Can an intellectual experience be a time where you learned about some core personal values that you didn’t have before? Like learning to do unto others what you wish to be done for you In generosity, compassion, understanding, love, not taking things personally and the like. Can I write about that as an intellectual experience or not?
Based on the prompt – “Reflect on an intellectual experience, either directly related to your school work or not, that you found particularly meaningful.” – I think it would be a stretch. You appear to be reflecting more on a moral or emotional experience than an intellectual one, but it can certainly be argued that the dividing lines are not (or should not be) that clear-cut. If there is another prompt that would be a closer fit, I would recommend that approach, but this is plainly a significant thing in your life, and that argues for using it as your theme. Sorry to offer a “maybe yes; maybe no” answer, but it’s the best I’ve got.
@AboutTheSame Thanks a lot! I think I should work on a different prompt not to risk it :). I was trying to reuse the same essay I used for a Stanford supplement–“Stanford students posses an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development”. Do you believe this theme could work for Stanford’s prompt? Would you be willing to read my essat so that you can have a more concrete understanding of the point I am trying to get across? Thank you again!
Yes. I think it would fit that prompt, which asks about intellectual development rather than an intellectual experience. Actually, the phrasing of the Stanford suggests how you could use it for Dartmouth as well, but there’s still a risk. I’d be happy to read your essay. From what you’ve described, I’m [philosophically] predisposed to like it. Best.