Boosting Ivy League Chances: Intellectual Vitality (How to Find the Best Summer Programs and More!)

Welcome to part three of our five-part series, Boosting Ivy League Chances, where we discuss the best methods to boost your chances of getting into an Ivy League university. 

It is easy for students to enroll in numerous summer programs, internships, and courses but what will help them with college admissions? In fact, with many summer programs becoming increasingly competitive and expensive, how do you know which one is best for you? The key is intellectual vitality and it’s also a tenet to holistic college admissions at Harvard. Let’s dive into how we can use this to gauge which summer program is best for you. 

What is intellectual vitality?

Universities like Stanford define intellectual vitality as the “commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in what others write on your behalf.” In essence, they look to see genuine curiosity and enthusiasm towards academic endeavors. This can look like being an active contributor to a research lab, expanding a community organization, sparking uncommon dialogue, and much more. The goal is to continue growing both as an individual and a student and to continuously expand your perspectives.

What role does intellectual vitality have on college admissions?

While not all Ivy League colleges use the term “intellectual vitality” in college admissions, they’re all looking for what intellectual vitality stands for: curiosity, commitment, and initiative to explore academics and beyond. It is more than just taking a class or a program; it is more about seeing how the student expands and applies the information they learned. Remember, colleges are looking to see how you would fit into their programs and oftentimes, the best way to see that is by analyzing what you have done with the information gained. According to Dartmouth, education is holistic and all-encompassing.  

How do you use intellectual vitality to find the best summer programs?

As you’ve likely guessed, the best summer programs are the ones that educate you more than just academically, but also as an individual. How do you find them? While no one program is guaranteed admission into Ivy League colleges or any college for that matter, there are things to look out for. 

Many students enroll in programs like UCLA Summer Sessions, COSMOS, Stanford Summer Sessions, and more. These are excellent ways for students to spend their summer because they immerse students in college communities, giving them ample opportunities to explore the campus, academics, and much more. However, engaging in activities like spending your summer pioneering a community financial literacy program and volunteering to translate documents for refugees can have an equally enlightening impact. The best summer activity depends on what you gain from it. In fact, that’s the essence of intellectual vitality. 

Key Takeaways

• Ivy League colleges like Harvard and Dartmouth prioritize holistic education and that includes intellectual vitality (curiosity, commitment, and initiative to explore academics and beyond).
• The best summer programs are the ones that you make the most out of (the ones that you are the most passionate about and actively involved in).