What Lehigh looks for
- Genuine reasons you connected with Lehigh, not recycled rankings or campus-tour cliches.
- A specific path to the school — a person, program, or moment that made it real to you.
- Authentic enthusiasm in the 'right now' prompt — small true wins read better than manufactured ones.
- A voice that sounds like a real, excited 17-year-old, not a press release.
Lehigh supplemental prompts (2026-27)
Why Lehigh
200 wordsRequired“How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply?”
How to approach it. Anchor this in the actual story of how Lehigh entered your life — a relative, a counselor, a program you found — then connect that origin to a concrete reason you're applying. Name specific Lehigh offerings (an academic program, a research path, the integrated business and engineering options) rather than generic praise. Keep it personal: the 'how you learned' framing is your chance to sound like a real applicant, not a brochure.
Personal Celebration
200 wordsRequired“What is something great happening in your life right now? It could be an accomplishment, a personal win (big or small), or something you are genuinely excited about.”
How to approach it. This is the human, low-stakes one — pick something you're actually glad about, even if it's small, and let your enthusiasm show. A specific, vivid win you care about beats a resume highlight you think will impress. Show why it matters to you, not just what it is.
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Lehigh essay FAQ
- How many supplemental essays does Lehigh require?
- Two required supplemental essays, each up to 200 words.
- How long are the Lehigh supplemental essays?
- Each of the two essays has a maximum of 200 words (roughly 10-200 words).
- How can I tell if my Lehigh essay is strong?
- Strong Lehigh responses are specific and warm — a real story of how you found the school and a genuine current win in your own voice. Halo scores your drafts against a Lehigh-specific rubric so you can check whether they read as authentic and concrete before you submit.
Sources & official links
- Lehigh official website
- Lehigh on College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
- Prompts and requirements are published by Lehigh on its official application and admissions pages.
Prompts shown are from the 2026-27 cycle and reflect each school’s officially published questions. Schools release new supplements each year; we update these guides each cycle.