<p>I know the best way to choose a school is to visit, but I was hoping someone could give me some insight into the two schools. personal opinions, experiences, anything please!</p>
<p>We have visited both and liked both schools. We preferred the town of Saratoga Springs, but liked Union’s campus and buildings better. Our impression was that Skidmore has a more arts focus, while Union has engineering as well as liberal arts. Frats are a significant part of social life at Union. The male/female ratio is more even at Union.</p>
<p>I had a kid at each of these schools. They are both excellent schools, and both my kids were/are quite happy there, but apart from the fact that they are both small liberal arts schools in the Capital District of NY the experiences there are almost polar opposites.</p>
<p>Academically I think the schools are both of a high standard, so let’s take that out of the picture and discuss the student experience at both.</p>
<p>Union is a beautiful traditional school - lovely old buildings surrounding a quad dominated by a temple like building called the Knott. Unfortunately it’s in the middle of Schenectady, a small city most kindly described as “sketchy”. The school itself is a real oasis in this decrepit city, and feels safe and clean and secure. The student experience here is the traditional preppy/sports/Greek “Animal House” kind of world - the student body is mostly good looking, well-off, smart and socially competent.</p>
<p>Skidmore is a beautiful modern school. A “new” campus was built in the 60’s, and it’s all mid-century modern/brutalist architecture, on a very large woodsy campus. It’s very well integrated into the city of Saratoga Springs, which is an absolutely lovely resort town with an antique horse track, a lovely cultural center, and all the shops and restaurants and services that come with the horsey set. The student body is mostly artsy/hippie/alternative types - think pot smoking soccer players instead of the beer drinking football players at Union. Kids wear Birkenstocks and lots of plaid, girls tend to have piercings, and there are a ton of bicycles on campus. There’s a beautiful dining hall that caters to all the vegetarians very well.</p>
<p>If your kid wants to be an engineer, send him/her to Union. If your kids wants to be in the performing arts, send him/her to Skidmore. If you have what I have, a kid who just wants a good liberal arts education and room to explore, send him/her to the one that suits his/her personality better.</p>
<p>Union is on a trimester system. The fall trimester starts in early September and ends before Thanksgiving. Union’s school year ends in mid-June.</p>