Discovering Skidmore through Skidmore’s Discovery Tour

In April 2023, Skidmore’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid hosted admitted students from underrepresented backgrounds at its 2023 Discovery Tour program. Discovery Tour is a great opportunity for the students — some enrolled, others still deciding — to acquaint themselves with the College’s academic and cocurricular offerings, campus intercultural life, and Saratoga Springs. It also offered a chance to meet some potential future classmates. Because of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 event was the first in-person Discovery event since April 2019.

Vicky Grijalva ’24, a self-determined major in multimedia communications from Miami, Florida, helped plan the 2023 Discovery Tour and spoke about the program.

“Discovery Tour is created for students from underrepresented backgrounds who were accepted by Skidmore either through Early Decision or Regular Decision,” Vicky explained. “This year, we had over 130 students visit. Many of them came from out of state and traveled by train, bus, or plane to get here. The students stayed in a hotel, and all of the costs were covered by Skidmore.”

Discovery Tour introduces students to important resources and opportunities.
“As a first-generation Latina student, admissions tour guide, and junior class president, I was invited to help plan this event as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) intern. My role was to coordinate with student speakers, clubs, and campus representatives. One event I planned was the Resource Roundtable, where students got to explore different resources and cultural clubs. We invited students and faculty from across campus. Student clubs included the Asian Cultural Awareness Club; Raíces, a safe space for LatinX Skidmore students; the Muslim Student Association; Pride Alliance; and Hayat, a club dedicated to cultural traditions from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia.

“We also created space for students to have conversations with representatives from important campus offices, such as Health and Wellness, Title IX, Off-Campus Study and Exchanges, Financial Aid, Student Academic Services, Sustainability, and the Career and Development Center. As an admissions tour guide and current student, I was able to offer insight to the Admissions team about what resources would be helpful for new students to learn about.

“Two other Discovery events — an LGBTQ+ student meet-and-greet and a BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) student meet-and-greet — allowed the visiting students to interact with current students, ask them questions, and talk to them about their experiences.”

Students have fun exploring Saratoga Springs, too.
“After the scheduled programming was done for the day, students got to do fun things around the area. They went out for ice cream one night and went to a nearby SkyZone trampoline park for another night of fun and bonding with each other.”

The Discovery Tour helps rising students find community at Skidmore.
“I believe in the mission of the Discovery Tour because all students should be able to take advantage of Skidmore’s resources and opportunities, regardless of their background. I was not able to participate in Discovery as an admitted student because of Covid challenges but being a DEI intern for the program has been rewarding because it allowed me to give advice to students who are in a similar position to where I was.”

“I really valued getting to show these younger students everything that is at their fingertips when they come to Skidmore. Most importantly, I think we communicated how they can find community on Skidmore’s campus through cultural groups, clubs, classes, and other resources.”

Some advice for possible Discovery Tour participants…
“If you are invited to the Discovery Tour, do it and take advantage of your three days here. It is such a great opportunity to learn more about Skidmore, see Saratoga Springs, and ask the questions you have been scared to ask.”