Chances for TASP

<p>I posted the following stuff on my past chances threads. I realize that they never see most of this, but it will give you an idea of what kind of applicant I am:</p>

<p>"i would appreciate any help. my school sent one person to yale last year, other than that, it's mainly ou, osu, and lower echelon private schools. I'm just a junior, but i figure it doesn't hurt to plan ahead. some ecs will be projected to extend to my senior year.</p>

<p>location: enid, ok
School: public
Gender: male
Ethnicity: white
I plan on majoring in poli-sci or something similar</p>

<p>GPA: cumulative should be a little over 4.0, weighted, dragged down by ninth grade. enriched classes are 4.25, aps are 4.5.
SAT Scores
Critical Reading: 740
Math:690
Writing:690
1st attempt</p>

<p>ACT scores
English:35
Reading:34
Math:28 (have gotten 33 in the past, should be easily raised)
Science:28
Composite:31 (should easily get up into 33 range as long as i don't flub the math again)
2nd try</p>

<p>SAT IIs
About to take Literature and math 2. I sort of missed the boat on these because everything in ok is so act oriented and we have so few high achievers around here that i didn't really realize i needed to be taking these.</p>

<p>AP Scores:
Euro history-3 (highest score of anyone at my school last year, and only 2 others got it. we have a terrible teacher and hardly anyone ever passes)
Calc BC-taking this year, should easily be a five
Lit and comp- should be a five
physics- should be around a four, maybe five </p>

<p>Freshman Year
Enriched Biology-B (teacher did not like me, but i recieved higest grade on end of instruction, but can colleges see that?)
Contest speech-A
ok history/am govt (would have taken enriched, but did not fit in schedule)-A
yearbook staff-A
Enriched algebra 2-B
Enriched world literature-A</p>

<p>Sophmore Year
Enriched american literature-A
AP european history-A
Spanish-A
Enriched chemistry-A
precalculus-B
Astronomy 1 and 2-A</p>

<p>Junior Year
AP calc bc-A
AP physics-B (highest grade in class)
Spanish-A
AP lit and comp-A
Botany-A
Zoology-A</p>

<p>I have gone out of my way to take the hardest schedule offered, and have other high school level classes i took in 7th and 8th grade to boost my gpa later. I am in the top ten percent of my class.</p>

<p>I played football last year and would have this year but time did not permit. I ran cross country in ninth grade and have run track since ninth grade. I have not lettered yet but probably will this year in track. My lack of letters comes from the fact that I go to a 6A school that is pretty competitive athletically. I am active in my church and help out during the service every week. I have gone on mission trips with my church to alabama, florida, and mexico. I have been in all the honor societies for as long as possible. I will probably be at least a merit semifinalist. I was on student council in 9th grade. I have a job at a local radio station and could get a glowing rec from my boss. My AP calc and physics are taken through a regional center of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. According to the director of the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, colleges recognize this on application as a tough, college preperatory curriculum. I have done various other things during summers that can augment my application in a pinch. I plan on trying to be a page in dc over this summer. I have a whole year ahead to add to my ecs and academic resume, so if there are any suggestions for good things to do both extra curricular and schedule wise i would appreciate them."</p>

<p>But here's the thing: One of my essays (the literary criticism) is really bad. It is almost all plot summary, thrown together at the last minute. My other two essays are good to very good. My reccomendation is excellent, from a teacher who loves me. I feel if I secure an interview, I will make it, no matter what. Any chance I get one, or am I screwed? Thanks.</p>

<p>bump 1010101010</p>

<p>I hate to tell you, but your transcript/recommendation letter really only count for about 10% of your application. 90% is based on the essays, and that's straight from Telluride. They're looking for people who can express themselves well, apparently. And that's something that doesn't always translate into grades or a competitive school.</p>

<p>Although, I really hope you didn't write a "literary criticism." That essay was actually an analysis, so I'm just assuming you messed up your words there. But the prompt said SPECIFICALLY for it not to be a plot summary. So let's just hope it's not as bad as you think. If you want me to be honest, I'd go with the "you're screwed" option, but then again, you really never know.</p>

<p>I applied as well, so good luck!</p>

<p>Yeah, I read the question. I didn't really realize how much plot summary there was in it until i was on the computer and happened to read it the other day. I still analyzed, but the essay is just not that good. I'm hoping the other two might help though. I really feel like I can wow at an interview. I just hope I get that far.</p>

<p>Iowejf, like polka I hate to say this, but if your essays were not good, your other (amazing, by the way: good job!) stats probably won't help you much. I think TASP puts mad weight on the essays because the program is mostly reading and writing and the humanities. The interview is what gets you in once they like your essays enough.</p>

<p>I would start prepping for the interview. If you make it past the first cut (good luck!) you can have the chance to redeem your less excellent essay. I would read up on what you wrote about and prepare to defend yourself.</p>

<p>It's out of your hands now, though. Best of luck!</p>

<p>EDIT: Actually I just reread your stats, and it looks like you're more passionate about math and science. Zoology...that sounds really cool. Did you apply to RSI? I honestly think you might enjoy RSI more than, say, politics in film.</p>

<p>Does everyone who scores in the 99th%tile of the PSAT get a TASP application ?</p>

<p>No, definately not. I was solidly in the 99th percentile and I didn't get an app. I think it's the top 99% in your zip code; I happen to come from boarding school land, so it wasn't going to happen.</p>

<p>lol i thought this thread died about a week ago. no, i applied for politics and film. it is only the literary analysis i screwed up. i had never written one before and have since written some great ones, so you better believe i'm extra-****ed about it. there's a lot of math and science in my background because i'm trying to ap out of most of it. oh, and i was only 98th percentile.</p>

<p>You can apply even if you're only in, say, the 97th percentile, right?</p>

<p>not now. next year. i just got the application unsolicited in the mail, and it doesn't ask for any test scores. like everybody on this has said, i think you just have to get ahold of an application and write good essays. go to the telluride association website and look around.</p>