<p>I know it's VERY early, but I'd like to get an idea of what's important in admissions @ TASP. What should I be focusing on this year? Also, are there any other extremely prestigious programs stemming from high PSAT scores that aren't too sciency (as in, not RSI)? I know only of TASP, but I was just wondering if there were any other great ones...</p>
<p>Focus on what you're truly interested in. It's as simple as that. If fabricating your application just to impress TASP means being unsatisfied at the same time, then TASP isn't right for you.</p>
<p>dude i found that if you write the essays with an underlying theme or somehting, that it helps you out. For me, all of my essays, even my book list and camp preference all referred back to my underlying interest in ___________. That is maybe the factor that distinguishes you from other applicants. For, if you are to be the top of the applicant pool, you have to be unique and demonstrate a clear and deep interest in a topic.</p>
<p>What's a "book list"?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have a copy of an essay they submitted that got them accepted?</p>
<p>Insane. -_-; </p>
<p>Its just a summer program....goodness gracious.
Oh well, more kudos to you I guess.</p>
<p>"For me, all of my essays, even my book list and camp preference all referred back to my underlying interest in ___________. That is maybe the factor that distinguishes you from other applicants. For, if you are to be the top of the applicant pool, you have to be unique and demonstrate a clear and deep interest in a topic." H20Poloer</p>
<p>That's true of me as well--all my essays seemed to focus on a different aspect of a certain idea. My interviewer commented on that...I think its a plus. Seriously though, I wouldn't start prepping for the TASP application right now...I hadn't even heard of TASP before I got the application in December. It won't hurt you to wait until you actually have to write the essays. Plus, you may have more things to write about in a few months.</p>
<p>Ok, but what's a book list? Do they request a list of all the books you've read in the past 1/2/3 years?</p>
<p>One of the parts of the application is a list of books you've read in the past year, with an indication of which ones you had to read for school.</p>
<p>what is TASP exactly?
sry if i sound stupid...:)</p>
<p>I agree with bre; my essays all somehow (even if it was only very slightly) related to this one topic I'm really REALLY interested in and would like to dedicate my life to. That topic was also the topic of my first-choice seminar, to which I was accepted.</p>
<p>Honestly, I admire you for starting so early, but I'd like to advise you to wait a bit. The summer before my junior year and the first few months of it literally changed my life; I grew more as a person than I did in the other fifteen years added together. I truly found my passion, and the TASP application actually helped me gather my thoughts and led me on a new path, which ironically led me to choose something other than TASP. Honestly though, I started my essays VERY late (we're talking the week before they were due; and I literally sent in my application at 11:59.17 or something very close to it -- if you look back in my old posts, you'll find the exact time -- when the application was due at midnight). However, I'm the type that writes essays in their head and then just has to put pen to paper for them to flow.</p>
<p>TASP is definitely an exciting experience, but I have to say that I don't think it's right for everyone. Explore your interests right now, and utilize this summer to have the time of your life. The summer before my junior year, I spent a week at lacrosse camp and a month in China, two weeks of which I spent teaching middle school kids English. Pursue your passions right now, and you'll find that the essays will flow a lot better than if you just spent time writing and rewriting them right now.</p>
<p>Like bre, though, I never even looked at TASP seriously until a week and a half before applications were due (you can imagine how annoyed my teacher was when I gave her 5 days to write my rec). Again, it's great that you're thinking so far ahead, but remember to step back and just breathe. :D</p>
<p>And helpmegetin!, here's a link: <a href="http://www.tellurideassociation.org/tasp1.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tellurideassociation.org/tasp1.html</a></p>
<p>i agree with all who said take the summer/fall off. there's plenty of time to think about the TASP essay/app.</p>
<p>I too had a "focus" to my essays- my interest in american history and civil rights. not coincidentally, i suppose, the TASP seminar I'll be attending is about the civil rights movement and the anti-apartheid movement.</p>
<p>To those of you that got in last year:</p>
<p>-how many books were on your book list?
-of those, how many were for school and which were on your own?
-was it mostly fiction or nonfiction?
- is it ok if your underlying topic doesnt necessarily relate back to a theme?</p>
<p>
[quote]
how many books were on your book list?
[/quote]
I don't remember, but I filled up a whole page (1 book per line). I left out some of my personal reading though.</p>
<p>
[quote]
of those, how many were for school and which were on your own?
[/quote]
I'd say about 1/3 of them were for school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
was it mostly fiction or nonfiction?
[/quote]
Fiction, but many of them were classic novels. That, however, is only because I have a list of famous literature that I'm trying to finish before I start college. Most of them were historically based though.</p>
<p>
[quote]
is it ok if your underlying topic doesnt necessarily relate back to a theme?
[/quote]
Mine did, but that's only because I'm really interested in minority studies and I really enjoy books that deal with such subjects. I'm sure you don't have to though. I mean, heck, my list also consisted of two chick flick-type books and Harry Potter. :D</p>
<p>thanks chillaxin!</p>
<p>and one more question: when do seminar topics get announced?</p>
<p>
[quote]
and one more question: when do seminar topics get announced?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I kinda have the same question.</p>
<p>No matter do not mention that you are a conservative. If TASP staff somehow finds that an applicant has conservative views, they will take you out despite being brilliant. TASP tends to select students with liberal views. So do yourself a favor, hide your conservative views as much as possible, if you tend to attend TASP. Write theme about saving the world and do good policy for humanities. If you are rich, then say you are ashamed of being rich and want to make a difference in the world. This is a liberal mantra. If you look the program offered, there is no conservative program offered. In my opinion life should be a balance. However, I must say TASP is one of the best humanities high school program. So do not write any conservative views what so ever.</p>
<p>You will have amazing time, just hide who you are.</p>
<p>^ that doesn't seem like very good advice. "hide who you are"? are you kidding?</p>
<p>With the books, do you put all of your personal reading? If so, wouldn't that be an awfully long list, if they're looking at the kind of applicant I'd think they'd be.</p>
<p>while its true that most taspers are liberals, they will take account your location's demographics/political views and assess you based on your experiences. However, at my tasp the more conservative TASPers felt uncomfortable and even threatened during charged discussions. so I would rethink if TASP is for you.</p>