International Exchange Students

Acceptance Materials and Arrival Information

Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE) at Skidmore College provides incoming international exchange students with information about our campus and its services. These students most typically come on a U.S. J-1 visa. OCSE assists with matters regarding immigration, health care and insurance, academics, banking, communications, campus housing, and a number of other areas related to life and study at Skidmore.

NOTE: While OCSE supports non-faculty exchange visitors coming to Skidmore, it is the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) that works with faculty visitors. If you are an international visitor coming to join the faculty at Skidmore, please contact VPAA.

Exchange visitors who are already accepted to come to Skidmore must complete several forms before arriving on campus. Please use the following checklist to assist you in this process. (Additional forms may be sent to you in hard-copy as well.) 

Download each form below to complete it, and return it to Kendra Nelson in Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE) by e-mail scan to knelson1@skidmore.edu; fax +1.518.580.5359; or by post to Off-Campus Study & Exchanges, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA.

REQUIRED FORMS & INFORMATION:

Have you submitted your signed contract to OCSE? If not, please do so immediately. We cannot continue your enrollment process until we receive the signed copy of this contract. Your contact was sent to you personally from OCSE.

Return each of the following forms to OCSE by the indicated deadline.

• New Employee Information form: Complete only the highlighted fields and return to OCSE. This form is required to create your employment record at Skidmore; your status at the College will be a combined 'employee-student' status. (by March 29)

• Exchange Visitor - Student Information Sheet: Complete and return our International Exchange Student Information Sheet to help us prepare your U.S. J-1 visa materials. This form will help Skidmore to generate a DS-2010 document for you, which is required to apply for a J-1 visa. (by March 29)

Please also include the following with your student information sheet.

• • Copy of your Passport: Submit a legible photocopy or scan of your passport identification page(s) and any previous U.S. visas.(by March 29)
    
    
  • English Language Proficiency information: Submit your TOEFL score and supporting documentation. If English is your native language, you are not required to submit your TOEFL information.(by March 29)
    
    
• Course Preference Form: Select courses for the upcoming semester on the attached form. (by March 29)
  
  
• Send your transcript. If you have not already done so, please send your official transcript (academic course history) to OCSE. This will allow Skidmore to verify any course pre-requisites. (by March 29)
  
  
• Create your Skidmore user account. After you receive your Skidmore ID number, you should set up a an account for the College's computer network. Your account will include a Skidmore e-mail address, as well as access to a variety of other online resources. *All official communications from the College, including OCSE, will be sent to your Skidmore account. (by May 1)
  
  
• • Visit the Web site for the Skidmore College Department of Information Technology to access instructions on creating a non-faculty employee email account.
    
    
  • Once your Skidmore e-mail account is set up, please send a test message from your account to the Kendra Nelson at knelson1@skidmore.edu.

NOTE: You will only be able to create a Skidmore account after you submit your New Employee Information form

• Skidmore College health forms. Every person intending to enroll in coursework at Skidmore College is required to submit certain medical documentation. Be sure to read the instructions provided for you by the Office of Health Services to help you better understand the content of the health forms, and use their checklist to ensure you do not forget anything. Some forms can be submitted online using the student health online web portal, which you can access after you have created a Skidmore email. All forms and the checklist are also available for download here.(by July 15)
  
  
• Submit Travel Information: Once you have made travel arrangements to come to Skidmore College for the start of the academic year, please submit a copy of your full travel itinerary to OCSE. (Skidmore may be able to arrange for airport pick-up only if we receive this information by the deadline. Students may also arrive independently to the campus.) (by July 15)

Additional Arrival Information

• Housing: OCSE will make housing arrangements for you to live on campus with other Skidmore students in either on-campus apartments or residence halls. For information about living on campus (including a suggested packing list), visit the Web site of our Office of Residential Life.
  
  
• International Pre-Orientation: All exchange students will be required to participate in the international student pre-orientation program, designed specifically for new international and exchange students, and an orientation with Off-Campus Study & Exchanges upon arrival at Skidmore. The arrival date is Friday, August 23, 2013. The schedule will be posted as soon as it is available. Please contact OCSE with any questions 

• Pre-Orientation Program (POP) application (optional): The POP programs are designed to offer new students the opportunity to meet other new students and returning student advisors. These programs are designed for first-year students, but exchange studnets are also included. The programs take place between the international student orientation and the start of classes. Some POP programs are held on the Skidmore campus while others are outdoor adventure programs held nearby Skidmore in the Adirondack mountains. Students electing to participate in any POP will be required to submit the appropriate payment with his/her application. As the POP is optional, the fees to participate are not covered by the exchange. Early applications are recommended!  (You may register starting June 1st)

All forms should be returned by the indicated deadline to Kendra Nelson in Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE) at Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866 U.S.A. Fax +1.518.580.5359. You can also send forms by email attachment. Contact us with any questions!