What exactly does "intellectual vitality" mean?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

I’ve heard that Stanford looks for intellectual vitality as a major factor in admitting students. What exactly does this mean?

2

The phrase itself is so perfect I can’t think of another way to put it. You really don’t get it? Are you ESL?

3

I agree that it’s a great stand-alone term. To me an applicant with “intellectual vitality” is someone who thinks well and deeply, who’s excited about new ideas and isn’t afraid to dive in and explore difficult concepts.

4

Here’s one reasonable interpretation:

http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■/2013/08/18/understanding-stanford-gsbs-core-value-of-intellectual-vitality/

5

It’s “Admissions Speak” for: You took those 10 AP courses because you really wanted to…

6

This has been discussed before.

You can calculate your Intellectual Vitality number:

SAT/10 + (Number of AP)*(grade in class)/4.7 + (Non-weighted GPA) + 1/(rank in class)

You then normalize this based on the ranking of the HS you went to.

7

So basically, it’s one of these “follow your passion/heart” BS mantras. Okay, got it.
If I otherwise like Stanford, what would be some good approaches to showing my interests in essays? My real passions are more in my EC’s and less so my academics. Academically, I’m interested in business and physical sciences, but (I’ll admit) took the AP version of humanities classes since I otherwise would have needed to take the C-prep/honors version anyways.

8

Everyone likes to eat dessert.

9

I think you have intellectual vitality if you wonder about things, no matter what they are. Curiosity is key. You can show it by discussing something that has captured your interest and explain what you did next. For ex, I saw my dog bite her paw when I petted her. I wondered what would cause that and and why it doesn’t always happen so I…What propels you to seek answers and experience? That is your answer.

10

If one has to ask, they probably should not apply and save the money on the application fee.

11

@skyoverme that may be so, but I’ve seen several variations of its meaning across the web, so you can blame them for asking.

However, that is true. If the meaning doesn’t come from within, you haven’t got it.

12

As an alumni interviewer, I can probably shed some light here. There is no official meaning, but it is a buzz phrase sent out to us interviewers (and probably your recommendors) to elaborate about you. Operationally, then, it is what someone else thinks you have. In an interview (or essay, or recommendation), it comes out as highly specific description regarding something at least remotely academic that you went the extra mile to learn about on your own or achieve. It is not grades, AP classes, summer programs, but actual content knowledge and thoughtfulness. In my own mind (“I know it when I see it”), I have seen it in students with regard to athletics, dance, politics, geeky games, more than I have seen it with traditional academic subjects.