<p>I would think that you could use a work by Ayn Rand as long as you approach it with your own fresh perspective and offer insight into why the literature is interpreted a certain way etc. Just be yourself I guess and you'll naturally just put out the best possible essays.</p>
<p>What is this Ayn Rand "bashing"? Someone at my TASP did a very good PubSpeak on Ayn Rand and objectivism so I don't think it's TASP-wide policy to dislike Ayn Rand.</p>
<p>First of all, this is way too early for thinking about TASP esaays. You have more than 4 or 5 months!</p>
<p>Second of all, I think it's unwarranted to worry so much about seeming too much this or that. I don't think TASP, by principle, is biased against those with different points of views such as conservatives. You don't have to hide who you are. For you essays, don't worry about seeming cliche or mundane in terms of what you choose to write about. Write about something that means something to you no matter what it is (unless it's something horrendous like eating babies). </p>
<p>Market state...you seem very set in your beliefs about Libertarianism which is good but keep in mind that TASP also looks for intellectual flexibility and open mindedness. I thought it was important to stress open-mindedness while still keeping your opinions.</p>
<p>I had some sort of underlying theme in my essays but it was very understated amd they generally all over the place showing different aspects of me.</p>
<p>To market force: </p>
<p>There are other libertarian thinkers and philosophers to discuss who do not carry all of the stigmas and connotations (justified or not, I wouldn’t know, as I never read her) brought up by the name Ann Rand. I’m sure you could get away with writing about Ann Rand, but it is not a stretch of the imagination to envision an essay reader saying to himself/herself, “****, another damn Ann Rand essay… I hate her” instead of reading your words carefully. (Edit: it seems that you have already come to the same conclusion yourself)</p>
<p>TASP admissions... well hopefully I will get around to applying this coming January or whenever.</p>
<p>Is the PSAT mandatory?</p>
<p>No, but it couldn't hurt to take it if it's availiable.</p>
<p>First, thanks to everyone for responding with your comments.</p>
<p>Another question: should the underlying theme be overt or understated?</p>
<p>Also: do you think doing a lit. analysis of a political writing like John Locke's "Second Treatise on Government" would be too impersonal and objective for TASP admissions? Would doing a lit. analysis on a novel that is deep yet not outwardly related to politics (like Kurt Vonegut's "Player Piano") be better?</p>
<p>The theme can be as prominent as you feel is necessary. I know that's not a real answer, but there really aren't any set requirements. </p>
<p>I really don't see how the Second Treatise is "literature." I wrote about Slaughterhouse-Five, other people wrote about less mainstream essays, poems, and short stories. Write about Locke if you want, but I think its a bit presumptuous for a high school junior to analyze the foundation of many modern governments. If you want to maintain a libertarian theme, try to find a work that has subtle libertarian undertones and analyze those.</p>
<p>I'm going to second Ryan and say, don't stress about theme! TASP doesn't have some checklist of things that MUST be included in your essays to get in. Just write about things that are of interest to you. If you're a smart, interesting, quirky person, those qualities will find their way into your writing. </p>
<p>I never intended to have a theme to my application. It just turned out when I finished that a lot of my essays related back to the same topics simply because those are what i'm most passionate about. I wouldn't overanalyze this, guys. It's really not something to stress over!</p>
<p>At the risk of sounding ignorant, is the essay a literary analysis or simply an analysis of any text?</p>
<p>An analysis of any text I believe. Mine was on a William Jennings Bryan speech.</p>
<p>my analysis was convoluted... i analyzed an analysis on the aspects/works of Foucault. the paper turned out decent, but it was confusing in that my own analysis was interwined with my author's rhetoric and insights as well as the philosophies of foucault. i would have changed it, but i had no time seeing as it was the night before it was due. seriously, don't stress, I wrote all my essays except my book list the afternoon/night before it was due</p>
<p>Maybe I could try the Federalist Papers. My only concern is that an analysis of a non-fiction work may end up sounding like a wikipedia article on that work.</p>
<p>Can anyone who got in post their book list? any recommendations for books that are good in general and that sort of relate to tasp-ish stuff? ( i REALLLy want to read a people's history of the united states by howard zinn)</p>
<p>Then read it. My list had 20 or so books ranging from Dante of JK Rowling. The book list isn't a big deal as long as you're already well-read.</p>
<p>Since the prompt for the book list says "list SOME of the books you've read in the past year," I'm pretty sure they won't judge you for having a fairly short list. I believe the purpose of the list is mostly to inspire questions at the interview, if you get that far. It might also reveal something about your personality, but i wouldn't be ridiculously concerned with that.</p>
<p>Oh, just wondering--is there a cutoff for the booklist? Like, do they say "books youve read dec '06-dec '07"? Oh, and when are the app's actually do--as in, how long do I have until I have to cap off my booklist? (I've heard January, but I'm not sure...)</p>
<p>ur putting way too much weight into this. i remember the application being due early january, also i don't think the book list is that important. mine was all school books execpt for about 8. don't worry about it, my interview didn't even cover it and we covered EVERYTHING; it was almost 2 hrs.</p>
<p>yeah, just to stress the general consensus of my fellow 06 TASPers:</p>
<p>don't. stress. about. this.</p>
<p>(believe me, if you're anything like the people in my TASP, you'll end up doing the bulk of your app in the week/day/minute that it's due.</p>
<p>Haha, one last question. Do they give you a to-from date for your book list? Or do they basically just say, "books youve read in the last year."?</p>
<p>He ain't no mobsta', he ain't no gangsta'
He ain't no wanksta, he ain't no acta</p>
<p>He's a Zachsta!</p>