yurayurateikokuさんの おぼえた日記 - 2024年11月19日(火)

Best Advice Ever (1)



How are your students preparing for the summer, Tim? Are you going to work through it to meet their goal of graduating in three years rather than four?

Definitely. They’re eager to stick the plan and skip the summer break. I was quite intrigued when one of my students, an engineering major, mentioned taking a class in intellectual curiosity in the summer session. Apparently, many universities now offer courses like this-they’re designed to encourage students to become well-rounded engineers and scientists. Many people see curiosity as an innate quality, but intellectual curiosity is a skill that can be nurtured and developed.

I was asked to write a recommendation letter recently by a former subordinate who’s applying to grad school. And one of the questions I was supposed to address was “Does this applicant have intellectual curiosity?” If I’d said he was none, it could have imperiled his acceptance, despite his stellar academic record. Admission officers today look for signs of intellectual vibrancy through recommendations and essays.

What exactly is intellectual curiosity?

It’s the desire to learn more about the world and find the answers to deeper questions. Without it, our world wouldn’t progress and evolve as it has. It’s the driving force behind scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs and innovative new technologies.

And it’s not just for academics.