Students start college careers in London

Thirty five Skidmore first-year students from 15 U.S. states, and one from Malaysia, have begun their college experience. What sets them apart from the other 630 members of the Class of 2013 is that they are in London, England, on the "other side of the pond." Not in Saratoga Springs.

It's all part of Skidmore's First-Year Experience in London, now in its eighth year. Like their peers back in the states, students choose a Scribner Seminar, in their case either Professor of Art Paul Sattler's "Paint, Potential and Power: The London Experience for American Artists" or Professor of Government Bob Turner's "A New York Yankee in King Arthur's Court." They'll also take classes at the Institute for the International Education of Students' London Center. Directors Sattler and Turner will oversee academics, serve as advisors and mentors, and, with the help of IES, organize a variety of cultural excursions. Students live in the IES residence hall in Chelsea with American study-abroad students and international students from some 30 countries. The group will rejoin the rest of the Class of 2013 in January in Saratoga Springs. (For more on the program, click here.)

Prior to traveling to London, the 35 spent several days at Skidmore getting to know each other and undergoing orientation for their semester abroad. Among other things, they heard from President Phil Glotzbach, Director of the First-Year Experience Beau Breslin, and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Mary Lou Bates, and three 2008 London FYE "grads," all quite sad not to be going back to London.

"I matured a lot," said Molly McCann '12 of Boston. "I learned to take more responsibility for myself. You kind of have to living essentially on your own in one of the world's biggest cities. I also came back with so many good friends and a real appreciation for different people and cultures." Sam Margolus '12 was last year's travel winner, having ventured to Paris, Portugal, and Prague during breaks and then Israel at the conclusion of the semester. "Plan ahead, recruit friends who want to travel, and find cheap flights," he advised the new students.

The 2009 FYE London group also spent an hour with Professor Breslin discussing the required summer reading, Our Lincoln: New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World, essays edited by historian Eric Foner, and a DVD of three Lincoln-inspired contemporary-dance works from choreographer Bill T. Jones. This year's FYE themes are the American presidency and issues of slavery and racism.

To view a video of 2009 FYE London program students, click here.