In the midst of a stressful selective admission process, we can’t fault students for asking, What are admission counselors actually thinking as they page through my application? The admission counselors at Sarah Lawrence College don’t see the need to maintain the mystery. At the end of traditional admission cycles, they share “reader notes” with admitted students, letting them know exactly what went through the counselors’ heads while reading the student’s files.
Internally, admission committee members use reader notes to share observations with each other in three key areas: academics, engagement, and voice. This looks very different for every student, and there’s no magic formula we’re looking for—Sarah Lawrence isn’t a box-checking place, and neither is the admission office. In a holistic admission process, different parts of the application don’t hold predetermined weights (the transcript isn’t worth X%, the essay Y%). Counselors understand each page of the application in the context of the pages preceding it. At least two counselors read each application and discuss them all in committee, where the overall diversity of the class is considered and admission decisions are made.
Below, we share two sets of reader notes based on real Sarah Lawrence applicants, noting both the content of their applications and the glimmers of SLC-ness that we saw.
Sam is interested in studying history, environmental science, and public policy. Sam has consistently taken a challenging curriculum made up of honors and AP courses. All A’s so far in senior year, and generally an A/B student across the board.
Sam has taken on a number of leadership opportunities, completed some impressive internships (including one at a refugee organization), founded an interfaith group in high school, is part of Model UN and a sustainability org. Worked as an assistant teacher at synagogue every weekend.
Personal essay contains one of the most striking opening lines I’ve read in an application, and Sam’s instinct for sharp, concise sentences is evident throughout the entire piece. Essay discusses challenging self to hear various and opposing points of view, even if position remains unchanged.
The same applies to the supplemental essay, which explores Sam’s passion for Yiddish language and culture. Is interested in working with SLC professor Glenn Dynner.
Strong admit.
Jaimie transferred to Smith High School sophomore year, taking a very demanding curriculum that includes AP Stats and AP Lit. Interested in studying economics, writing, and computer science.
Works 10hpw as culinary assistant (25wpy since 9th). Played cello since elementary school and writes for school paper. Started a catering business for neighborhood gatherings four years ago.
Writes CA essay about cooking as an escape, a place to hone foundational skills while developing new ones. Fresh pasta and galettes have distracted Jaimie through difficult times while learning patience. Nicely written and only made me a little hungry!
Writes a supplemental essay with ideas for food-related conference work—love it! Wants to create sustainable meals for environmental science class, prepare dishes to represent each character in an Austen novel for lit course, etc. Connects to sharing learning with peers and prof.
Had a quality conversation with senior interviewer: “Jaimie is evidently a creative learner; one of their favorite assignments was rewriting Alanis Morrisette’s ‘Ironic’ to include scenes from Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Easy for me to picture Jaimie at SLC.
Strong admit.