Skidmore College - up and coming or already here?

[Anonymous]

DS is being contacted by Skidmore for a sport, and he is interested in LACs, although was leaning towards NESCAC schools. Does anyone have any experience with Skidmore or any insight into the school and its current reputation? I graduated in the 80s (elsewhere, just a general comment), so my knowledge is pretty dated.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My sense is that it is neither. It's a third tier LAC comparable to Gettysburg, Dickinson, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that it is neither. It's a third tier LAC comparable to Gettysburg, Dickinson, etc.

Your "sense"? Facts would be better.

Gettysburg: "the majority of admitted students had high school grades of "A-" or better, combined SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Your chances are best if you have SAT scores of 1300 or better and a solid "A" average"

https://www.thoughtco.com/gettysburg-college-gpa-sat-act-data-786485


Skidmore: "most successful applicants had high school averages of "B+" or better, combined SAT scores of about 1200 or higher (RW+M), and ACT composite scores of 26 or better"

https://www.thoughtco.com/skidmore-college-gpa-sat-and-act-data-786629

Virtually identical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that it is neither. It's a third tier LAC comparable to Gettysburg, Dickinson, etc.

Your "sense"? Facts would be better.

Gettysburg: "the majority of admitted students had high school grades of "A-" or better, combined SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Your chances are best if you have SAT scores of 1300 or better and a solid "A" average"

https://www.thoughtco.com/gettysburg-college-gpa-sat-act-data-786485


Skidmore: "most successful applicants had high school averages of "B+" or better, combined SAT scores of about 1200 or higher (RW+M), and ACT composite scores of 26 or better"

https://www.thoughtco.com/skidmore-college-gpa-sat-and-act-data-786629

Virtually identical.

Isn't Skidmore all women's college? Or is that Scripps? Skidmore and Scripps always confuse me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that it is neither. It's a third tier LAC comparable to Gettysburg, Dickinson, etc.

Your "sense"? Facts would be better.

Gettysburg: "the majority of admitted students had high school grades of "A-" or better, combined SAT scores of 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Your chances are best if you have SAT scores of 1300 or better and a solid "A" average"

https://www.thoughtco.com/gettysburg-college-gpa-sat-act-data-786485


Skidmore: "most successful applicants had high school averages of "B+" or better, combined SAT scores of about 1200 or higher (RW+M), and ACT composite scores of 26 or better"

https://www.thoughtco.com/skidmore-college-gpa-sat-and-act-data-786629

Virtually identical.

Eh, neither has a particularly good reputation.

[Anonymous]

Skidmore has an acceptance rate of 29% and Gettysburg has an acceptance rate of 43%.

[Anonymous]

Saratoga springs is a great town for what it’s worth

[Anonymous]

Skidmore is more artsy than G-burg. Both are solid. Skidmore may have a little more "prestige" FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Skidmore is more artsy than G-burg. Both are solid. Skidmore may have a little more "prestige" FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Saratoga Springs is an adorable and very walkable little town. Plenty of snow in the winter. And the campus is very wooded.

[Anonymous]

I'm biased because my DD is a Jr. attending Skidmore, currently she's spending the semester in Copenhagen. I think it has a much higher reputation than Gettysburg and harder to get into. (Based on my DDs' friends who have attended both). Reputation - Gettysburg was, not too long ago, the school VA students got into when they were washed out of VA schools and hiring managers still remember that. The important thing is that Skidmore has been the best fit for my DD. The professors are very attentive. She's had a two paid internships, she also worked for a professor one semester as a research assistant. She has a relationship with the professors that I never had. As a result, she has had great opportunities. She likes the town, the surrounding countryside, and has traveled to NYC multiple times. It has been the perfect match for her. My DDs' friends who have attended Gettysburg have not had these experience, but I don't think any of them have really wanted them. It's a different kind of kid that attends Skidmore than Gettysburg. I would say they're more homebodies and less adventuresome. Also, I have 2 other DDs and I can say Skidmore has had the least housing and food plan issues than either of the other 2 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased because my DD is a Jr. attending Skidmore, currently she's spending the semester in Copenhagen. I think it has a much higher reputation than Gettysburg and harder to get into. (Based on my DDs' friends who have attended both). Reputation - Gettysburg was, not too long ago, the school VA students got into when they were washed out of VA schools and hiring managers still remember that. The important thing is that Skidmore has been the best fit for my DD. The professors are very attentive. She's had a two paid internships, she also worked for a professor one semester as a research assistant. She has a relationship with the professors that I never had. As a result, she has had great opportunities. She likes the town, the surrounding countryside, and has traveled to NYC multiple times. It has been the perfect match for her. My DDs' friends who have attended Gettysburg have not had these experience, but I don't think any of them have really wanted them. It's a different kind of kid that attends Skidmore than Gettysburg. I would say they're more homebodies and less adventuresome. Also, I have 2 other DDs and I can say Skidmore has had the least housing and food plan issues than either of the other 2 schools.

