<p>You are welcome, ConcernFather. I benefited from this forum and would like to give my feedback and experience for a reference to others.</p>
<p>As far as TASP goes, it’s a one time deal for juniors. But it’s once in a life time experience. Basically it’s equivalent to RSI on humanity for a group of like minded young kids and is considered as one of most prestigious summer programs. The program is a scholarship program and one doesn’t have to pay a penny once accepted. Rumor has it that top universities pay attention to this program. From the past TASPers track records, it seems to support this view because some people consider the process to get into the program is more rigorous than that of some top college admission process.</p>
<p>It generally works like this (at least in my son case): a junior is likely to get an invitation if s/he scores very high on PSAT (top 1%, I read somewhere). s/he then decides to apply this program or not. Usually there are close 1000 applicants each summer, first cut from their internal review will leave about 150 final candidates who will be interviewed by previous TASPers in each city. (there are kids from other countries who will probably get a phone interview which is what I heard, not sure how that works exactly). The interview process includes the 5 essays a candidate submitted in the application and other topics. Finally 86 of them are chosen. I should say that the number is for last summer program. There were 5 classes last summer: Cornell 2; one each at U of Austin, U of Michigan and Washington U. at St. Louis. Each class has 16 kids with two professors from universities like Cornell, Austin and etc. to study one topic for 6 intensive weeks. In the morning, two professors lead for discussion and study for three hours, in the afternoon and evening, they will study the topic and related material and assignment. Each class will also have two assistants living with them. Usually these assistants are former TASPers and currently enrolled in Harvard, Cornell and other universities. Sometimes they get chance to meet world-renowned scholars in a seminar or have a meal and talk with them.</p>
<p>This is a unique experience for anyone to have 6 weeks to develop and think freely in one of very interesting areas with reputable prof. and peers without any string attached. </p>
<p>There is a rich history to this program and other connections. I just checked that there is only 4 classes for 2008 summer TASP program:
<a href=“http://www.tellurideassociation.org/pdf/TASPBR08.pdf[/url]”>http://www.tellurideassociation.org/pdf/TASPBR08.pdf</a></p>
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