Prospective Undergraduate Students
Education in the singular
Words and thought. They connect all the disciplines of a liberal arts education. At Sarah Lawrence, we believe that to learn how to read and write well is to learn how to think. That assumption underlies the form of education here. No matter what you study on our campus, you can be sure of this: it won't merely bounce off you and back onto a "test". Rather, it will lodge in your mind, there to be stated and restated, dissected and inspected, explicated and assimilated, until it becomes a part of you, an influence on how you see the world. The power of this process is the essence, and the power, of Sarah Lawrence College.
Faculty and Educational Plan
"Education is a simple thing. It begins with a teacher and a student talking together."
— Barbara Kaplan, Dean Emerita of the College
With a student-faculty ratio of 6:1 and bi-weekly, individual conferences, the close interaction between students and faculty members at Sarah Lawrence College is nothing short of life-changing.
Interaction with faculty begins during a student's first days on campus, when they meet their don—a faculty member assigned based on the student's academic background and expressed interests. Dons work with students throughout their four years at Sarah Lawrence, helping them discover and develop their potential, advising them in designing programs of study, and exploring connections among all interests and courses.
Students and Curriculum
"There's a kind of contract between professors and students. In exchange for intense personal attention, students must take responsibility for their studies."
— Sarah Lawrence College Student
No two stories are alike—at least not when they describe the many directions taken by Sarah Lawrence students.
We pioneered the concept of self-directed education; students choose the curriculum that works for them, blending areas of study that can come together at few other institutions, and leading to unrivaled exploration, depth and connection.
This approach works so well at Sarah Lawrence College that we have no need for "majors". Each student's program evolves organically and dynamically—in a profoundly personal way.
- SLC Students: Year by Year
- SLC Students and...
- Quick Facts & Stats
- Academic Program Guidelines
- The Curriculum
- Course Catalog Search
Alumnae/i
"Sarah Lawrence College is a place that has enormous impact, because the people who graduate are people who move things and influence things."
— Michele Tolela Myers, President Emerita of the College
Our alumnae/i are living proof: a Sarah Lawrence education works. Students benefit in a variety of ways from our transformative environment. For one student, the particularly strong motivation and advising of a don may have made the difference. For another, the difference may have been the ability to pursue intensive independent study at an early stage.
No matter what your path, you're likely to graduate from Sarah Lawrence with attributes—remarkable writing ability and initiative, for instance—that help you stand out from the crowd, that make you not just able to do a job but capable of achieving your goals in novel ways.
Campus and Student Life
"Academics and the social life really do mix... It’s hard to tell what’s your social life and what is your actual academic, 'learning time'."
— Sarah Lawrence College Student
Campus life at SLC reflects the intellectual, social and personal interests of the entire College community. The freedom to pursue your interests—both academically and socially—makes possible a level of engagement that blurs the line between work and play.
On our 44 acre campus, located just north of New York City, students attend classes, share housing and enjoy a community of lively interchange and expression. Performances, readings, lectures, publications, screenings, exhibits, special events and student clubs bring people together daily.
For cultural offerings, the resources of New York City enhance everyone's experience. Students find inspiration and entertainment within the city's pulse, and benefit immensely from faculty connections to its boundless supply of energy and talent.
The Next Step
You've read about what makes Sarah Lawrence College different. Now we'd like to know what makes you different.
To tell us more about yourself and to receive information from Sarah Lawrence, including print publications and e-mail communications, please sign our online guest book.