Confused about the intellectual curiosity question

[ImperialChimp]

I know this sounds a little dumb but just for clarification, is this question asking an actual list (i.e. listed with bullet points)? If so, should I at least have a small description for each activity?

EDIT: Also, would things like casual reading (of books, educational websites, etc.) count as an “intellectual activity”?

[GreatKid]

Please indicate how this question is being posed?

[gibby]

Google “Harvard admissions what counts as an intellectual activity” and you’ll get several links to blogs that will answer the question, including this one

Harvard is simply asking for a list of the activities you participate in outside of school. However, note that you don’t want to repeat anything you may have mentioned when listing your extracurriculars elsewhere on your application.

For example, if you took an online course on Python, this would be an appropriate place to list that. Or perhaps you designed an app on your own time that couldn’t be classified as an extracurricular or an academic responsibility; here would also be the place to list that.

If this question does not apply to your experiences, however, feel free to skip it. There’s no need to dwell on not completing this question, as it won’t make or break your application.

Other examples of intellectual activities: Playing chess, doing the NY Times crossword puzzle, studying a new language on your own, reading for fun, being part of a book club etc.

[lookingforward]

But understand this isn’t just idle curiosity on their part.