Other components of the FYE

Mentoring is one of the most critical aspects of the program, which is why the faculty member teaching your Scribner Seminar will be your mentor and academic advisor. That shared intellectual interest—whether it’s digital communication, unexpected math, the power of myths, or any of 42 others—provides a common ground and a platform for further engagement.

Then there’s the summer reading, which provides common material for first-year students and a thematic superstructure for the FYE. Each book examines a pressing global/local issue or value in which all of the Seminars can engage through discussions, speakers, and more.

First-Year Orientation in early September will introduce you to your Skidmore colleagues and help familiarize you with the campus surroundings. The president will address the entire first-year class; you’ll meet your Seminar professor and peer mentor, discuss the summer reading, and hold your first class meeting. You’ll also meet fellow students, faculty, and staff; learn the basics of rooms, ID cards, and the dining plan; gain an understanding of what the College is about; and master the meaning of the Honor Code.

Cocurricular opportunities include lectures, performances, films, exhibits—on campus, in Saratoga Springs, and further afield in New York City, for example. They’ll often tie in with work you’ll be doing in your Seminar. Look especially for news about the First Six Weeks Program, which will offer lots of ways to meet others and get involved in cocurricular activities.