Lehigh University Supplemental Essay Guide 2025-26

Admitted Student Profile

GPA (Unweighted)

3.60-3.85

SAT Range (Middle 50%)

1310-1490

ERW: 640-720 · Math: 670-770

ACT Range (Middle 50%)

30-34

📌 Lehigh is test-optional. Engineering and IBE (Integrated Business & Engineering) are the flagship programs. Strong alumni network in Northeast finance and engineering industries.

Application Deadlines

ED INov 1

ED IIJan 1

Regular DecisionJan 1

Essay Overview

Lehigh requires three supplemental essays, each exactly 200 words—among the tightest constraints in college admissions. Together, they form a single evaluative triangle designed to reveal how you discovered Lehigh, who you are as a person, and how you'll use Lehigh's unique college/program/research structure to become a 'Future Maker.' The school is testing agency, interdisciplinary curiosity, and specific knowledge of its five colleges and integrated degree programs.

EssayLimitStatus

How You Found Lehigh + Why You Applied 200 words Required

Celebration Prompt 200 words Required

Program/Major + Goals 200 words Required

What They're Really Looking For

Name specific programs or centers, not just your major. Lehigh's Essay 3 is not a generic 'Why Engineering?' prompt—it's asking you to connect a specific college + program + integrated degree option to your goals. If you're applying to Rossin Engineering, mention IDEAS (Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences) if you're actually pairing it with humanities or social sciences. If you're in Business, reference the Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise or the Impact Investing Initiative by name. Vague references to 'research opportunities' or 'great facilities' signal you haven't done your homework. Lehigh wants students who can articulate exactly which named program or center will unlock their specific path.

The Celebration prompt requires sensory detail and presence. This essay tests authenticity in a way that résumé essays cannot. Admissions readers are looking for a recent, specific moment—not a lifetime achievement or abstract pride. Include sensory details (what you saw, heard, felt) and use present or near-present tense to create immediacy. A weak response lists accomplishments; a strong one lets the reader experience the moment alongside you. Avoid pivoting to how this moment fits your college goals or what you'll do next—that's Essay 3's job. This essay is purely about revealing your humanity and what brings you genuine joy.

Show agency—you are the actor, not the observer. Lehigh's strategic identity is 'Inspiring the Future Makers'—students who propose, research, and execute ideas. Across all three essays, especially Essay 3, avoid passive language like 'Lehigh will help me' or 'I hope to benefit from.' Instead, write 'I will use Lehigh's [named resource] to [specific action]' or 'I plan to pursue [named program] so that I can [goal that requires this specific resource].' The strongest applicants signal they're coming to Lehigh to do something, not to have something done to them. This framing—treating Lehigh as a platform for your agency rather than a destination for your absorption—aligns with the school's maker-centered identity.

Don't skip the 'how you found Lehigh' half of Essay 1. Essay 1 has a two-part structure that matters. Some applicants jump straight to 'why I want to go' without answering 'how I first learned about it.' CollegeVine's weak examples show applicants who skip the origin story entirely. A genuine origin story (campus visit, a conversation with an alumnus, a specific program you researched) makes your motivation credible. Generic reasons ('great engineering school,' 'beautiful campus') without a personal discovery moment read as hollow. Spend real words on the discovery—it anchors your motivation in authenticity rather than prestige.

The Official Prompt — 2025-26

How You Learned About Lehigh

Required≤200 words

"How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply?"

Something Great

Required≤200 words

"At Lehigh, we believe in pausing to celebrate the good—meaningful moments that bring joy, pride or motivation. What's something great happening in your life right now? It could be an accomplishment, a personal win (big or small) or something you're genuinely excited about. If it matters to you, we'd love to hear about it."

The #1 Failure Mode

⚠️

Most Common Mistake

Describing Lehigh as a good fit for engineering or business without naming the specific program, partnership, or resource that makes Lehigh right for your particular goal. Lehigh is competing with Penn State, RPI, and other solid engineering schools; your essay must show why Lehigh specifically.

Weak vs. Strong: Score Benchmarks

⚠️ Weak (~52/100)

"Lehigh's strong engineering program and vibrant campus community make it a great fit for my goals. I am excited to study mechanical engineering and take advantage of Lehigh's excellent research facilities and alumni network in the engineering and business fields."

✓ Strong (~82/100)

"The IBE program is the reason I'm applying to Lehigh. I want to design manufacturing systems — not just the technical architecture, but the operational and financial model that makes them viable. Most schools make you choose between engineering and business. IBE puts those disciplines in the same curriculum from day one, which is exactly the kind of integrated training I need."

Lehigh UniversitySupplemental Essay Guide 2025-26