Discovering Skidmore through Skidmore’s 发现之旅

In April 2023, Skidmore’s 招生办公室 and 金融援助 hosted admitted students from underrepresented backgrounds at its 2023 发现之旅 program. 发现之旅 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 萨拉托加温泉市. It also offered a chance to meet some potential 未来的同学. 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届， a 自主的主要 in multimedia communications from Miami, Florida, helped plan the 2023 Discovery 参观并谈到了这个项目.

“发现之旅 is created for students from underrepresented backgrounds who were accepted by Skidmore either through 早期的决定 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.”

发现之旅 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) 实习生. 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 资源文化俱乐部. We invited students and faculty from across campus. 学生俱乐部 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 重要的校园办公室，如 健康与福利, 第九条, 校外学习与交流, 金融援助, 学生学术服务, 可持续性，和 职业发展中心. As an admissions tour guide and current student, I was able to offer insight to the 招生 team 火博体育 what resources would be helpful for new students to learn 火博体育.

“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 火博体育 their 经历.”

Students have fun exploring 萨拉托加温泉市, too.
“After the scheduled programming was done for the day, students got to do fun things 周边地区. 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 发现之旅 helps rising students find community at Skidmore.
“I believe in the mission of the 发现之旅 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 实习生 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, 还有其他资源.”

Some advice for possible 发现之旅 participants…
“If you are invited to the 发现之旅, do it and take advantage of your three 天在这里. It is such a great opportunity to learn more 火博体育 Skidmore, see Saratoga Springs, and ask the questions you have been scared to ask.”