Applicants to Lehigh University must submit responses to two required short essay questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 200 words.
Prompt 1: Why Lehigh? (Word limit: 200 words)
How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply?
I first learned about Lehigh from my neighbor, a mechanical engineer who runs her own consulting firm. When I told her about my dream of starting a sustainable technology company, she said my biggest challenge would be learning to speak two languages: engineering and business. She mentioned her alma mater had a unique solution, and a quick search led me to Lehigh’s Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) Honors Program. That discovery was the spark that motivated my application.
Lehigh is the only place I have found that truly integrates these two worlds from day one. I am excited by the prospect of taking courses in both the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and the College of Business, learning not just how to design a product, but how to bring it to market. I want to develop my ideas at the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation, turning classroom concepts into real-world ventures.
My goal is to be a leader who can understand a technical schematic as deeply as a financial statement. Lehigh’s interdisciplinary, hands-on approach is the perfect foundation for that future, providing the exact combination of skills I need to build something that lasts.
Prompt 2: Personal Celebration (Word limit: 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 best thing happening in my life right now is that my dog, a rescue named Gus, has finally learned to trust me. When we first adopted him, he was a bundle of nerves, flinching at every sudden movement and hiding under the kitchen table. For months, my personal win was getting him to take a treat from my hand without bolting away.
My celebration is not about a grand accomplishment, but about the quiet joy of progress. Last night, as I was reading on the couch, Gus hopped up, circled three times, and laid down with his head on my lap. He let out a deep sigh, the kind of completely relaxed sound he had never made before. In that small moment, I felt a profound sense of pride.
It was not a victory of training, but of patience. It mattered to me because it was a reminder that trust is not demanded; it is earned slowly, through consistency and quiet understanding. That quiet moment on the couch felt more rewarding than any award I have ever received. It was a celebration of patience and a small, furry win.
All the best!
