Sarah Lawrence College Changes Admission Criteria
Sofia Sklar ‘27
A recent interview with Sarah Lawrence College’s President, Cristle Collins Judd, has revealed that the college’s admissions process will be undergoing some exciting new changes. The administration stressed the fact that this change will not be immediate, and will not affect any students who are currently enrolled within the College. The school aims to implement it in the next few years. While Sarah Lawrence College has prided itself on having been entirely test-optional since 2003 – meaning that prospective applicants do not have to submit SAT or ACT scores in order to be considered for admission – the new admissions structure is altering this policy, and other colleges may be soon to follow.
Starting August 1st, 2026, (the first cycle of students it will affect is the class of 2030, who are currently juniors in high school) Sarah Lawrence College will no longer be classified as a test-optional institution. Rather, prospective students will be required to take a Buzzfeed “Am I Gay” quiz, and disclose their results to the College. The quiz is scored from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating higher levels of homosexuality.
The contents of this quiz have not yet been disclosed, however. When questioned, Judd refused to clarify, beyond saying that it contained, “pop divas, musical theatre, Lady Gaga, all the stuff they like.” It is unclear who “they” are. While it has been repeatedly emphasized that an applicant’s score on this exam will not entirely decide their chances of getting into Sarah Lawrence, a score of 8 or higher has been recommended to prospective students.
On campus, students have had varied reactions to the news. Again, although current students are not affected by the change, it raises some questions on how the culture of the College may potentially shift in the coming years.
A concerned second-year student who has elected to remain anonymous stated, “After hearing the news, I took the test out of curiosity, but I only scored a 2. Does this mean that I don’t belong at Sarah Lawrence?” If the current admissions criteria is to be referenced, the answer to this student’s question is probably yes.
However, for many Sarah Lawrence students, the news has been received positively. Many students questioned what this would actually change on campus. The answer is unclear. A third-year student, who has also elected to remain anonymous, responded enthusiastically to the information, saying, “I hate a fake gay bitch.” Apparently, as does Sarah Lawrence College.
It is unclear what this change in the admissions process will mean for the College, going forward. The Phoenix will continue reporting on the story as it develops.