Lehigh Launch: Frequently Asked Questions

Each student in the program takes a regular course load of 16 credit hours that are designed specifically for Lehigh Launch. These include the Lehigh Launch core course, four credits of humanities coursework, four credits of social science coursework, and four credits of natural science coursework. These courses fulfill typical general education requirements that nearly all Lehigh students must fulfill as a part of graduation requirements. Specific course offerings may change each year; the program administrators can provide more information about the upcoming year’s courses.

At least two of your four Lehigh Launch courses will be taught by Lehigh faculty members. Your other courses may be taught by Lehigh faculty or by faculty affiliated with our program partners.

Students participate in both remote and on-site orientations at the start of Lehigh Launch. They also participate in an on-campus orientation in January, before the start of spring classes.

All Lehigh Launch courses are Lehigh courses, and as such, they apply to your GPA just as on-campus courses do.

Yes, you will register online, in the same way and at the same time as your on-campus peers. Your Lehigh Launch faculty and your first-semester advisors on campus will help advise you with course selection and will help connect you with additional advising resources on the main campus should you need them.

 With proper planning, any engineering student can participate in Lehigh Launch. If engineering students enter with Lehigh course credit  in two or more of the typical first-year courses for engineering students (i.e., calculus, chemistry, physics, economics, English composition), they are in a good position to stay on track without summer coursework. Engineering students without Lehigh course credit (e.g., Lehigh-accepted AP, IB, A-Level, or college transfer credit) for courses normally taken on campus in the fall should expect to take between one and three summer courses in order summer coursework may be required for some engineering majors to graduate in four years. Calculus is particularly critical, and Launch engineering students need to complete the first two semesters of calculus (i.e., MATH 021 and MATH 022) before the start of their sophomore year; for some students, this will require summer coursework either prior to Launch or after their first year. 

American West students who are engineering students may take MATH 021 (first semester calculus) online during their Launch semester in lieu of other Launch coursework, if they face constraints that make it difficult to take calculus as a summer course. In addition, one of the Semester in the American West courses substitutes for ENGR 005, which helps those engineering students stay on track. 

Yes. Students planning to apply to medical school will be able to complete the recommended coursework to be prepared for the MCAT (which includes the courses required by medical schools) by the end of their senior year. That will allow them to take the MCAT in the spring of their senior year or the summer after. (If accepted to medical school, these students would have a "gap" or "glide" year between graduating from Lehigh and matriculating to medical school---a typical scenario for Lehigh applicants and applicants nationally.) Some pre-med students may prefer to take several prerequisite courses in Lehigh summer sessions, which could accelerate their pre-med track.

Varsity athletics requires a significant amount of time, and participation rules vary by sport. We encourage athletes to talk to their coaches before committing to Lehigh Launch. We also ask that you let the Lehigh Launch program know that you are a varsity athlete, so that we can properly advise you on both academic and non-academic issues related to Lehigh Launch.

Due to the schedules of both programs, students may not participate in both LUSSI and Lehigh Launch.

Due to timing of Launch orientation and travel during PreLUsion week, students will not be able to participate in PreLUsion.

International students may participate in Lehigh Launch. Applicants to the Semester in Chile program should see that location’s FAQs for passport and visa information; they do not need to have a passport and visa in hand at the time they apply to Lehigh Launch.

ROTC students may participate in Lehigh Launch. They must come to campus before the start of the semester to complete ROTC requirements such as their physical.

Yes. First-year students at Lehigh cannot join a fraternity or sorority until their second semester. Panhellenic recruitment and IFC fraternity recruitment both take place in the spring semester. Cultural Greek Council chapters do not have specific periods for accepting new members. So as long as you meet the standard eligibility requirements, including academic requirements and student conduct expectations, Lehigh Launch students can participate in fraternity and sorority recruitment upon the start of the spring semester. Women who participate in the Panhellenic recruitment process will need to miss certain portions of the Lehigh Launch transition programming in order to rush, but they will be required to complete all other Lehigh Launch programming in January.

Lehigh Launch students typically say that they have good transitions to campus, and appreciate arriving on campus with a cohort of friends. The January Summation and on-campus orientation provide an opportunity for students to expand their peer group before starting classes, and Lehigh Launch students are particularly well suited to strike out to join clubs and find the activities that suit them best. The club open meetings that happen for all students in January help facilitate this. Launch students will also be welcomed to campus by Launch program alums who help smooth the transition.

