ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ

Winter 

I’ll always remember my first weekend at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ: It was negative 16 degrees, and I started to wonder if I’d made a huge mistake. 

I had just returned from ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s First-Year Experience in London, where I spent my first semester gaining independence, seeing West End shows, and bonding with professors and fellow students. London had prepared me in many ways for life at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ — but not necessarily for Upstate New York in January. 

My roommate (also from the London program) and I wondered how we were supposed to meet anyone in weather like this. But then I posted a snowy photo on Instagram and got a message from someone in my residence hall welcoming me to ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ. 

That small gesture opened the door. Soon I was going to Chowderfest downtown, borrowing ice cleats from the Outing Club, and discovering that winter here is less about surviving the cold and more about leaning into what makes ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ special — in any and every season. 

Spring 

When the sun came out, students quickly started gathering on the green, hammocks popped up between trees, and Saratoga Farmers Market (which operates at the nearby Wilton Mall in winter) returned to its downtown Saratoga Springs location (an easy, 1-mile walk from campus).  

One of my favorite memories from my first spring at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ was watching the solar eclipse on campus. After weeks of clouds, the skies cleared just in time. Sitting on the grass with my friends, looking through ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ-provided eclipse glasses, I felt like I was part of something big — both on and beyond campus. 

There are tons of events that happen on campus to celebrate spring, but one of my favorites is Earth Day. Our college and community are deeply committed to environmental sustainability, and we put that on full display with service opportunities and festivities each spring.

Summer 

Right now, I’m experiencing my first summer at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ. The pace changes, but the energy doesn’t disappear. Collaborative research projects with faculty, summer classes, and campus events keep things lively, even if the sidewalks don't have the usual foot traffic.  

While campus may be a bit more chill during the summer, there are still plenty of events. I’ve met people visiting ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ for the Jazz Institute or with ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s Pre-College Program. I got to see a medley of original music at Zankel Music Center with the Mostly Modern Music Festival, which plays on campus in the summer.  

Saratoga Springs is bustling — horse racing season begins, and SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) is packed with incredible concerts. I’m planning to see Mumford and Sons, the Lumineers, and Laufey this summer. And through my job as a Thoroughbred Ambassador for Admissions, I keep meeting new people and sharing stories that remind me how much this place has to offer throughout the year. 

Fall 

It’s always exciting to return to campus in the fall and catch up with people after the summer break as classes begin again. 

My sophomore year brought my first true ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ fall. From apple cider donuts at the farmers market to waking up at 5 a.m. for the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival, I embraced it all. I even got to see Natasha Bedingfield perform at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s Big Show. 

This coming fall I am looking forward to acting as a peer mentor to the incoming class of first-year students in the first-year Scribner Seminar: Mother Russia, Daughters and Sons.  

But the best part of fall might just be the campus itself — there’s nothing like the foliage in Saratoga Springs. It’s the season where everything feels like it clicks into place. 

My college experience may have begun with some temperature shock and a bit of uncertainty. But what I found — through winter wonderlands, spring sunshine, summer music, and fall colors — was a place full of connection, creativity, and constant discovery all year long.  

P.S. We’ve never had a weekend that cold again — so don’t worry too much about the weather.