<p>Can anyone give me a feel for Sarah Lawrence? The "conference system" looks interesting - is it a rigorous school academically? What's its atmosphere? My d is looking for a school with few lectures & lots of student-professor interaction. Does this one fit?</p>
<p>Thanks for any info!</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is located near me in Westchester County. It has a good reputation, and is somewhat avant garde -- for example, it no longer requires SATs, I think. It is known for a very strong writing program. It is actually located in Yonkers, but uses a more upscale address of Bronxville. </p>
<p>I don't know anything more specific, as the only person I know affilated with the school is a man who works in administration, who my daughter has been in plays with.</p>
<p>Chedva, Hopefully Calmom will chime in. Her son attended Sarah Lawrence. My understanding of Sarah Lawrence is that it is academically rigorous but best for students who would do well in more of an unstructured environment. It is very important to visit Sarah Lawrence to see if it is a fit: SLC tends to attract somewhat offbeat students. Anecdotal reports here at CC are that Sarah Lawrence is not always the best at providing financial aid, an important consideration as SLC consistently ranks among the most expensive schools in the country.</p>
<p>Here are a few archives of past CC discussions that might help:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=7288&highlight=sarah%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=7288&highlight=sarah</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33215&highlight=sarah%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33215&highlight=sarah</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=14789&highlight=sarah%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=14789&highlight=sarah</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=32370&highlight=sarah%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=32370&highlight=sarah</a></p>
<p>Ditto Carolyn -- it is indeed an academically rigorous school; great student-professor relationships; socially progressive (there's a famous almost-nude ball every fall for students which is attended by most in the school); demanding curriculum; politically active; free spirited and basically undisciplined. Most students seem quite happy there -- and most are from privileged backgrounds (hence the meager fin-aid).</p>
<p>Thanks, carolyn - I knew I could count on you!</p>
<p>Hi Chedva, just to give you a feel for Sarah Lawrence, it is a school made up of strong individuals. It is short on school/community spirit. It is definitely in Bronxville, near the Yonkers line. It is a short walk into the center of Bronxville, to take the train in Manhattan. On weekends, the school can be a bit of a ghost town. The work is really as rigorous as you want it to be. Although you take only three courses per semester, with the independent study work, it is the equivalent of 6 courses. The faculty is terrific, the seminars are intense, in depth, challenging and inspiring. In spite of this, quite a few kids transfer elsewhere, partly I think, because it is such a small school. Others spend their junior year at another school. Sarah Lawrence is not a rich school, it is a relatively new school, and started out as a women's college. Programs it is known for: english, creative writing, dance, pre-med, theater (sorry if I'm forgetting others). Go visit while school is in session!</p>
<p>The only thing I know about Sarah Lawrence is that Joseph Campbell (of the 'Power of Myths' fame) taught there. He was such an impressive person...</p>
<p>My guess is, you would get a good liberal arts education there.</p>
<p>You get a great liberal arts education. No major, which I see as a huge plus. I ended up going to grad school for architecture. It can be really limiting to go into architecture as an undergrad. When I was at SLC, I took terrific classes in film history, Shakespeare (my one lecture -fantastic), studio art, greek philosophy and literature. Joseph Campbell was there before my time.</p>
<p>Yes, Joseph Campbell died in 1985! :)</p>
<p><<it is="" definitely="" in="" bronxville,="" near="" the="" yonkers="" line.="">></it></p>
<p>Not so! Sarah Lawrence is located safely within the Yonkers town line. However, it has a Bronxville PO and tends to downplay its connection to the grittier city next door. Wouldn't want to scare off those precious BoBo "rebels," or at least not the parents who will be footing the extravagant bill.</p>