<p>Hmm…I didn’t know that about the Notre Dame program and I don’t have 1st hand experience.</p>
<p>My S did attend TASP last summer however, and it is his opinion that his fellow TASPer were headed to top colleges regardless. Perfect test scores, 4.0 gpas, and National/International level ECs were a dime a dozen there. And they had all demonstrated in their application that they were accomplished writers with substantial and insightful opinions and views, and then they rose to the top during the rigorous interview process. Putting TASP on their college applications is just icing on the cake. </p>
<p>Still, as I posted earlier, 2400 plus 4.0 plus TASP still doesn’t guarantee Harvard SCEA…there is no golden admission ticket…</p>
<p>I would also consider one of the many debate camps (such as Northwestern University) as alternative options. University summer programs typically are revenue generators and are not administratively or academically associated with the host universities. At best, you are working with faculty that are earning some summer $$, and who can write you a recommendation, which could be tremendously helpful. But if you are accepted or declined acceptance to a summer program, it will not in any way affect the admissions decision of the host institution if you ultimately apply there for undergraduate. They are not connected (in general).</p>
<p>As someone who attended TASP at Cornell last summer (and received a “2400 plus 4.0” and was deferred from Harvard SCEA) there really is no golden ticket. Of the 32 people who attended, some were deferred from their first choice and some were accepted. To repeat what @ProudMomx3 said, all the people who did get in (and for the many who will get into great schools RD), they probably would have been accepted without TASP. TASP helps, but the prestige element of it is definitely overblown. That being said, it was a fantastic program, definitely a life-changing six weeks, and I would apply regardless of the possible benefits for college!</p>