Lehigh University is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the state’s beautiful Lehigh Valley region. Study abroad is a popular option at the school and student/teacher ratios are small (9:1). The school offers five colleges and is prominent in the sciences. The total undergraduate population is just over 5,000 and the acceptance rate is 32 percent.
The Prompt
With the understanding that you are able to change colleges at Lehigh after the first year, please briefly describe why you chose to apply to the first choice college or major above* (200 words)
What we always tell our students to do first is to read the prompt twice over. The next thing to make note of is the word limit. The objective of your essay is to allow the admissions committee to get to know a part of your personality that’s different from something that will shine through on another part of your application, like your resume and your transcript. A 200-word limit doesn’t give you much time to do that. So, before you begin, make sure to think about the question and what it’s asking, as well as the things about you that you wish to highlight.
Tell A (Short) Story
The thing we really appreciate about Lehigh is that they tell you they expect you to change your major. High school seniors shouldn’t have to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. But the thing to realize is colleges don’t want undecided students. They want to build a class of freshmen full of experts in a particular area. This way, each student they choose to invest in has a likelihood of becoming the very best in their respective field. What we love about this essay is they don’t really give you the option of saying you don’t know. So, for the purposes of this supplement, identify the expertise you’ve been developing over the last four years. All of the classes you’ve taken, the leadership roles you’ve assumed in clubs, the professors with whom you’ve connected…they should primarily fold into one area of expertise you’ve been working towards. Once you’ve identified that area, get more specific. Don’t just say you’re interested in business. Say you are an entrepreneur. Now, in one paragraph, we want you to tell the story of how you came to be interested in that area of expertise. It doesn’t need to be earth-shattering or existential. It can be simple. Perhaps you did a report that got you really interested in the subject or maybe you had a toy you liked as a kid that sparked your intrigue. Keep it concise and specific.
Deep Dive into Lehigh
The next thing you should do is put those research skills to good use. Learn everything you can about your area of expertise at Lehigh. What are the relevant classes (especially those 200-level and above)? Who are the professors? What research are they conducting? What are the related clubs and extracurricular opportunities? Your next paragraph needs to be about why you want to immerse yourself in this academic area at Lehigh and also, why you’re a great fit for that program. Talk about accolades not already present on your resume—projects you worked on in school, for example. Remember, the point is to make the admissions committee understand you and Lehigh are a great fit for each other and for them to see a part of you not present elsewhere on your application.
Need some help with your essay? Reach out to us. Our staff is great at helping students reach their full potential through writing.