Are you struggling to write your Lehigh University supplemental essays? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. These essays are an essential part of your application and provide a unique opportunity for the admissions committee to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of writing effective Lehigh supplemental essays that showcase your personality, voice, and fit with the university.
Firstly, it’s crucial to understand Lehigh’s values and culture before starting on your essays. The university prides itself on its commitment to academic excellence, diversity, innovation, and community engagement.
As such, Lehigh is looking for students who share these values and contribute positively to their campus community. By understanding what makes Lehigh unique as an institution of higher learning, you can tailor your essays to reflect these values while highlighting your own strengths and interests.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding Lehigh’s values and culture is crucial in order to showcase fit with the university and its community.
- Brainstorming personal experiences and unique approaches is important to showcase who the applicant is beyond grades and test scores.
- Being vulnerable and sharing personal stories can help reflect who the applicant is as a person and demonstrate their leadership skills.
- Paying attention to details, writing style and tone, and using transitional phrases and a conversational tone are important in creating effective supplemental essays.
Understand the University’s Values and Culture
You’ll want to get a good grasp of Lehigh’s values and culture if you’re serious about acing those supplemental essays. To start, take some time to research the university’s campus traditions and student life. This will give you a better understanding of what makes Lehigh unique and how you can align your interests with those of the university.
Campus traditions at Lehigh include events like Mountain Hawk Madness, where students come together to celebrate the start of basketball season, and Founder’s Day, which honors Asa Packer, who founded the university in 1865. These traditions show that Lehigh values community spirit and taking pride in its history.
By learning about these traditions, you can show admissions officers that you’re passionate about becoming part of this community.
In addition to campus traditions, it’s important to understand what student life is like at Lehigh. The university offers a wide range of activities for students, from sports teams to clubs focused on everything from model UN to entrepreneurship.
By showing an interest in these activities in your supplemental essays, you can demonstrate that you’re excited about getting involved on campus and making the most out of your college experience at Lehigh.
Analyze the Prompts
So, you’re ready to tackle the Lehigh University supplemental essay prompts. Before diving into the actual writing process, it’s important to take a step back and analyze the prompts.
By breaking them down and identifying key themes, you can better understand what the admissions committee is looking for in your responses. This approach will help you craft thoughtful and effective essays that showcase your unique qualities and fit with Lehigh’s values and culture.
Break Down the Prompts
Let’s take a closer look at the Lehigh supplemental essay prompts and break them down to understand what the university is looking for in their applicants.
The first prompt asks you to describe why you’re interested in attending Lehigh University. This prompt is an opportunity for you to showcase your writing techniques and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the university. To do this, start by researching the school and identifying specific programs or resources that align with your academic or personal goals. Then, frame your response around these areas of interest and explain how they’ll help you achieve your future aspirations.
The second prompt asks you to reflect on a time when you faced a challenge or failure, and what lessons you learned from it. This prompt requires careful consideration of essay structure. Start by outlining the experience itself, including any relevant details about the situation and how it impacted you emotionally or mentally.
Next, focus on describing how you overcame the challenge or turned your failure into an opportunity for growth. Finally, reflect on what lessons you learned from this experience and how it has influenced your personal development since then. Remember that admissions officers aren’t only interested in hearing about achievements but also want to see evidence of resilience and self-awareness in their applicants’ responses.
Identify Key Themes
By identifying key themes in the Lehigh University essay prompts, you can structure your essays in a way that showcases your academic and personal goals.
One important theme to consider is community. Lehigh values collaboration and teamwork, so it’s important to highlight how you’ve contributed to or benefited from a community in your life. This could be a school club, sports team, or even your hometown. Showcasing your involvement in a community demonstrates that you’re capable of working well with others and value the importance of teamwork.
Another key theme to consider is leadership. Lehigh seeks students who can take initiative and make an impact on their communities. When writing about leadership experiences, focus on specific examples where you took charge and made a difference. It’s not enough to simply list positions held; instead, show how you went above and beyond in those roles and what impact you had on those around you.
By selecting topics that fit into these themes, you can structure your essays in a way that showcases your unique qualities while also aligning with what Lehigh values in its students.
