You're staring at the Common App. It’s late. You’ve got your personal statement mostly done, and then you see them: the Lehigh University supplemental essays. They seem simple enough on the surface, but if you treat them like a checkbox, you’re basically handing your spot to someone else.
Lehigh is weird in the best way. It’s a school that sits at this intense crossroads of high-level engineering, gritty Bethlehem history, and a liberal arts soul. They don't just want smart kids. They want "doers" who actually like people.
If you write a generic "I want to go to Lehigh because the campus is pretty and the engineering program is ranked highly," you’ve already lost. Everyone says that. The admissions officers at the Alumni Memorial Building have read that exact sentence four thousand times today.
The "Why Lehigh" Prompt: Beyond the Brochure
The most famous of the Lehigh University supplemental essays is the classic "Why us?" prompt. They usually frame it around how you’ll contribute to their community or why their specific vibe fits your goals.
Don't talk about the architecture. Please.
Bethlehem is a "steel town." There is a literal massive, rusting steel mill—the Hoover-Mason Trestle—right next to the South Side campus. That grit matters. When Lehigh asks why you want to be there, they are looking for a connection between your past curiosities and their specific, idiosyncratic resources.
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Maybe you’re obsessed with the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Innovation. Don't just name-drop it. Talk about a specific project you want to launch. Are you looking at the Mountaintop Summer Experience? Tell them why you thrive in unstructured, high-stakes environments where you might actually fail before you succeed.
Lehigh loves the "interdisciplinary" buzzword, but they actually mean it. They have programs like IDEAS (Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences) and IBE (Integrated Business and Engineering). If you’re applying to these, your essay needs to show that your brain naturally functions in two different worlds. You aren't just an engineer who likes drawing; you're someone who uses design thinking to solve structural load problems.
Small Details Win
I once saw an applicant talk about the "Lehigh-Lafayette" rivalry. It was fine, but a bit cliché. Another student talked about wanting to join the Marching 97 because they loved the idea of "eco-friendly" leg-stretching traditions and the specific high-energy chaos of the band.
That second student won. Why? Because it showed they actually looked at student life on YouTube, not just the front page of the website.
The "How Will You Contribute" Angle
Often, Lehigh asks how your perspectives will enrich the campus. This is where people get tripped up. They think they need to have a world-altering hardship story.
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You don’t.
Honestly, Lehigh just wants to know if you’re going to be a good roommate and a productive member of a lab group. Are you the person who organizes the snacks for study sessions? Do you have a specific cultural background that changes how you look at urban planning?
Think about the South Side of Bethlehem. It’s a diverse, working-class area that exists right alongside the university. Lehigh puts a huge emphasis on community engagement through the Community Service Office. If you’ve spent your high school years doing real work in your own neighborhood, talk about how you plan to translate that to the Lehigh Valley.
Navigating the 2025-2026 Prompts
The prompts change slightly, but the core remains: Interdisciplinary thinking and community impact.
One common prompt asks about a time you challenged a viewpoint or dealt with a diverse set of opinions. This isn't a trap to see if you’re "political." It’s a test of your intellectual maturity. Lehigh's classrooms are collaborative. If you can’t handle someone disagreeing with your bridge design or your analysis of a Hemingway novel, you won’t survive the first year.
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- Avoid the "Saviour" Complex: If you’re writing about community service, don’t act like you fixed the world. Talk about what you learned from the people you were helping.
- The "And" Factor: Lehigh is all about the "And." Engineering and Theatre. Business and Psychology. Find your "And."
A Note on the "Creative" Prompts
Sometimes Lehigh throws in a bit of a curveball. They might ask about a quote or a specific "Lehigh value." When this happens, stop trying to guess the "right" answer. There isn't one.
The admissions team, led by folks who have seen the school evolve through the years, wants to see your personality. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re a serious researcher who spends weekends looking at soil samples, be that.
Breaking Down the "Hidden" Requirements
While not explicitly in the prompt, there are "vibes" you need to hit in your Lehigh University supplemental essays.
First: Work ethic. Lehigh is hard. It’s not a "party school" where you can coast, even though the social scene is active. Your essays should subtly signal that you aren't afraid of a 2:00 AM study session in Linderman Library (which, by the way, looks like Harry Potter's dream, so mention the stained glass if you must—but make it about the work you’ll do under it).
Second: Collaboration. The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science is famous for team-based projects. If your essay sounds like "I, I, I," you're sending a red flag. Show that you know how to be a part of a gear system.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
- Mixing up the name. It sounds stupid, but people copy-paste essays and leave "Bucknell" or "Lafayette" in there. That is an automatic rejection.
- The "Bethlehem is a Boring Town" Vibe. If you sound like you’re too good for a small city, they’ll feel it. Bethlehem is undergoing a massive cultural renaissance. Mention the SteelStacks or Musikfest if you want to show you’ve actually done your homework.
- Being too "Pre-Professional." Yes, Lehigh is great for jobs. Yes, the ROI is high. But if you only talk about getting a job at Goldman Sachs or Boeing, you sound like a robot. Talk about the learning.
Actionable Steps for Your Final Draft
- Audit your nouns: Go through your essay and circle every noun. If those nouns (classes, clubs, locations) could apply to any other school, delete them. Replace them with Lehigh-specific terms like The Gryphon Society, The Brown and White, or the TRAC Writing Fellows.
- The "So What?" Test: Read your last paragraph. If it doesn't answer why the world (or at least the Lehigh campus) is better with you on it, rewrite it.
- Talk to a current student: Find someone on LinkedIn or Reddit who goes there. Ask them what the "real" Lehigh is like. Use one tiny, specific nugget of that reality in your essay. It adds a layer of authenticity that AI or a generic consultant can’t replicate.
- Verify your major-specific info: If you’re applying for the College of Health, make sure you understand their focus on population health. It’s different from a standard pre-med track. Show you know the difference.
Getting into Lehigh is about proving you have the "Mountain Hawk" spirit—a mix of high-altitude ambition and down-to-earth execution. Your Lehigh University supplemental essays are the only place where the admissions office hears your actual voice. Make it count by being more "you" and less "perfect applicant."
Next Steps for Your Application
- Identify your "Lehigh Anchor": Choose one specific program (like the Iacocca Institute) that acts as the primary reason you are applying.
- Draft the "Community" essay first: This is often the hardest to make sound genuine. Start with a story of a time you failed a group or helped a group succeed.
- Fact-check the current curriculum: Ensure the professors or labs you mention are still active for the 2026 academic year.
- Read your essay aloud: If it sounds like a textbook, start over. If it sounds like you talking to a mentor, you’re on the right track.