Science and Society-Intellectual Vitality-Stanford Supplement

Prompt: Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging. 200 words maximum.

In our Science & Society class, we are addressing the contentious issues of global warming, stem cell research, bioengineered foods, cloning, and nuclear power. We read texts to increase our scientific literacy and analyze conflicting data. I find the course engaging because unlike traditional science classes, Science & Society tells the story of science and its connections to history, economics, politics, and ethics. Instead of learning the black and white facts of science, I am expanding my vision into the gray areas. I have never before considered the cost and consequences of the energy we consume, prescription drugs we take, foods we eat, and potable water we drink. Each topic introduces new perspectives and sparks new thoughts, challenging me to broaden my understanding of its controversy and implications for society. We delve into and beyond the superficial conversation of each topic and explore the complexity of the issues that will soon require action, encouraging me to reflect on science's monumental influence on our lives.

First of all, the maxim is in fact 250 words, or 1800 characters. Cheers!

Second, I think you need to shorten the list of the things you learned, like,


Two or three of the examples will suffice.


No need to list all of them. One, if well developed, is enough.

And there are points on which you need incorporate in to a coherent whole.


This is a methodology.


This could be a aim..If you elaborate a bit more.


These are the topics. Choose one.


This is what it make you feel.

See? You have a complete scientific exploration thing(sry, my English is awkward) here, but they are scattered. What you need to do is choose one of the topics and train everything down.

I went to your stage before: if the experience is very inspiring, I would spend a lot of time grasping the delicate feelings and the changes it brings to me, making the essay very abstract. But an essay that best express your idea may not be the essay that other people like to read.

I see this essay as a great demonstration of an important writing trick: taking inspiration from a recent experience. I absolutely believe that this class you are describing is taught by a brilliant person, and I see that you are smart enough to appreciate it. So... this essay really reflects positively on you. The only part I disagree with is here:

that will soon require immediate action...

:-)