Lehigh Launch guarantees on-campus housing for program participants, and works to place participants in housing with other first- and second-year students.

We are looking for students who are curious about themselves and the world around them, who have an independent spirit, and who have outstanding leadership potential. Students should be willing to challenge themselves, be self-reliant, and have the maturity to thrive in a program that will stretch them personally as well as academically.

• Am I comfortable exploring new places and cultures? Lehigh Launch students will be in environments that will offer cultural and personal challenges every day.
• Can I thrive without some of the support programs offered at Lehigh’s home campus? Though Lehigh Launch faculty and staff are experienced teachers and mentors who will support their students, Lehigh Launch cannot provide the same level of programming that offices such as Academic Transitions, the Center for Academic Success, Disability Support Services, and the Writing Center provide to first-year students.
• Do I have ongoing physical or mental health concerns that could be exacerbated by the stress of the program, or that could make it difficult for me to thrive? In either program, there is help for students who become sick or need medical assistance, and there are many medical resources in the cities and towns where students will live. But Lehigh Launch students will not have access to an on-campus health center or an on-campus counseling center. In addition, students participating in the Semester in the American West will backpack remote locations that are several hours from health care clinics.

Your LU application allows you to indicate that you wish to apply for Lehigh Launch, and asks you to select your program (American West or Chile). This application (Common App or SCOIR) will also link to the Lehigh Launch supplemental application.

Lehigh Launch is not a “conditional admit” program for students who would not meet Lehigh’s admission standards. At the same time, Lehigh University looks for outstanding students who are a good fit for its programs. Lehigh Launch looks for students who are intellectually curious and well-suited to the Lehigh Launch semester. As a special program, it has a competitive selection process, but your high school grades are likely not the most important part of your application. 

All Lehigh Launch finalists must participate in a Zoom interview. For early decision applicants to Lehigh, some of these interviews may take place as early as December. For regular decision students, interviews typically begin on a rolling basis in March. Applicants will have time to connect with students who have completed Lehigh Launch before committing to Launch. Many students are interviewed after the LU decision deadline.

Yes, assuming space is available. Please send a brief email to either launchabroad@lehigh.edu (Chile) or launchwest@lehigh.edu (American West) and explain why you wish to participate in Lehigh Launch. A Launch team member can then help with the steps to add you to the Lehigh Launch applicant pool.  

Yes, your financial aid applies to the cost of a Lehigh Launch semester exactly the same as an on-campus semester.

Lehigh Launch requires a $1,000 program fee deposit that is separate from the $500 deposit toward your admission to Lehigh. Both deposits are credited toward your Lehigh tuition, and both deposit requirements can be waived in cases of financial need. Both deposit fees are not refundable. 

Your Lehigh Launch application does not require additional letters of recommendation, but applicants will need to provide the name, title, and email address of a teacher or guidance counselor who knows them well and is able to speak by phone about a Lehigh Launch finalist’s maturity, independence, and social and academic preparation for the program. We will not call your reference until after your Lehigh Launch interview.

Your Lehigh Launch application does not require additional letters of recommendation, but applicants will need to provide the name, title, email address and phone number of a teacher or guidance counselor who knows them well and is able to speak by phone about a Lehigh Launch finalist’s maturity, independence, and social and academic preparation for the program. The reference you list for Lehigh Launch may be someone who submitted one of your letters of recommendation, or it may be someone else. We will not call your references until after your Lehigh Launch interview.

Students who withdraw from Lehigh Launch after submitting their deposits are not guaranteed a space on campus in the fall, and should expect to have their admission moved to the spring semester. Students may withdraw from Lehigh Launch and matriculate on campus in the fall semester only under very particular circumstances that make participation incompatible with success in the academic program. Students must submit a petition and documentation requesting the withdrawal. The circumstances warranting withdrawal must be determined to be exceptional and unforeseen in order for a student to receive a deposit refund. 

Because of the nature of the program, there is no time for family visits during the Lehigh Launch semester. Families may visit their children at the end of their time at their program site, and arrange for their own travel and accommodations.