Brainstorm Ideas
Start generating ideas by jotting down all your thoughts and inspirations for the Lehigh supplemental essays. You can begin by considering the creative approaches that you could take when answering the prompts. For example, instead of simply stating a personal experience, think about how you can make it unique or tie it into a larger theme. Perhaps there is an interesting story from your childhood that shaped your values or worldview, or maybe there was a particular challenge you faced that taught you an important lesson.
To help organize your thoughts, try creating a table with three columns: Prompts, Ideas/Themes, and Personal Experiences. In the first column, list each of the essay prompts provided by Lehigh University. In the second column, brainstorm ideas and themes that relate to each prompt – this could include anything from academic interests to extracurricular activities to family background. Finally, in the third column, identify specific personal experiences that support each idea/theme.
Remember that these essays are an opportunity for you to showcase who you are as a person beyond your grades and test scores. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and share personal stories or struggles – this will make your essays more authentic and memorable for admissions officers. By taking time to brainstorm and organize your ideas using this approach, you’ll be well on your way to crafting thoughtful and compelling responses to Lehigh’s supplemental essay prompts!
Craft Your Essay
Now that you’ve brainstormed some ideas for your Lehigh supplemental essays, it’s time to craft your essay.
The way you write your essay is just as important as the content itself. Your writing style and tone can make or break how well your essay is received by the admissions committee.
Make sure to consider both the structure of your content and the flow of your words. You want to create a compelling story that captures the attention of the reader from start to finish.
Consider using transitional phrases between paragraphs to guide the reader through different sections of your essay.
In addition, be mindful of the tone you use throughout your essay. Your writing should reflect who you are as a person and convey a sense of authenticity. Avoid using overly formal language or trying too hard to impress; instead, aim for a conversational tone that feels natural and easygoing.
By paying attention to these details, you can create an essay that showcases both your personality and writing abilities in their best light possible.
Showcase Your Personality and Voice
Let your personality shine through your essay by using your own unique voice and style. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase who you are as a person beyond what can be seen on paper. Use creative approaches to make your essay stand out and leave a lasting impression on the reader.
To start, consider incorporating personal anecdotes into your writing. These stories will add depth and dimension to your essay, allowing the reader to better understand who you are as an individual. Remember that these anecdotes don’t have to be life-changing events; they can be small moments that had a significant impact on you or shaped who you are today.
Another way to let your personality shine through is by using humor in your writing. A well-placed joke or witty comment can go a long way in making your essay memorable and enjoyable for the reader. However, it’s important not to force humor if it doesn’t come naturally – authenticity is key when showcasing your true self.
Don’t be afraid to take risks with your writing style. Whether it’s experimenting with sentence structure or playing with language, taking creative liberties can help bring out the unique qualities of your voice and ultimately make for a more compelling essay.
Just remember: above all else, stay true to yourself and let your personality shine through every word you write.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Lehigh University compare to other universities in terms of academic rigor and student life?
Lehigh University strikes a balance between academic rigor and social opportunities, offering campus resources to help students excel in both areas. Compared to other universities, Lehigh provides a unique environment for innovation and growth.
Can you provide examples of successful supplemental essays that have been submitted to Lehigh University in the past?
Looking for tips and examples of successful Lehigh supplemental essays? Look no further! Reading past submissions can give you a sense of what the admissions committee is looking for. Be innovative, thorough, and engage your audience.
Are there any specific characteristics or qualities that Lehigh University looks for in its applicants?
Lehigh University’s admissions criteria prioritize qualities like leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to service. They seek applicants with unique perspectives who will contribute positively to the campus community.
How does Lehigh University support and engage with its local community?
Lehigh University values community partnerships and service initiatives. They collaborate with local organizations to make a positive impact, offering resources and support for students to engage in meaningful service projects.
What opportunities does Lehigh University offer for students to get involved in research or internships in their field of study?
Explore Lehigh’s research opportunities and internship programs to gain hands-on experience in your field of study. With faculty mentorship and industry connections, you’ll be well-equipped for success post-graduation.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to write Lehigh supplemental essays. By understanding the university’s values and culture, analyzing the prompts, brainstorming ideas, crafting your essay, and showcasing your personality and voice, you can create a compelling and unique application that sets you apart from other candidates.
Remember to be innovative in your writing style while maintaining a logical flow throughout your essay. Be thorough in answering each prompt question while ensuring that everything ties back to why you’re an excellent fit for Lehigh University.
With these tips in mind, go forth and conquer those essays – we believe in you!
