Pre-Orientation programs are a phenomenal way of entering the College by meeting new friends with common interests and/ or identities. This year, we are offering three pre-orientation programs:
EXPLORE: A bridge to belonging, community engagement and support
The EXPLORE program works in collaboration with the pre-orientation programs for Community Partnerships and Theatre, fostering connections across these groups while offering workshops on key aspects of transitioning to college. These workshops cover making Sarah Lawrence College feel like home. Whether you're coming from a different country or environment, we provide opportunities for identity exploration (including spiritual identity, BIPOC experiences, international student perspectives, and more), self-advocacy, and community building.
This program is open to all incoming first-year students who believe it will support their transition to college. We especially encourage BIPOC, first-generation, and international students to apply to access resources that will ease your transition, boost your confidence, and connect you to a wide-reaching community.
Community Partnerships Pre-Orientation
The Community Partnerships Pre-Orientation focuses on community engagement and experiential learning with other Gryphons interested in service to the local communities of Yonkers and Westchester County. Students will experience first hand the College’s long standing and rich history of social responsibility and community engagement along with developing a deeper understanding of themselves and begin to comprehend the relationships between local communities and institutions of higher education.
Evenings are spent getting to know your new Sarah Lawrence peers and learning from student leaders and faculty about life and community-based opportunities at Sarah Lawrence.
Theatre Pre-Orientation
Sarah Lawrence College is known for its multi-hyphenate students, and that notion is at the core of our theatre program. Actor-director-designer-producer-playwright-technician- manager…SLC students experiment with it all to become well-rounded theatre artists. It starts with our innate creative spark, and this group invites you to nurture that spark. In this pre orientation group we will dive headfirst into the vibrant, collaborative world of live theatre. Together, we’ll explore both the logistical and creative foundations of the SLC Theatre community. You get to act as lead artists, actors, playwrights, directors, and designers to create collaboratively generated performance work that reflects your unique voices and perspectives.
We will use theatre games to create community, and explore how they can be both a tool for the rehearsal of dramatic material and a springboard for creation. Writing and devising prompts will challenge your imagination, helping you develop your artistic eye from both within and outside the work.
We’ll also spend time unpacking the nuts and bolts of life in the program—covering registration, resources at the Performing Arts Center (PAC), and how we center care, health, and community throughout the year. Forge new friendships through collaboration. The theatre-based pre-orientation is rooted in connection. No prior experience necessary-come as you are, and leave more connected as you begin your college journey. We’re so excited to begin this journey with you and to help set the stage for your creative life at SLC!
Logistics
Students in all pre-orientation programs will move-in on Sunday, August 24, 2025 from 12:00-5:00pm EST. Families are invited to join for a welcome dinner with pre-orientation directors and college leadership that night from 6:00-7:30pm, after which student-only programming will begin.
The pre-orientation application process will be open on GryphonLink on June 2 and close on July 23rd, 2025. With questions about the application or your application status, please email fye@sarahlawrence.edu.
All pre-orientation programs have an associated fee of $350. The Program fee covers the cost of housing, meals, and program experiences. Program fee waivers are available and will be provided on a case-by-case basis. To request a fee waiver, please email fye@sarahlawrence.edu after submitting the application via GryphonLink.
Day 1: Sunday, August 24
12:00-5:00pm | Move-in
6:00-7:30pm | Community Dinner (parents and families are welcome)
7:45-9:00pm | Workshop: I am
Day 2: Monday, August 25
8:00-09:45am | Collective Breakfast
10:00-10:30am | Expectation Setting/Group Norms (Community Agreement)
10:30-11:00 am | Intercultural Competencies
11:00-12:00pm | Program-specific programming
12:00-1:15pm | Collective Lunch
1:30-4:00pm | Program-specific programming
4:00-5:00pm | Rest Break - lawn games and crafts
5:00-6:30pm | Program-specific programming
6:30-7:30pm | Collective Dinner
Day 3: Tuesday, August 26
8:00-9:45am | Collective Breakfast
10:00-10:30am |Check-in/Revisiting Group Norms (Community Agreement)
10:45-11:45am | Team Building Activities and Tools and Skills for Wellness and Student Success
12:00-1:15pm | Collective Lunch
1:30-4:30pm | Program-specific programming
4:30-6:00pm | Rest Break
6:00-7:30pm | Collective Dinner
7:30-9:00pm | Movie Night!
Day 4: Wednesday, August 27
8:00-9:45am | Collective Breakfast
10:00-11:45am | Scavenger Hunt
12:00-1:30pm | Lunch on campus