Could you share your daughters major?

We visited and my ds liked it a lot. His concern is that he's not artsy in the least. He's a bit preppy, and intends to major in one of the sciences. He's concerned about whether he would fit in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased because my DD is a Jr. attending Skidmore, currently she's spending the semester in Copenhagen. I think it has a much higher reputation than Gettysburg and harder to get into. (Based on my DDs' friends who have attended both). Reputation - Gettysburg was, not too long ago, the school VA students got into when they were washed out of VA schools and hiring managers still remember that. The important thing is that Skidmore has been the best fit for my DD. The professors are very attentive. She's had a two paid internships, she also worked for a professor one semester as a research assistant. She has a relationship with the professors that I never had. As a result, she has had great opportunities. She likes the town, the surrounding countryside, and has traveled to NYC multiple times. It has been the perfect match for her. My DDs' friends who have attended Gettysburg have not had these experience, but I don't think any of them have really wanted them. It's a different kind of kid that attends Skidmore than Gettysburg. I would say they're more homebodies and less adventuresome. Also, I have 2 other DDs and I can say Skidmore has had the least housing and food plan issues than either of the other 2 schools.

Could you share your daughters major?

We visited and my ds liked it a lot. His concern is that he's not artsy in the least. He's a bit preppy, and intends to major in one of the sciences. He's concerned about whether he would fit in.

I forget her current major because it keeps changing. (There are so many majors I've never heard about.) It's something like sociology. She wants to be a social worker. She did not know what she wanted to do when she started Skidmore, but has found her passion. Her internships and work with the professors helped her realize what she wanted to do. A lot of my friends criticize her choice, but my attitude is that is if she has found her passion, then good for her. She is not artsy and knows she needs to go to graduate school. I texted her and asked her if a bit preppy, non-artsy, science major would fit in at Skidmore and will respond when I get her response. Actually, has your DS considered Brandeis? One of my DDs graduated last year and she majored in neuro bio and chem. Sounds like it might be a good match for your son. My DD loved it and has been accepted into all 10 PhD programs she has applied to. GL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased because my DD is a Jr. attending Skidmore, currently she's spending the semester in Copenhagen. I think it has a much higher reputation than Gettysburg and harder to get into. (Based on my DDs' friends who have attended both). Reputation - Gettysburg was, not too long ago, the school VA students got into when they were washed out of VA schools and hiring managers still remember that. The important thing is that Skidmore has been the best fit for my DD. The professors are very attentive. She's had a two paid internships, she also worked for a professor one semester as a research assistant. She has a relationship with the professors that I never had. As a result, she has had great opportunities. She likes the town, the surrounding countryside, and has traveled to NYC multiple times. It has been the perfect match for her. My DDs' friends who have attended Gettysburg have not had these experience, but I don't think any of them have really wanted them. It's a different kind of kid that attends Skidmore than Gettysburg. I would say they're more homebodies and less adventuresome. Also, I have 2 other DDs and I can say Skidmore has had the least housing and food plan issues than either of the other 2 schools.

Could you share your daughters major?

We visited and my ds liked it a lot. His concern is that he's not artsy in the least. He's a bit preppy, and intends to major in one of the sciences. He's concerned about whether he would fit in.

I forget her current major because it keeps changing. (There are so many majors I've never heard about.) It's something like sociology. She wants to be a social worker. She did not know what she wanted to do when she started Skidmore, but has found her passion. Her internships and work with the professors helped her realize what she wanted to do. A lot of my friends criticize her choice, but my attitude is that is if she has found her passion, then good for her. She is not artsy and knows she needs to go to graduate school. I texted her and asked her if a bit preppy, non-artsy, science major would fit in at Skidmore and will respond when I get her response. Actually, has your DS considered Brandeis? One of my DDs graduated last year and she majored in neuro bio and chem. Sounds like it might be a good match for your son. My DD loved it and has been accepted into all 10 PhD programs she has applied to. GL

That was so thoughtful of you to ask her!
He has looked into Brandeis, but came away with the idea that is is mostly Jewish and he likely wouldn’t fit in.

[Anonymous]

You're welcome. Yes, Brandeis does attract a lot of Jewish people, but it was never an issue for my DD. She had friends of all religions. It's not as if the students separate based on religion, but I can understand on a visit that would be a concern. Actually, it was one of my concerns, which was unfounded. She actually liked that Brandeis has two spring breaks (one for Passover (?) and one for Easter). And she liked the Kosher food line because it had better food. I'm not trying to sell Brandeis, I'm just telling you what I know and that it was a good fit for my science major.