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Lehigh University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts
Select-A-Prompt Short Response
We believe the quality and richness of a Lehigh education lies in us being a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas and viewpoints—a community where every individual is able to bring their full selves to every conversation and everything they do. We are committed to fostering a campus experience where everyone is empowered to share a broad range of perspectives in all of our campus learning environments.
With this in mind, choose one of the following prompts for your response:
Option 1
What would you want to be different in your own community (local, school, religious, academic, etc.) or the broader global community to further principles of equality or equity?
Option 2
What factors have most shaped who you are and what you believe today? You might discuss an obstacle that you have overcome or an experience that has inspired you.
Option 3
Share with us a part of your personal background, perspective, experience or academic interest that is important to you.
IBE Honors Program Short Response
What makes the Integrated Business & Engineering (IBE) Honors Program the best fit for your academic and/or professional goals?
CSB Program Short Response
What makes the Computer Science and Business (CSB) program the best fit for your academic and/or professional goals?
IDEAS Honors Program Short Response
What makes the Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts & Sciences (IDEAS) Honors Program the best fit for your academic and/or professional goals?
Why This College Short Response
How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply?
Select-A-Prompt Short Response
We believe the quality and richness of a Lehigh education lies in us being a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas and viewpoints—a community where every individual is able to bring their full selves to every conversation and everything they do. We are committed to fostering a campus experience where everyone is empowered to share a broad range of perspectives in all of our campus learning environments.
With this in mind, choose one of the following prompts for your response:
Option 1
What would you want to be different in your own community (local, school, religious, academic, etc.) or the broader global community to further principles of equality or equity?
Option 2
What factors have most shaped who you are and what you believe today? You might discuss an obstacle that you have overcome or an experience that has inspired you.
Option 3
Share with us a part of your personal background, perspective, experience or academic interest that is important to you.
Common App Personal Essay
The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.
Option 1
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Option 2
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Option 3
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Option 4
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Option 5
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Option 6
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Option 7
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
