I know there are countless threads like this, but chance me please?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Lehigh University
1

<p>Hello, hello! I'm currently a high school senior interested in Lehigh's engineering program. </p>

<p>SATs: 2210, with a breakdown of...
CR: 760
Writing: 710
Math: 740</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
History: 790
Math II: 760</p>

<p>Class Rank: 6/424</p>

<p>GPA: 4.94 (weighted)</p>

<p>Extra-curriculars and volunteer work:</p>

<p>Performing in piano concerts in the local area
Volunteering every month at the township food pantry (Started this past summer)
EMT on the township first aid squad (Started over the summer)
Playing piano with a local church group (10th, 11th, 12th grades)
Volunteer with an environmental advocacy group (10th/11th grades)</p>

<p>Member of the Math League (10th, 11th grades, Vice-President 12th grade)
Member of the National Honor Society (11th grade, Events Coordinator in 12th grade)
Member of Spanish Honor Society (11th and 12th)
Member of Science Honor Society (11th and 12th)
JV Tennis (9th and 10th grade)
Secretary of Computer Science Club (newly formed, 12th grade)
Secretary (10th grade) and Vice President (11th-12th grade) of Eco-Action Club</p>

<p>Last year I took three AP classes (Calc AB, Language and Composition, and US History) and got 5s on all three. I'm taking another six this year (Psych, Literature, Calc BC, Chem, Stats, Physics), and took all honors classes in the years preceding.</p>

<p>I also have a question about admissions and test scores. I know that Lehigh does not require SAT IIs, but I understand that it's really helpful to send the scores, especially since I did well on them. I took the Chemistry subject test this past weekend, and in all honestly, I bombed it. I know that engineering schools usually want a math and a science SAT II, so if I apply as an engineer, would just submitting Math II and History (and NOT chemistry) hurt me at all?</p>

2

<p>Your in. I’d aim higher.</p>

3

<p>Your grades are great… but Lehigh does NOT want to be used as an IVY safety school. I’ve known many students with fantastic grades that get shocked when rejected by Lehigh. Lehigh will definately accept a student with lesser test scores that has visited Lehigh multiple times in order to keep the admitted/matriculation rate high.</p>

4

<p>Claireyeux -</p>

<p>You obviously have very good chances of getting in. HOWEVER, I wouldnt be suprised if you get rejected or wait listed if you don’t show a lot of interest and I’m not exaggerating! Lehigh is notorious for denying people who get into Ivy Leagues because they don’t show interest. About one of the above posts, you don’t need to aim higher… Lehigh engineering is pretty damn high, clearly on the level of Ivy League engineering programs. So yeah, you’re more than likely going to be accepted but please, show interest!</p>

5

<p>I would just visit a lot and write good essays and seem interested and you shouldn’t have a problem. Even if you get wait listed, you’ll get in.</p>

6

<p>The chance that the OP would get rejected are close to slim and none.</p>

7

<p>And how would you know that? What do you mean when you say “Aim higher.”?</p>

<p>If you don’t work in admissions, then you really can’t say that claireyeux will almost certainly be accepted. I have to agree with WaitingDad. Lehigh admissions sees through the crap students throw when they try to play the system by assuming they’ll be accepted to what they consider a “safety school” (which I find ridiculous) just because they’re scores are above average. Many students with near-perfect SATs have been rejected before, and many more will be turned down this time around, too.</p>

<p>Did you ever visit campus, claireyeux? As I’ve said throughout the Lehigh forums, showing interest is the single best way to ensure acceptance into Lehigh. In fact, a student with excpetional stats probably won’t be admitted if they haven’t visited campus, done an interview on- or off-campus, or emailed/communicated with admissions people. Stats aren’t everything.</p>

<p>And to speak for our engineering program, you really can’t do a whole lot better than Lehigh for engineering. Saying to “Aim higher” is a little demeaning to Lehigh engineers.</p>

<p>Best,</p>

<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>

8

<p>Thank you all for your advice and information! </p>

<p>This seems to be something of a bone of contention, so I’d like to clarify that Lehigh is my target school, and I certainly DO NOT consider it to be my “Ivy safety school.” Not that I’m not applying to Ivies, but I never once considered Lehigh to be my back-up school. I really do have a desire to be there because I like it and not because I want it to be a second-best to Harvard. I do understand the point being made; I just wanted to clarify my intentions a tad.</p>

<p>I visited the campus over the summer for a tour/info session, and fell in love with it. I hadn’t known much about the school beforehand, but with my mom’s encouragement, we took a trip out, and I found it to be just about everything I wanted. I was considering contacting admissions to ask about the Chem subject test situation, but thought it might not be such a bright idea in case they write down in some file that claireyeux “bombed” her Chem subject test and proceed to blacklist me from the engineering college >_<</p>

9

<p>I couldn’t agree more with LehighChemE.</p>

<p>bgmargate, Lehigh isn’t a safety for anyone, ESPECIALLY not for engineering students. Second, don’t insult current and prospective students by making it seem as if Lehigh’s a second tier school. They are ranked (and I know ranks mean virtually nothing, but still) ahead of SEVERAL Ivy League schools for engineering. </p>

<p>By aim higher do you mean MIT? Stanford? What do they offer that Lehigh doesn’t? I’m not even in Lehigh (yet) and I found your post uninformed and offensive.</p>

10

<p>What a load of nonsense from some overly sensitive posters. I’ve insulted no one. I’ve stated my opinion that I believe the OP will get admitted. Some of you need to grow up.</p>

