Five campus hacks from a Skidmore senior

It takes some time to know the ins and outs of a school—the lingo, layout, everyday 提示和技巧. Well, lucky for you, I’m here to let you in on a few secrets. 这些 “hacks” might make those cold winters, busy days, late nights and life at Skidmore 稍微平滑一点.

1. 在冬天保持温暖

My very first semester at Skidmore, I took an introductory computer science class in Harder Hall, which is one of the academic buildings furthest from the dorms. 走 to Harder in the fall was lovely. But as winter crept in, I started dreading these 走.

Then, an upperclassman told me a secret: almost all of the main academic wings are 连接! You can get from Palamountain to Bolton, Dana and Harder without ever going outside. This was a game-changer that made my life infinitely better (and warmer).

So, enjoy taking the scenic route to Dana or Harder if you choose. 但当冬天来临 comes, remember that you don’t have to suffer in the cold.  

2. 星巴克中心vs. 伯吉斯的咖啡馆

As a first-year student, I was pretty excited to fill up on Starbucks coffee at the on-campus café I’d heard so much about. What I didn’t know, however, was that Skidmore has a building called Starbuck Center that has nothing to do with coffee.

So, there I was, waltzing into Starbuck Center for my favorite Starbucks drink, a 香草豆冰沙. Imagine my disappointment when, rather than a frothy and delicious beverage, I found the Financial 援助 and Student Academic Services offices. 虽然 were plenty of friendly people … there was no coffee.

下面是真相:

• The Starbuck Center houses various administrative offices
• 伯吉斯的咖啡馆, which serves Starbucks coffee, is in Case Center

3. Always have $3 on your Skid card

This might seem a bit simple; but, you’d be surprised how many people have forgotten 这是火博体育的生存小贴士. 校内洗衣收费1美元.50 每个周期. That means for one wash cycle and one dry cycle you’ll need $3.00 总计.

Here’s how it goes: you’re enjoying your Burgess coffees and all of the fun places in downtown 萨拉托加温泉市 you can use your Skid card. 然后你回家做 a simple load of laundry and just as you’re taking a sopping wet pile of clothes out of the washer, reality hits — you don’t have enough money to dry your clothes.   

减轻自己的压力. 保持温暖和干燥. 永远留着3美元.您的卡上有00英镑.

4. Stairs by the Schick Art Gallery

One of the most common pathways to get to and from important spots on campus are the stairs outside the Schick Art Gallery. 这些 stairs, however, are awfully awkward 继续前行.

They are both steep and wide, making them somewhat too big for a person 继续前行 循序渐进的. Some commit to doing it anyway. But, if you’re up for a little off-road adventure, there’s another option.

下一个 to these very strange stairs is a concrete ramp. 只要从楼梯上跳下来 到斜坡上. Whether you’re headed up or down, you’ll be smooth sailing with happy 脚.

5. North Woods诉. 北方森林

One of the (many) perks of life at Skidmore is our beautiful North Woods trail system. Here you’ll find acres upon acres of well-maintained hiking areas for meditation, research, running and exploring.  

The “North Woods,” however, are not the same as “北方森林.”

It’s easier when it’s written out. 如果它是 two words, that means our trails. 如果它是 one word, it’s actually the 北方森林 Village, one of our beautiful on-campus housing 高年级学生的选择.   

Things get a little tricky when you hear students talking, though. 常用行话 is:

• “北方森林” or “the 北方森林 Apartments” are used to refer to the village
• “the woods” or “the North Woods” are used for the actual nature-filled woods

If you’re looking for where somebody lives, it’s probably not in the woods…but you sometimes can’t tell at Skidmore so, it can’t hurt to clarify (joking, sort of).

Awkward moments, wrong buildings, or wet clothes, the most important thing to keep in mind is you’re probably not the first person to experience this, nor the last. And even if it is your first year, Skidmore is a family and students of all ages will be there for you, happy to help with whatever you need. 我保证.