At the Pre-College Program at Skidmore, I took a writing seminar and Sociological Perspectives. In the writing seminar, I learned how to read and analyze text. We practiced doing this using “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf, and pieces from James Baldwin’s essays. This course taught me how to construct written essays better. I found that I was not transitioning the thoughts from paragraph to paragraph fluidly; I changed ideas too quickly. My professor gave me suggestions on the papers I wrote, which helped me recognize and alter my way of writing. Most of the material covered in the Sociological Perspectives course was learned through a textbook. The class consisted of review and discussions based on the material from the reading that was assigned for homework. In this course, we went over topics such as culture, society, socialization, education, mass media, social interaction, deviant behavior, and urbanization. This class made me think analytically about what different things in society mean and how they affect individuals.  A current undergraduate student from Skidmore who was working for the Pre-College Program put together a show that the pre-college students participated in. The show was produced in order to raise money for the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County. The show consisted of poetry, singing, dancing, and art. I originally signed up to work backstage at the show. I ended up being asked to participate in one of the choreography numbers. I was really nervous and hesitant about joining the dance, but I did. Being a part of the dance required lots of commitment. I was required to attend rehearsals after my classes, which ended at 6:15pm. At rehearsals, I found myself having trouble learning and remembering the order of the steps. Aside from the challenges I faced with trying to learn the dance and to perfect my moves, I actually really enjoyed the rehearsals. Being a part of this show had a significant impact on me. I gained a great sense of pride from participating in something that was outside of my comfort zone. I was also extremely proud that the student body was able to put together a show for the community in order to raise money for such a great cause.  Since I have attended the Pre-College Program at Skidmore, I am really interested in attending a rural liberal arts college. I really enjoyed the atmosphere I was in during those 5 weeks. Also, the Sociological Perspectives course has influenced me to study and learn more about child development when I attend college. I would recommend this program to a friend because it provides a well-rounded experience of what college is really like. The program not only focuses on the academics, but also provides students with the freedom to monitor their own time, which is a crucial part of the college experience. I found that I was in complete control over my time, which was something I was not used to. The program also encourages students to explore things outside of academics. For example, one of the students in the program organized a soccer game that other students, staff, and I participated in. There were also other optional activities such as going to the ballet, Six Flags, or a hike through the woods. I think that Pre-College at Skidmore would be suitable to anyone interested in a rural liberal arts college because it offers many options of courses, giving students a chance to find something they enjoy or would like to try. I would tell anyone attending this program in the future to be very mindful of how they manage their time. While the program staff wants to see you succeed, they also want to give the students a realistic college experience. I found myself at times struggling to make time for homework, friends, activities, and sleep. I would suggest that students keep a planner to organize their time. I found that when I had a plan for my day, I was very productive and got my work done efficiently. This program challenges your self-discipline and time management. The first photo is of the pre-college students who performed in the student performance. The second photo is of me while on a bumper car at Saratoga Strike Zone.

The first day of the Pre-College program at Skidmore was amazing. The campus is extremely beautiful. The town of Saratoga Springs is very different from New York City. I really like it so far. The first night on campus I met a lot of the students in the program. That night many of us hung out. We sat and talked about our lives at home and experiences we’ve had. I was surprised to find out that many people in the program live very close to where I live but led very different lives. I am excited for the rest of the program!

I am excited to attend Skidmore and study psychology. The opportunity to attend Skidmore’s Pre-College Program seems unreal. Skidmore will allow me to be independent and challenge myself on an academic level. This program will allow me to try and experience new things. I am looking forward to staying in a dorm and having a roommate. I hope to expand my knowledge of psychology and improve my writing. I think Skidmore will allow me to practice my time management and decision making skills. This experience will teach me how to handle tasks without my parents and teachers constantly guiding me. At this program, I know that I will be faced with the challenge of being away from my friends and family. I will overcome this challenge by focusing on the positive aspects of this program and all the benefits that it will have on my future.

Thank you so much for your contribution. I am very grateful for your donation and support. Your help is allowing me to learn and pursue my passion for psychology at Skidmore. Your donation will not only allow me to pursue my passion in psychology but it will help me in my future college career. Skidmore will provide me with experiences that I otherwise would not have. Thank you so much.