Chance Me for Lehigh ED

Colleges and Universities A-Z Lehigh University
1

I’m applying to Lehigh Early Decision to major in Economics.

Stats:
Average: 88.96
SAT: 1480, 23/24 Essay
AP’s: English: 4, World: 4, US: 5
One SAT II: US, 730
Essay under revision, but looking good.

I currently am captain of both the Debate and Economics teams (I founded the economics club), was a semi-finalist at the national Coolidge Cup debate championship, won third at the NYC High School Fed Challenge (a first in my school’s history), won numerous first place prizes for the NYCUDL (Urban Debate League) including as a quarterfinalist, and did hands-on aid work in the 8th grade in Bangladesh. I run an off school newspaper and my own detailed economics blog with hundreds of viewers, and on top of this I am currently a healthcare researcher and consultant for an aid mission in Bangladesh that works with Rohingyan refugees (I wrote an essay about my job and how I came to get into it).

My grades also dropped in late Junior year due to a traumatic incident that happened to me and violated me (I am seeing therapy though my personal situation is still pretty bad). I wrote about this in my common app.

I also have an amazing teacher rec from my world history teacher (the guy loves me to death; wouldn’t stop talking about me for 30 minutes straight).

I just want to know what my chances are at Lehigh for ED, and I’m majoring in economics.

2

I also want to mention that I’m fluent in Bangla, Urdu and Hindi (I’m a first gen immigrant). In all I’ve taken 3 AP’s since sophomore year and I’m now taking 2 AP’s on top of that.

3

I would not write about trauma in your common app essay. Have your guidance counselor address the situation in their LOR.

I think ED is going to be hard sell if your junior year grades took a big tumble. Schools may want to see your first semester senior grades to be sure you have rebounded back up to where you were before.

4

Yeah she is addressing it in her LOR, and no I did not write about trauma in my essay. I did mention why my grades tumbled in my additional information tab. Again, that incident has had a profound impact on me, and in all honesty I’d have done fine junior year if it wasn’t for what happened. Do you think colleges will understand that?

5

it seems to me that you have a rlly solid shot! i think writing about the trauma is a good move. im also applying ed to lehigh good luck!