Academics

Be prepared to learn. Teachers here will throw text after text at you. They will expect you to read and be at least semi-fluent in what they have you read when you're in the classroom setting. Classes (seminars at least) tend to be dictated by the students. These can be amazing if the students have read and thought about what they have read in advance. They can be less than stellar if the majority if the class comes in ignorant of the text (which is, as one might expect, a rarity here). Nonetheless the teachers are amazing facilitators and you better be prepared to read and write your butt off if you come here.

Sarah Lawrence certainly houses a competitive, active learning community comprised of people expressing their novel approaches to courses. In the first conference--individual meeting outside of class time--with a don or professor, he/she will inquire about your interests and initial impressions of the course. Intuitive and apt, professors can attain a great sense of your academic personality, or how you work and interpret the lessons, and of your potential.
Most classes, creative or academic, will have hefty amount of reading. You really learn how to manage your time, where on campus you focus best, and how to prioritize some work over others. It is important to stay on top of weekly assignments so you can remain an active participant in discussions and conference. Even the lectures section off some time for student input, which soon becomes a forum for both listening to other students and contributing your own opinion.
Professors are usually approachable enough to confide in if you're lost or encountering problems outside the classroom. When writer's block hits, your professor can assist you in narrowing your focus, drafting an outline, and reviewing rough drafts of your conference paper step by step.
Some professors encourage interdisciplinary work, while others prefer you remain within the confines of the course topic. Either way, when you hand in the final twenty-page paper or large work of another medium, you may just pinch yourself that you accomplished something you are truly passionate about.

Perhaps even more so than most places, Sarah Lawrence is what you make it. With no core curriculum, it is entirely up to you to construct your education and build your path. The teachers will work you, but even more, they'll teach you to work yourself.

Academically rigorous. Conference work is a lot like graduate school work.

There is a lot of work involved- especially reading and writing. It's all worth it though because the classes are great.