CKQ College Profiles: Sarah Lawrence College

Each quarter, The College Knowledge Quarterly will feature a different U.S. College or University for families to get to know a bit better. The aim is not to tell you about a school you know (or at least you think you know) well, but to introduce you to a school you may have not considered a viable candidate before. In this edition, we are pleased to feature Sarah Lawrence College.

Sarah Lawrence (U.S. News ranked T-#65 – Liberal Arts Colleges), is a small, private college (approximately 1,400 undergraduate students) in a small city in a suburban environment, about 15 miles north of Manhattan.

Sarah Lawrence has been a frequent member of the U.S. News ‘Up and Coming’ list, as the school has grown both their enrollment and endowment, continued long-term construction projects, including lab facilities, with an eye on becoming a renowned research institution. It also has excellent ties with the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Lawrence is a school designed for the student who has a plan. No, seriously, there are few stated graduation requirements, allowing driven students to carve out their own educational plans. Additionally, most SLC classes are discussion-based, requiring direct student involvement in their own educational experiences, requiring independent thinkers fill the small, but powerful, classes. Further, professors are seen as mentors in such small environments, which again, drives independent student thinking. All of this led Princeton Review to rank the SLC classroom experience as tops in the nation.

As you might guess, such a college community is more an intellectual environment, and less of a large university ‘blow-off-steam’ kegger. Students tend to be quite intellectual and spend more time in discussion with their peers than most. The social scene is a bit more mundane, but with Bronxville nearby and New York City less than a half hour away by train, there are plenty of social and cultural opportunities to be had as a SLC student.

In similarly thought circles, the campus tends to be very liberal and LGBTQ friendly, and home to a creative, almost weird, group of students. Students are politically active, especially when it comes to social issues, and are driven to push social reform through on and around their campus. Sports is almost non-existent, so don’t apply if you are looking for a rah-rah sports environment!

Perhaps the biggest rub against the school is the cost of doing business. With a COA of approximately $74,000 and an average need met of only 76%, families need to be cognizant of the cost of doing business at SLC before filling out the application.

The average admitted student boasts moderately strong grades and test scores (about a 3.7 GPA and a 29 on the ACT). The admission percentage is surprisingly high, at 53%. According to the admission office, application essays, letters of recommendation, and rigor of high school curriculum are the most important admission factors, followed by: Academic GPA, extra-curricular activities, and talent/ability. Other factors include: class rank, alumni relations, character/personal qualities, first generation, geographical residence, interview, demonstrated interest, racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, and work experience. Note that standardized test scores are completely optional here.

According to the Collegeboard, the school offers a total of 61 majors, has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9-1, and operates on the semester system. Sarah Lawrence College offers an Early Decision 1 application, due November 1st, an Early Action application, due by November 1st, an Early Decision 2 deadline of January 2nd and a regular admission decision deadline on January 15th.

For more information, please visit: https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/