So, I just wanted to make a little post to discuss my recent admittance to Lehigh. I’ve looked at a lot of “chance me” threads, where people will tell others with unweighted GPAs of 3.8, 3.7 that their GPAs are “low”. There seems to be this idea that if you aren’t top of the class, the best of the best, you have no chance of getting into Lehigh. This simply isn’t true, and I hope my post might encourage others who aren’t “perfect” to apply to Lehigh and schools like it without unnecessary stress. I applied to Lehigh with a 3.45 unweighted GPA. Yes, 3.45. I was one of 25 full diploma IB students and earned a 1420 on my SAT (730 RW. 690 M). I participated in John Hopkins CTY summer camps for three years, worked as a camp counselor for 3 years, played a sport outside of school for 4 years, etc. I also wrote a great common app essay about a time I challenged school policy. I had financial need and was not able to visit campus. I was waitlisted in March, and believed that was the end of that. I sent a letter of continued interest just in case and planned to attend another school. However, I heard from Lehigh in July that I was admitted off of the waitlist into the school of business, with a substantial financial aid package. My point is that I truly believe Lehigh looks at more than just your GPA, and if you really want to be admitted, focus your attention to your extracurriculars, as it is through those you’ll show Lehigh your merit. Don’t get caught up in the numbers game.
What is your IB diploma score?
25 with an A on my History EE. I live in the US so my offers of admission were not reliant on my ib scores. Knowing this I did not study for the exams. I took the IB for reasons outside of getting college credit.
The key word here is in your title “unlikely”. Another key word is “waitlist”.
Of course, it is not hopeless to get into Lehigh or any selective school with your gpa. I’ve known kids who have gotten in with lower. But it just makes it a higher reach. Getting off of a waitlist is pretty much a lottery ticket.
Any hook? First generation college? URM?
Agreed, but I just wanted to put it out there that it does happen as I see very few kids like me posting about it. Also, no hook. I’m a white female whose parents both attended selective universities. I believe the biggest draw in my application was the leadership skills I displayed through my extracurriculars.
What exactly does a substantial FA package look like? COA is 70K a year, what will your COA be, what was your EFC? That IS a numbers game.
Holding out until August is just not about showing your merit, it is a last minute lottery that most kids cannot leave to chance for a fall admit.
Yes it is a lottery in the sense not a lot of people get in from the waitlist, but I disagree it was by chance. They reevaluate the applications and admit based on merit. COA is 20k, which was close to my EFC. I got this decision a month ago, so I did not hold out until August.
Congrats @kale4nia This info will help others, even though odds were against it! Also it’s good to see Lehigh take someone from the waitlist with financial need and give them a good FA package…things that many believe Lehigh has historically fallen short on. Good luck to you!
Great news. How closely did you stay in touch/communicate with the admissions office after May 1? Did your HS counselor reach out on your behalf as well?
For sure that is a great deal, they are giving you 50K a yr of FA? No loans in that part?
@jym626 thank you 
I wrote my regional admissions counselor once stating that Lehigh was my #1 school and provided some insight into my achievements senior year that were not included in my application, and did not recieve a response. My counselor was not involved apart from his LOR in the application.
@Sybylla 5,500/yr in federal loans, which every other school offered me as well.