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The newest members of the Sarah Lawrence community, the class of 2024, begin their academic years with a fall semester unlike any other in College history. While face masks and social distancing are new developments, what continues to be true is that the Sarah Lawrence community is one marked by its empathy and curiosity - people who strive to push themselves academically and explore their varied and broad interests to connect their passions and create their futures.
So, who is the class of 2024?
They come from one of the largest applicant pools in College history, with international students representing 15 countries and U.S. residents hailing from 40 states. Though students were unaware that their applications would enter them into a competition for most-represented state, California took the top spot this year, with New York a close second. 27% of the class identified themselves as a student of color, and Julia, Mia, and Sophia are the most common names (there are four Sarahs and no Lawrences).
Sarah Lawrence students are much more than numbers - they describe their interests and why they desire a self-directed curriculum in their admission essays and portfolio submissions. Many discussed how they intend to use their education to address issues of sustainability and concerns about the environment. One student has already gone so far as to create their own sustainable clothing brand, growing sustainable leather through bacteria cultures. Another highlighted the importance of self-directed study by discussing how they live off the grid at the end of a desert road - they had built their own 3D printer and taught themselves video editing to advance their interests and studies.
Of course, students have academic bona fides, as well. Collectively, the new cohort carried a 3.7 GPA and their median SAT score exceeded 1300 (for those students who chose to share their SAT scores; Sarah Lawrence is, as always, test optional).
These students join a community of scholars and, whether on campus or spread around the world, we are #SarahLawrenceTogether.