Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
Sarah Lawrence College supplemental essays.
All 4 essay questions Sarah Lawrence College asks this year, word for word, with the word limits and how to approach each one.
Checked against sarahlawrence.edu and the Common App application on October 17, 2026
What you write: Optional. If you write one, answer one of four, 250–500 words.
Optional: your hyphenate interests
Sarah Lawrence students are often described as hyphenates: filmmaker-sociologist-historian, environmentalist-photographer, psychologist-novelist, economist-poet. In 250-500 words, tell us about seemingly disparate interests you have brought together, or hope to bring together at Sarah Lawrence.
Pick one of the four.
How to approach it
- Name things you could only find at this college: a class, a professor, a program, a tradition.
- Tie every detail to something true about you.
- Swap test: if another college’s name fits your sentence, it’s too general.
Optional: a semester-long project
Students at Sarah Lawrence are asked to design their own research questions directly with faculty, and then answer them through intensive semester-long projects that frequently inspire a blend of intellectual rigor and creativity. In 250-500 words, tell us about a text, problem or topic you would love to explore over a semester or a year, and what you would hope to achieve through that work.
Pick one of the four.
How to approach it
- Start with the moment the interest began.
- Show what you’ve already done about it: a class, a project, a book, a job.
- Say where you want to take it, even if you’re not sure yet.
Optional: from liberal arts to career
How do you see your upcoming college studies leading to your future career (or careers)?
Pick one of the four. The prompt opens by noting how many leaders in many fields credit their liberal arts degrees.
How to approach it
- Start with the moment the interest began.
- Show what you’ve already done about it: a class, a project, a book, a job.
- Say where you want to take it, even if you’re not sure yet.
Optional: a contemporary issue
In today’s rapidly changing world, many social, political, and ethical issues spark intense debate and demand nuanced understanding. Choose a contemporary issue that you find both challenging and urgent—whether it relates to identity, justice, artificial intelligence, environment, or another area—and critically explore your perspective on it. How have your previous experiences, background, and/or values shaped your viewpoint? How do you envision engaging with this issue during your college education and beyond?
Pick one of the four.
How to approach it
- Answer the exact question asked, in the first few lines.
- Use one real example instead of three general ones.
- Read it out loud before you submit.
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