While I recognize how fortunate I am to have to make this decision, I am torn between two programs that I’ve never really expected to get into. I am both a science and a humanities kid, and I know both will be really amazing experiences. I have already found and committed to a lab at NIH so it would be easier to say no to TASP. Furthermore, I hope to major in science in college (though I’m not completely set on that) so the NIH lab experience would be helpful in these academic regards, but TASP also sounds like a simply amazing and once in a lifetime experience, catering to my humanities interests and I know I would make some genuine and lifelong friends there. I have not gotten through the final round of TASP (interview) but as a mediocre writer and great public speaker, I feel like I can do well in the interview round.
If anyone could offer any perspective or advice about this situation I would really truly appreciate it.
I presume you can’t fit both into a summer schedule? My daughter, too, may have a conflict and will (hopefully) have to make a very difficult decision between two wonderful options. These are good problems to have, though…
From my experiences with similarly prestigious lab centered programs (JAX labs, Broad, etc.), I sincerely encourage you to consider declining TASP and accepting the offer with NiH. Elite science programs that allow you to have a direct impact on the world around you (the nature of studying science itself) are extremely rare and impressive. If you plan on pursuing a STEM oriented career, this summer may be the breakthrough. You are likely to make lifelong friends at either program. The friends you make at NiH may be future networks or contacts or even peers in a few years. If there is any solid advice, however, I would recommend that whatever you decide you commit to 100% so as to eliminate the anxiety and go forth with your junior year undistracted. You seem very intelligent.
Honestly, if I had to make that decision, I’d choose TASP. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially since you’re going to spend all of college in labs. You can always intern somewhere–opportunities even increase once you get to college–but things like TASP are going to be hard to come by for a STEM major.
In terms of prestige, TASP is very famous and arguably harder to get into, but it will be useful if you end up applying as a humanities major. NIH SIP, on the other hand, is decentralized, so there’s no regulatory body making sure that everyone does certain things. It’s very centered on self-motivation, so you must be prepared to put down a lot of effort if you want to do a project that matters. That being said, though, it’s a very rewarding experience, and if you are a person who works well independently, it could be the right choice for you. In any case, don’t decline the PI until you have the offer from TASP in your hand.
Thanks for the advice. I think I may choose the internship. TASP seems like such an amazing place but I don’t think I will apply as a humanities major and I haven’t gotten in through the interview round yet.
@renaissancedad as much as I’d like to be able to make the decision once I get in, the PI is waiting on me and I don’t have that leeway. In that respect, I don’t think my concerns are premature
Then it’s a no brainer. Make the commitment to the one that is real. Or, if you believe that you would choose TASP over NIH, contact TASP and inform them of your situation, and ask if they can expedite a decision. Otherwise, there is a significant chance that you end up with neither option.
If both options were actually “real” (i.e., you were officially accepted at both), I would pick the one which interests you more and/or which fits better into your overall “narrative” and long-term direction.
Are you getting paid by NIH? If so it would be something that would count for different areas of a common app (honor, job, summer activity) while TASP would count as an honor and an activity.
TASP is a great activity if you are applying to the competitive colleges which are primarily liberal arts oriented. If your PI is willing to wait (I am a bit surprised they are already making these offers when the application deadline just passed) you should explore it but if you are going to be a STEM major, you may not lose out much by giving it up.
I doubt TASP would expedite, I feel like people have had this situation in the past. It is one of the problems with summer program applications that there isn’t a more standardized schedule of offer and acceptance dates. OP, if you were my kid (and my kid applied for NIH and TASP one summer), I’d probably say to take the NIH given what you have said. If you are thinking about a STEM major, it is a great opportunity to get more experience and a better idea if research is a path you may want to pursue.
The only reasons I can think to take the TASP interview is what if the NIH position falls through. I assume it can happen (funding issues, PI fired or quits, etc). Also, I assume the interview experience might be interesting, and maybe good practice for top college interviews if you have them.
I would not worry at all about where this goes on the Common App – irrelevant.
@texaspg no I will not be paid by NIH (unfortunately haha). The internships were actually mostly full for high school students by mid February, which is quite surprising indeed but I guess it reflects the sort of competition for resume-building these days.
@intparent thank you for the tip. I think it might be a good idea to take the interview as you said, even if it is just for practice or a backup. And thank you also for reminding me not to worry about the Common App. Life is too long to make decisions solely on college admissions, yet despite knowing this it’s sometimes hard to not get fixated on what looks good.
@juniormint2017 Are you a local staying at home and commuting to NIH? The experiences are entirely different if you are a local vs someone coming from outside to work at NIH, spend 2 months on their own.
Your resume is what it is at the end of August 2016 if you are applying to colleges this fall. Those who are not resume building take the summer off.
Regarding the common app, what I meant is that the advice about being able to fill in awards vs activities vs paid work is irrelevant. Colleges read the whole app, and really what section something goes in and/or having more items filled in is not relevant.
