in your network of support to talk through your choices. Other items, such as academic placements, will require more personal consideration of your academic progress and in some cases completion of diagnostic questions. While it is important that you complete tasks in a timely fashion, it is equally important that you do so thoughtfully to ensure the smoothest possible entry into your new collegiate life.
Starting in early June you will receive our FYI from FYE monthly email newsletter that will remind you of upcoming deadlines and important steps for you fall arrival. You will automatically receive the newsletter through your Skidmore email. If a member of your family or support system would also like to receive these updates, they can subscribe here. Also, in early June, you can expect to hear from your summer advisor who will help you plan your first college course schedule.
If you haven’t done so yet, we encourage you to connect with your classmates, especially through the Class of 2028 Discord Server. Introduce yourself, ask questions, make an early friend, even make plans to meet up!
Once again, my heartfelt congratulations on your acceptance to Skidmore, and on behalf of the Skidmore College community, welcome! Please contact us (518-580-8111 or fye@skidmore.edu) with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Rachel Roe-Dale, Ph.D.
Director of the First-Year Experience
Professor of Mathematics and Statistics
Step 1: Set up your account, review FYE Checklist
By now, you should have received instructions to create your Skidmore account and set up your Skidmore email. If you haven't done this, please do so right away. Between now and this summer, and for your four years here, your Skidmore User Account information and your Skidmore email will be used for everything.
Your Skidmore account also gives you access to the First-Year Experience (FYE) Checklist, where your will review and track all of your pre-arrival tasks.
To access the FYE Checklist:
- Go to the Registrar’s website
- Click on the Student System Login
- Enter your username and password
- Click on “Student”
- Click on "First Year Checklist"
Step 2: Make Scribner Seminar SelectionS
Deadline: Thursday, May 16.
The cornerstone of the First-Year Experience is our Scribner Seminar Program. Take some time to read the descriptions carefully and then enter your top 10 choices, in order of preference, through the FYE Checklist.
Step 3: Fill Out Academic Interest Form
Deadline: Thursday, May 16.
Even if you're undecided about a major (like most incoming first-year students), please identify three areas of interest. The Academic Interest Form can be accessed through the FYE Checklist.
Step 4: Complete Writing Placement
Deadline: Thursday, May 16
There are three levels of Expository Writing at Skidmore. The Directed Self-Placement (DSP) will provide important information about which level is most appropriate for you given your current writing skills.
The entire DSP program takes about 90 minutes. Once you have started the program, you cannot stop or exit, so be sure to choose a time and place you can work uninterrupted for at least that long. You can access the DSP through the FYE Checklist.
Review DSP Detailed Instructions
If you are an international student and/or your high school instruction was delivered in a language other than English, please review the DSP information for international students.
Step 5: Complete Quantitative Reasoning Placement Diagnostic
Deadline: Thursday, May 23
There are several levels of quantitative reasoning at Skidmore. The Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Placement Diagnostic is designed to help place you at the appropriate level. If you scored 650 or higher on the Math SAT, 28 or higher on the Math ACT, or 570 or higher on a Math SAT subject Test, and submitted your score to Skidmore, you should already have a Quantitative Reasoning placement and do not need to take the QR Placement Diagnostic.
The assessment typically takes 1.5-2 hours. Once you have started the program, you cannot stop or exit, so be sure to choose a time and place you can work uninterrupted for at least that long. You can access the DSP through the FYE Checklist.
Review QR Detailed Instructions
Step 6: Meet with your Summer Advisor
A Skidmore faculty member will email your Skidmore address in early June to schedule a virtual meeting to discuss your educational hopes and plans as well as your fall semester course options.
- Summer advising meetings will take place June 3 – 28.
- You will register for classes June 25 – 26.
- If you know you will not be available during these windows of time, please contact the Office of Academic Advising at advising@skidmore.edu
Step 7: Complete Housing Questionnaire
Deadline: Friday, June 14
The housing questionnaire will be available via your Residential Life Housing Portal (accessed via Okta) starting on May 22. Incoming students will be assigned a room and roommate(s) based on the preferences indicated in their housing questionnaire. Skidmore does not assign rooms or roommates on the basis of race, religion or national origin. All residence halls are smoke- and substance-free.
Please direct all housing questions to the Office of Residential Life: reslife@skidmore.edu or 518-580-5765.
Review housing placement details
Step 8: Complete Health REQUIREMENTS
Deadline: July 15
It is both New York State law and Skidmore policy that fully completed health and immunization records must be filed prior to class attendance or participation in the London Program, pre-orientation programs, and/or varsity athletics. Health Services FAQ
Step 9: Register for Pre-Orientation (Optional)
Registration begins June 3
Pre-Orientation is a great way to establish new friendships, get to know our helpful peer advisors, meet faculty members and staff, and have a lot of fun. Registration for these programs opens on June 3. Please direct all Pre-Orientation questions to Pre-Orientation Programs: preorientation@skidmore.edu or 518-580-8338.
Step 10: Summer Reading
In June, we will send you this year’s FYE Summer Reading selection. Be on the lookout for this exciting project!