<p>The supplement prompt: Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging. Does it mean the essay should be academical? or perhaps writing about community services will be fine, too? as long as I point out some reflection and lessons learned?</p>
<p>as long as it was intellectually engaging, it can be anything.</p>
<p>From wikipedia:
So no this doesn’t have to be academic. </p>
<p>Like I could say searching for golf balls in the forest is intellectually engaging. Because it is. I think of where the golf balls are most likely to end up based on the skill level of the people playing the course, the density of the trees, the slopes of the forest, etc. This leads me to find patches where there are ten plus golf balls in a five foot radius, whereas at other points there may only be one or two.</p>
<p>It’s true that anything you find intellectually engaging would be responsive to this prompt. However, I think it might be wise for an applicant with less-than-top-quartile stats to consider giving an academically-oriented response, to fend off any doubts about his potential for academic success at Stanford. OTOH, with truly superior academic stats, I’d recommend an out-of-the-box response, the better to demonstrate creativity. : )</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what the prompt is. If you write a nice little essay, it will be fine.</p>
<p>Um, no…it does matter what the prompt is. It’s important to understand the prompt to make sure you’re being responsive to it.</p>
<p>I was exaggerating…But it is true to a point. As long as the question is answered it doesn’t matter how you write it. No need to emphasize that you’re answering it. That just makes it boring.</p>
<p>yeah, to a point, you can basically twist your essay to fit the prompt. an essay about video games or painting or carrying buckets could all be made into an “intellectual” essay.</p>
<p>Though any topic can be the subject of an “intellectual” essay (especially in the hands of a skillful writer), my point was that random/quirky responses to this prompt probably better serve applicants with academic profiles at or near the top of Stanford’s applicant pool. Strategically speaking, if I’d had more average stats, I’d have been particularly inclined to write a response that showcased my critical analytical abilities. There’s always the “roommate letter” for showing your sense of humor/quirkiness. Of course, this is my humble opinion; readers are free to do what they will with it. : )</p>
<p>^I like that advice. </p>
<p>Although I’d add don’t try to be something you’re not. I’ve found that I’ve can better recall (after two years) my college essays that came most from the heart. I can’t even remember my intellectual vitality essay at all, which makes me think I wasn’t too honest with myself on that one. I did better at the schools where I wrote essays that I still remember. Luckily the intellectual vitality was just one of five essays Stanford saw. </p>
<p>So if you’re not in the top quartile academically and play video games all day instead of studying, don’t pretend that you are some academic. And vice-versa.</p>
<p>thanks for all the helpful advice everyone!</p>