I use Mathematica in many of my classes and all of my research. You may need to use it for some homework and projects.
The versions installed in the Labs and other Public computers at Skidmore are usually a version or two behind. Luckily, we have a site-license for students. Thus, you can get your own, most up-to-date copy. Here’s how —
- Go to http://user.wolfram.com
- There’s a good chance you don’t have a Wolfram ID (If you do you probably don’t need to be reading this stuff…). If you don’t – create one using your Skidmore email address

- The Wolfram User ID machine will send you a confirmation email. Click the confirmation link and you’re good to go. (If you don’t see it right away, do the usual ‘check the junk folder’ drill.)
- Now, you can request a download and license key. Go here – https://user.wolfram.com/portal/requestAK/859fbe4344def245702db7150820e4b66118cabf
- You might have to log in using your newly created Wolfram ID. Do that…
- You’ll be magically teleported to this place —

- Fill in all the starred things.
- You’ll be re-directed to a page that will allow you to download the Mathematica installer. Select the right one for your machine, etc. It should look a little like this —

- Download and install Mathematica
- When you start, it will ask you for an activation key. You can find the activation key on your Product Activation page. It looks something like —
1001-1234-XXXXXX
- Enter that in the activation key area and you’re good to go!
If you have trouble, drop me an email and I’ll see what I can do to help out.