Orientation
The Arts & Business program begins during the pre-departure orientation session, held on the Skidmore College campus during the fall semester prior to the program. Upon arrival in France, you will have a two- to three-day orientation. The pre-departure orientation will provide a wealth of information to assist participants to prepare for their pending adventure in France. The on-site orientation aims to help students feel comfortable in their surroundings.
Excursions & Activities
Excursions and cultural activities are considered an integral part of the Skidmore program that complements students’ coursework. Paris will act as a classroom, and you can look forward to guided tours of museums and historical landmarks such as Notre Dame, Monmartre,
and Versailles, as well as possible excursions to places of interest outside of Paris such as Chartres, Fontainebleau, and the Loire Valley. In the past there have been trips to the Cathedral and the medieval city of Chartres, the Château of Fontainebleau, and the South of France (a three-day trip in Provence including Avignon, Arles, Nîmes, Les Baux, Saint-Rémy, and Glanum). However, excursions can change year to year. A schedule of excursions and activities will be finalized before the start of the program. Students will also have plenty of time, apart from required program activities, to explore Paris on their own.
Newsletters
Below are newsletters created by the onsite staff with details and student comments about orientation, program excursions, and host families. Please note that internships are only available for full-year students.