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 Mr. Subhan Ail.

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. 

All forms can be found and returned via MyOCSE. Login instructions will be sent to you. 

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.

You will need to upload/complete the following documents in your MyOCSE portal account. Information about login was sent to you personally from OCSE.

• Statement of Motivation: Submit a 500 - 1000 word letter or statement of motivation outlining your interest in the Foreign Language Assistant position, as well as your interest in Skidmore College. Please provide information about your academic background and what you seek to gain during your time at Skidmore College. (due by April 1)
• Copy of your Passport: Submit a legible photocopy or scan of your passport identification page(s) and any previous U.S. visas. (by April 1)
• New Employee Information form: Complete 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. Please leave ‘phone listing’ and ‘social security number’ blank. (April 1)
• Exchange Visitor - Student Information Collection form: Complete and submit the Exchange Visitor Information Collection form to help Skidmore prepare your U.S. J-1 visa materials. This form will help Skidmore to generate a DS-2019 document for you, which is required to apply for a J-1 visa. Please review Tips for Completing the Exchange Visitor Information Collection form if you need help completing the online form. (by April 1)
• Copy of your TOEFL or IELTS Score Report: To assess your English language proficiency please submit a copy of your TOEFL or IELTS score report and supporting documentation. If English is your native language, you are not required to submit your TOEFL or IELTS information. (by April 1)
• CV or resume: Submit a copy of your CV or resume in English. (by April 1)
• 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. Please translate the courses if they are not in English. (by April 1)
• Letter from your home university stating that you are currently enrolled. The letter must state that you are currently enrolled at your home institution (or were enrolled during the 2017-18 academic year) and must also include your expected date of graduation. The letter should be written in English and signed by the writer. (by April 1)
• Course Preference Form: Select courses for the upcoming semester on the attached form. The schedule for the fall 2021 semester is not yet available but should be released in the next few weeks. OCSE will contact you by email as soon as the schedule of classes is posted.(by April 1 or before)
• Create your Skidmore user account. After you receive your Skidmore ID number, you should set up 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 an email account.
  • Once your Skidmore e-mail account is set up, please send a test message from your account to the egaul@skidmore.edu
  • NOTE: You will only be able to create a Skidmore account after you submit your New Employee Information form
• 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. Student Housing is not available prior to the arrival date. (by July 15)
• US Visa: Once you have received your visa, please upload a copy to your MyOCSE account. (by July 15)
• Skidmore College health forms.  Every person intending to enroll in coursework at Skidmore College is required to submit certain medical documentation to the Office of Health Services. Health Services will update their forms required for the 2018-19 academic year in late spring. 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 Skidmore Student Health Portal, which you can access after you have created a Skidmore email. (by August 1)

Additional Arrival Information

• Arrival Day: TBD Please plan to arrive at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY on the arrival date. The closest airport to Saratoga Springs is Albany, NY. If you arrive at a New York City airport, you will have to take a bus or train from New York City to Albany or Saratoga Springs (approximately a 3-4 hour journey, not including transfer time). Students are responsible for getting themselves from the airport to Skidmore College campus. 
• 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 schedule will be posted as soon as it is available. Please contact OCSE with any questions 
• 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 more information about living on campus (including a suggested packing list), visit the website of the Office of Residential Life.
• 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 exchanges students are also eligible to participate. The programs take place between the international student pre-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 Emily Gaul 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 to egaul@skidmore.edu. Contact OCSE with any questions!