Throughout the program’s history, Lehigh Launch students have returned from their programs and thrived on campus. We know from follow-up assessments with program alums that students have enjoyed starting their spring semester with a friend group from Launch, and they have quickly expanded their friend groups through classes, clubs and their residential experiences.

If your student is willing to take that first step, like introducing themselves to others on their floor or attending club meetings at the start of the spring semester, they’ll be setting themselves up to thrive. These small actions go a long way in building connections and making the most of campus life. We also hear from parents that their students are thriving on campus!

Most students are able to stay on track in their college and program, even if they begin their Lehigh experience without advanced credit already on their transcript, such as AP, IB, dual enrollment, or Cambridge A-Levels. In some cases, this may mean taking certain courses in a slightly different order during the first three semesters.

There are a few programs where students admitted to Lehigh Launch will work closely with the program director to create a clear plan for graduating in four years (or five years for some inter-college programs that typically follow a five-year timeline). This is especially important for engineering and IBE students, where advanced credit can help reduce the need for summer coursework. Without it, students in these programs may need to take one to three summer courses to stay on track.

Any student can participate in Lehigh Launch. The key consideration is whether summer coursework might be required to maintain progress toward a four-year graduation plan.

The American West program, which launched in fall 2020 as the first Lehigh Launch cohort, has seen nearly all of its students remain on track to graduate within the standard timeline for their major or program.

In addition to the four-credit integrative core course, which fulfills the first-year seminar requirement for CAS and IDEAS students, students will take several two-credit courses. These courses let us take advantage of specific opportunities in Wyoming (first half) and Colorado and New Mexico (second half). The two credit-courses in Fall 2023 are:

• Conservation Biology and Ecology in the West (natural science with lab)
• History of the American West (social science)
• Shamanistic Rituals and Sacred Survival in the West (humanities)
• Water in the 21st Century West (natural science with lab)
• Politics and Identity in the American West (social science)
• Policy Challenges of the American West (social science)

Our program partner, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), works with participants who have extensive experience outdoors, as well as those who have never been in the wilderness at all. With experienced instructors guiding the group, the NOLS components of the semester provide a great opportunity to introduce you to new opportunities and develop your leadership potential.

And you should know that the NOLS expedition is very challenging. There will be a range of experience and fitness levels among your classmates, but it is important that all students commit to a regular, rigorous fitness routine in the summer to prepare for the Semester in the American West. Your group will backpack between two and eight miles daily as part of the Rocky Mountains hiking expedition, wearing backpacks typically weighing 45 pounds and will learn to camp comfortably when nights can be very cold. You will be better prepared for the wilderness expeditions if you are generally fit, and have familiarized yourself with NOLS programs and expectations.

Yes. NOLS has essential eligibility criteria that are a requirement of its program. These criteria are essential because they protect the health and safety of both individual participants and the group.

The Semester in the American West is a great way to get to learn about the United States and form friendships with American students. Because there are not supplemental courses for non-native English speakers, participants should be very comfortable with their English reading, listening, and speaking skills to thrive in the program.

Lehigh requires students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted, with the exception of approved medical or religious exemptions. You can read more about Lehigh’s vaccination requirements here. While Lehigh has a process for religious and medical exemptions from the vaccination requirement, NOLS requires participants to be fully vaccinated, and NOLS does not have an exemption process; all participants must be fully vaccinated.

No prior knowledge of the Spanish language is required to participate in this program, but an understanding of some Spanish will be helpful for cultural and practical reasons. All classes, with the exception of your Spanish class, are conducted in English. You will be placed in a Spanish class that fits your ability – from complete novice to Spanish proficiency.

Students will be placed in centrally-located homestays, vetted and overseen by our partner IES Abroad in Santiago. Students will have private, furnished rooms. Families will provide three meals per day, laundry service, linens, pillows, towels and WiFi. Language level and other student needs will be considered when assigning students to a homestay.

Yes, you will need a passport for this program. Your passport must remain valid at least six months after the end date of the program. Lehigh and IES will support students in applying for passports and visas as needed.

Students will earn 16 credit hours through classroom-based and experiential learning, while fulfilling distribution requirements in natural science, social science and the humanities, as well as the first-year seminar requirement.