First Impressions of Skidmore: Class of 2020 Perspectives

By Elizabeth Brogan '20

It is now two weeks in and everyone is settled into Skidmore in one way or another. For the Class of 2020, a diverse group of students from all over the world, Skidmore could feel far from home to these new thoroughbreds. I talked to a few to gain their thoughts.

Several students here have family or friends who have attended Skidmore. When I asked them about their impressions of the college now as compared to when they first heard about it, I got very positive answers.

Brent Azaert ’20 said, “I first heard about Skidmore because my mother went and worked here, and she said I should go here someday. I did not want to go to Skidmore, but I ended up falling in love with Skidmore when I came here. I love the class sizes and the inclusivity. Everything feels really personal.”

Another legacy, Charlotte Sweeney ’20, said, “It has definitely met my expectations as a place where you can really explore all your interests and meet people from all different backgrounds.”

Not all first impressions were happy ones from the start, though. Carrie Baker ’20 said, “It took getting into the swing of things to really make it feel like home here. Getting involved in clubs and making permanent friends helped, too. Last year when I arrived, the culture I experienced was different because I felt like I didn’t belong here yet. Now that I am here, there is this overwhelming sense of acceptance.”

While some had a smoother start to college life than others, the class of 2020 is still eager to find its place within the Skidmore community. The sense of acceptance we have encountered here, in just the first few weeks on campus, suggests that finding our place will come easy.