<p>If there is anything I'm proud of in my application, it's that I am absolutely certain I've been able to communicate my sense of intellectual vitality. Hopefully, Stanford will think so as well.</p>
<p>My daughter will kill me, but... Back in the dark ages when I went to Stanford, the application essay was no big deal. When they started talking about "intellectual vitality", I think what they're looking for is a curiosity. For instance, I was a bio major, then got an MBA and a CPA. However, I am fascinated with etymologies. The fact that English uses both umbrella (from Latin "against the shade") and parasol (against the Sun) and then the word in French is parapluie (against the rain)--now, I think that is fascinating! So, what totally gets your mind moving in different directions? That is what shows your intellectual vitality.</p>
<p>would submitting a poem show intellectual vitality?</p>
<p>Showing intellectual vitality differs from person to person. If you like poems and find them intellectually exciting, go ahead. Don't fabricate anything about yourself though! Keep it honest and straight from the heart.</p>
<p>You cannot submit anything extra like poems, MR. Tubbz...</p>
<p>what exactly is intellectual vitality?</p>