11

<p>bgmargate -</p>

<p>It’s not that you said the OP will be accepted (she probably will, but it’s not a definite) but that you said “aim higher.” It’s frustrating to have to deal with people who assume Lehigh is a second tier school for one reason or another. Sorry I got “overly sensitive’” which is probably true, but you have to see my point, too. Anyway, best of luck to you wherever you’re applying or attending.</p>

12

<p>Claireyeux,
If you are applying ED your test scores should get you an acceptance. If you’re thinking of going RD it will be a whole different story. If you are living within 4 hours of Lehigh they expect you to visit multiple times. Lehigh wants to see your “INTEREST” in them to make sure if accepted that you will matriculate. These are the important statistics that over the years they’re most interested in. If Admissions has to decide between you and someone with 200 points less on their SAT’s that has visited multiple times I think they would be given the edge. Admissions know what other schools people are usually applying to based on their test scores which is why they consider your interest level just as important as any of the other criteria. Good luck!</p>

13

<p>^^ Okay… :O</p>

14

<p>Sorry for being late but in many US news Rankings Lehigh is in front of Yale, Brown, and Penn for engineering. From personal experience, my Calc teacher is a Lehigh Grad (mechanical engineer). He told me that he got a better job (because of the Lehigh Stamp om his degree) than his friends that went schools like Yale, Penn, and Brown.</p>

15

<p>Good Luck to you also 2017.I applied ED to Penn.If I don’t get in, I will be applying to Lehigh and several others.Lehigh wasn’t my first choice but I still think it’s a great school and I’d be happy to enroll there.</p>

16

<p>Another part of my aim “aim higher” comment is the practice of the Ivy’s and some other top schools of meeting 100% of need. If you have the stats to get in it’s prudent to try. For financial aid applicants that get in it means graduating with no debt.</p>

17

<p>Lehigh is certainly not known for generosity with aid, so I do agree with you there. If I didn’t ED to Lehigh it would have been to UPenn, also. </p>

<p>And @futuredoc,</p>

<p>My calc teacher also got his degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh and claims it was the single biggest help in getting jobs and being “well-connected.” He’s the biggest Lehigh supporter I’ve ever met!</p>

18

<p>Now I understand what you’re trying to say, bgmargate. First, you’re totally right with financial aid at Lehigh - it’s tough to get a good aid package. Although I personally believe that ED applicants get better deals (since they make a strong agreement to attend the university), there are lots of students who can’t go to Lehigh since it is so expensive.</p>

<p>And I’m glad you still like/respect Lehigh as a university even though it’s not your first choice. It’s the same deal with my sister, who is waiting eagerly, as well. She applied ED to Johns Hopkins for BME and applied to a bunch of other schools RD (including Lehigh, for BioE). It’s hard for Lehigh people to understand why it isn’t the first choice for a lot of folks.</p>

<p>Best,</p>

<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>

19

<p>I am applying EDII, and I was wondering if you could chance me.</p>

<p>GPA: 2.8 freshmen year (I took 2 honors), 3.4 sophomore year (I took two honors), 3.89 junior year (I took two honors) , 4.0 for senior year (I am taking 3 honors and an AP… BTW we are in the middle of our 2nd quarter)

  • I have gone up to Spanish 4
  • I have taken 6 science courses (required of 3)
  • I have taken 4 years of math and am currently in Alg 2
  • I have taken 4 years of social studies
  • I have taken 4 years of English
  • I have taken required electives</p>

<p>SAT: 1830/2400 1220/1600- Math: 680, CR: 540, Writing: 610</p>

<p>ECs: 9-10th grade: JV Soccer, JV Basketball
11th-12th- Varsity XC, Varsity Indoor Track, Varsity Outdoor Track
10th-11th- A job in a frozen yogurt store
11th- FBLA Club (Future Business Leaders of America)
11th- Yearbook Club
Summer going into 12th to present- Volunteer work at a hospital every Sunday</p>

<p>I showed interest. I have gone to two group tours, an information lesson, and visited again for the V.I.E.W. Program. I am infatuated with Lehigh!!</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

20

<p>2017 -</p>

<p>Well, to start, your freshman year GPA is pretty bad but the next three are all good. Hopefully in the end it’ll come out to a nice number, especially with weighting.</p>

<p>Your acedemic rigor is decent, but as I don’t know how many APs your school offers, I can’t make a completely educated guess in this aspect. Assuming 1 AP and 9 honors or rigorous at your school you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>The required classes seem fine.</p>

<p>Your SAT is actually a little below the average, but not detrimentally low. I’d recommend you try out the ACT if time permits. But still, it’s not deal breaking.</p>

<p>Your ECs also seem good. Do you have leadership positions? That’s the most important thing to convey. Also, if you worked at your job a lot, you could easily explain not being able to have a lot of time for more ECs (you don’t need to literally write this as the EC section will basically say it for you if you put down 25 hours / week or whatever you worked). </p>

<p>Keep showing interest! It’s seems as if you’ve done very well in this regard already but keep it up. Try an interview!</p>

<p>Okay so overall I’d say you’d typically have less than average chances at Lehigh but since your applying EDII I’d bump that up to just about average chances. If there’s any new and improved information, do yourself a favor and send it in. This can be a higher GPA, a new award, a new club, a higher SAT score, another job, or even an extenuating circumstance. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>But just to be clear, this is purely an opinion.</p>