"Intellectual Interests"

<p>for the emory scholars program..the essay asks for one or two intellectual interests..umm does that mean clubs or ujst like academic subjects like science??</p>

<p>good thing I did a search. was about to start same thread.
bummp? it's been a 2 weeks? any answers?</p>

<p>I can't comment on what this means to Emory, but I know what it would mean to me.</p>

<p>Leaving aside my job, my intellectual interests include mlitary history (why men do what they do in battle and how this affects battles), ancient history (especially the late Bronze Age), systems theory, and a number of other things.</p>

<p>Is that at all helpful?</p>

<p>What do you do outside of the classroom that stimulates your noggin? If you design kite for competition, then that qualifies as an "intellectual interest." If you translate The Critique of Pure Reason from German to Japanese, that's an "intellectual interest." If your brain gets an exercise, then it's intellectual (does not count artificial stimulants).</p>

<p>haha good explanation</p>

<p>Just want to add my own "intellectual interest": When I read philosophical, historical, or any non-fictional treatise, I try to summarize each main argument under three sentences. It's actually a really interesting exercise because it's really tough trying to get to the fundamentals. It makes you appreciate the authors and your own noggin.</p>

<p>is, for example, a strong interest in medicine and science, an intellectual interest???</p>

<p>I think they're looking for something more specific, because everyone will probably restate what they already said in theri common app</p>

<p>Here's mine: environmental economics, specifically the economics of global warming and climate change policy, and even more specifically, the debate between price-based and quantity-based incentives to curb emissions...I've read lots of literature on the subject.</p>

<p>If you can think of something like that, something specific you're interested in doing, read up on it a lot so that you know what you're talking about, and stick to it.</p>

<p>I did that same essay over the last couple nights -- though I think I did it in a somewhat unorthodox, possibly risky way. I sort of... wrote it in a "letter" form, used a framing device of an intellectual "feast" (and my end basically said that I need other people at the feast with me to make it meaningful), and talked about art, music, and writing (specifically, Gustave Dore, Italo Calvino, Philip Glass, and Brian Eno). </p>

<p>To be honest, everybody else's ideas sound way better and more specific, but... there you go.</p>

<p>Can an intellectual interest be studding classical guitar?</p>

<p>Sorry I meant STUDYING!</p>

<p>I was in a hurry!!!</p>

<p>bump...any other explanations?</p>

<p>I'm in agreement with Reddune. Don't just say "math", "science", "english", "politics", etc. because you'll sound like every other kid and probably get rejected. Be specific!</p>

<p>
[quote]
Can an intellectual interest be studding classical guitar?

[/quote]

Well, it certainly <em>does</em> stimulate the brain, so I'd say it's acceptable, but not really what they're looking for. Unless you compose.</p>