Preparation for Graduate Study

The process of preparing a path to graduate school can begin as early as a student’s first year on campus. The critical thinking, independent primary research, experiential learning, and analytical skills at the heart of the Sarah Lawrence education are essential ingredients to one’s success as a graduate student. Still, because graduate-school course requirements range from none to several specific prerequisites, it is important to know graduate-program requirements. Students who begin exploring program options early in their college careers are in a better position to make informed course selections that provide the necessary foundation to become a competitive graduate-school applicant. Students should seek the guidance of their dons, who can serve as an important resource for how best to research and approach their applications.

Sarah Lawrence College provides three preprofessional advising programs for continued study in education, health, and law to support students in their professional development.

The Office of Career Services can also assist with the application process through individual counseling and workshops.

Undergraduate students can begin graduate work during their senior year and earn their master’s degree in their fifth year through four of Sarah Lawrence College’s unique graduate programs: The Art of Teaching (BA/MSEd), Child Development (BA/MA), Dance/Movement Therapy (BA/MS), and Health Advocacy (BA/MA). The Art of Teaching master’s program prepares students for the three exams necessary for New York State certification in Early Childhood/Childhood Education, providing them with the flexibility to work in preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools. The Dance/Movement Therapy master’s program prepares students to take the New York State licensing exam for creative arts therapists and to receive the R-DMT credential from the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) upon graduation.

Students apply for a five-year program in the early spring of their junior year, no later than March 1. Students studying abroad during their junior year are encouraged to apply early.

Students interested in applying for one of the five-year programs should attend a Five-Year Programs Info Session and speak with the program director before applying. The student’s application will be reviewed by both the graduate program and the Dean of Studies Office. Students should plan to complete at least 90 undergraduate credits before entering their senior year and a five-year program.

For more information, please contact the Graduate Studies Office at 914.395.2373 or at gradadministration@sarahlawrence.edu.

The Pre-Health Program in the Dean of Studies Office strives to guide students each step of the way, as they explore and pursue a career in the health professions. Through individual advising, group advising sessions, workshops, and programming, the Pre-Health Program provides students with a rich array of information and resources. The goal is for students to feel connected, integrated, and supported by our pre-health community of students, faculty, and staff.

The Pre-Health Program partners with faculty and many campus offices to offer pre-health students academic guidance and to connect our students with clinical, research, and community opportunities on campus, in the community, and at large. In addition, the program helps prepare students and alumni for application to health professional programs. Students and alumni have significant contact with the pre-health adviser in order to receive guidance and feedback.

To meet the course requisites for the majority of health professional schools in the United States, students supplement required courses in biology, chemistry, and physics with additional courses offered by the division, as well as courses in social sciences and the humanities. This coursework will also prepare students to successfully complete the standardized entrance exams (e.g., MCAT, DAT) required by medical and dental schools. In addition, conference work provides students with opportunities to develop original research projects, pursue independent learning, and critically examine professional literature—skills fundamental to future success in health professional programs.

The majority of medical and dental programs in the United States require/recommend applicants to successfully complete the following courses:

• Two semesters of general chemistry with labs
• Two semesters of organic chemistry with labs
• One semester of biochemistry
• Two semesters of general biology with labs
• One-to-two semesters of upper-level biology (strongly recommended)
• Two semesters of physics with labs
• Two semesters of writing and/or English (may be satisfied by your First-Year Seminar, may use AP/IB credits)
• One-to-two semesters of calculus and/or statistics (may use AP/IB credits)
• One-to-two courses in social or behavioral sciences (strongly recommended)
• One-to-two semesters of SLC EmbeddED (strongly recommended)

For students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine, physician assistant, nursing, or other allied health programs (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy), please consult with the Pre-Health Program and the individual programs’ admissions websites, as prerequisites may vary.

More information about academic preparation, as well as all other aspects of the Pre-Health Program, can be found on MySLC at: https://my.slc.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Departments/Dean_of_Studies/Pre-Health_Program/.
https://my.slc.edy/prehealth

Each year, the Pre-Health Program offers workshops to guide and support pre-health students and alumni. In August, the Pre-Health Program hosts an orientation session for all incoming students. During each registration period, the program runs a Registration Support Process, which is required for all pre-health students in an effort to support their registration for the science and math prerequisite courses. Each spring, the program hosts its annual alumni event in partnership with the Office of Alumni Relations and Student Pre-Health Alliance group. Throughout the year, students and alumni can partake in various workshops and programs geared toward exploring the health professions and preparing their applications to health professional programs.

Sarah Lawrence students and alumni receive individualized guidance when applying to health professional programs. In addition, applicants to medical and dental schools are eligible to receive the College’s Committee Letter of Evaluation. This institutional letter is composed by our College’s Pre-Health Advisory Committee, which is comprised of our science faculty and administrative deans, and serves to holistically assess an applicant’s level of preparedness and fit for entry into their desired health professional program. Our Committee Letter of Evaluation is highly valued by the admissions committees at health professional schools.

Applicants wishing to receive a Committee Letter of Evaluation must declare their intent to apply in the fall semester prior to the summer in which they plan to apply to medical or dental programs; for example, applicants wishing to apply to medical school in the summer of 2026 and matriculate in 2027 must inform the pre-health dean of their intent to apply in fall 2025). For more information, please contact the Pre-Health Program at prehealthprogram@sarahlawrence.edu.

Students wishing to join the Pre-Health Program should visit the program’s website and complete the steps outlined in the Getting Started & Staying Connected checklist at https://my.slc.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Departments/Dean_of_Studies/Pre-Health_Program/. This will also connect students with the program’s resources, including a weekly program newsletter. Students may email any questions to prehealthprogram@sarahlawrence.edu.

The Pre-Health Alliance, the College’s pre-health student organization, serves to promote a community for pre-health students to engage with one another. The Alliance is governed by a student board to encourage leadership and teamwork. The Alliance meets biweekly and engages in a variety of activities, such as study groups and workshops. In addition, the board co-sponsors an annual alumni program in spring, which is open to the entire Sarah Lawrence community. The Alliance board members also serve as an advisory board to the Pre-Health Program, advised by Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen. The advisory board ensures strong lines of communication between student leadership and the administration in order to meet the interests and needs of the student community. If you are interested in joining the Prehealth Alliance, please contact prehealthcommunity@gm.slc.edu.

Call or email to make an appointment with the pre-health adviser:

Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen
Pre-Health Program Director
Bates 320
914.323.6005
mcohen@sarahlawrence.edu

The pre-law program offers a variety of panels that provide insight into the work of lawyers, the demands of a legal career, legal education, and anticipating law school. The program offers individual advising and access to group meetings, with programming that focuses on the law-school admission process and the field of law in general. The pre-law advisers provide a full range of information and advice to help students launch a legal career: course selection, resume building, LSAT prep, and assistance in exploring an interest in a legal career.

Call or email to make an appointment with a pre-law adviser:

Angela Cherubini
Director of Career Services
914.395.2566
acherubini@sarahlawrence.edu

Mark Shulman
History Faculty Member
917.400.1879
mshulman@sarahlawrence.edu