The best thing about Skidmore is the medium to small classes. Professors know your name and you can even have personal conversations with them. The biggest thing I'd change about Skidmore is that there is no Film department. There are a few Film affiliated courses but nothing concrete. Skidmore is too small (although it is much bigger than the other schools I applied to), I wish there were 500 or so more students. Most people don't know where Skidmore is but it is more well known than some schools. Skidmore resides in the nice town of Saratoga Springs. I wouldn't really call it a college town in that the entire economy is not based on the college. I don't have much of an opinion on Skidmore's administration because I know nothing about it. All of the Associate Dean of the Faculty, Assistant Dean to the Faculty, etc titles are meaningless to most students. There is some school pride in our sports teams but nothing out of control.

Professors do know my name and most classes that are not introductory level range from 15 to 30 students. My favorite class has been Sociological Perspectives (Intro to Sociology) because the teacher was amazing and the material was interesting. My least favorite class has either been Fiction, Intro to Literary Studies, or Religion and Culture. In all three classes the professors were either incompetent, boring, or jerks. Class participation really depends on the professor, the professor's teaching style, and whether the class is discussion-based or lecture-based. Some Skidmore students have intellectual conversations outside of class but it depends on the topic. I don't see many pre-med students talking about neurons and chemistry outside of class. It is more likely the students in the social sciences and in the humanities with majors like Political Science, Philosophy, and History that debate things. Students can be competitive but not at all cutthroat. I believe it is stupid to judge people on grades when everyone takes different professors and classes. The most unique class I have taken has to have been my Computer Imaging I class where there is no syllabus, no guidelines, and no final. The Political Science/Government department at Skidmore has the most professors (about nine full time professors) out of any social science or humanities department. The department has a much-deserved great reputation. The Political Science/Government major is also fairly easy to fulfill and has relatively few requirements though they are strict requirements that must be taken in the department. I only wish the department offered more research assistant jobs to students. I have spent time with professors outside of class though most students do not. Skidmore's academic requirements are fairly easy to fulfill. I think the education at Skidmore is geared towards getting a job and learning for its own sake depending on the major. The natural sciences and Business departments are more geared towards finding future employment compared to other departments. My biggest problem with Skidmore academically is how frequently professors go on sabbatical. There is never a year when any department has its full faculty around. I was considering being a History major until I realized that two of the best professors in the department are going on sabbatical my entire junior year.

I don't have any experience with any diversity group on campus. I think most students would fit in at Skidmore except for possibly a Bible-belt evangelical neoconservative. Different types of students do interact but there is a separation. In the dining hall, the international students and many minorities tend to eat at the counter, jocks eat at one side of the dining hall, and everyone else eats on the other side. This is not set in stone but it is definitely a pattern worth noting. Most students are from the East Coast and everyone has different financial situations. Some students are politically aware but most don't seem to care. Skidmore is predominantly liberal.

Hm. Well a lot of jocks are Management and Business majors. Oh and everyone at Skidmore smokes pot.

Both of these are partially true. Many jocks are Management and Business majors but that doesn't mean that they are all stupid. Many people at Skidmore do smoke pot but clearly not everyone. I'd say maybe half smoke pot but only one-sixth smoke constantly.