<p>I'm a junior right now and Stanford's been my first choice ever since I visited it last year. I was thinking I'd go to Stanford HS Summer College, because I'd love to spend the summer there and I thought it might show some kind of interest (although I know the admissions officers all say it doesn't help your app). I plan to apply there SCEA.</p>
<p>But my question is: would it be better for my app to attend it or try to apply for TASP? I have the pretty standard >2350 SAT I/800 SAT II scores for Asians, ECs and academic honors (and track, which I love, but no awards) but nothing too radical. I got an invitation in the mail from TASP and I hear it looks really good if you get accepted (not to mention it's not as ridiculously expensive as summer college). What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>TASP is more like a cult.
In my opinion, I would see TASP as the more selective and prestigious program.
You'll be spending time with 20? other kids. The experience will be spectacular.</p>
<p>From my research in the last six minutes or so, I'd have to agree. But it seems that they don't notify you of your acceptance/rejection until early May, at which point it would almost certainly be too late to apply to a different summer program, right? It seems like an excellent opportunity though.</p>
<p>There's no reason why you shouldn't apply to both. I would even apply to Harvard SSP and Summer@Brown as well just so you have some definitive backups. If you get into them all, then you have to go to TASP. It's a major hook in college admissions; I know 3 TASP grads (from facebook hehe) who got into Yale this year... so it matters.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'd rather go to something than nothing. (And I'm scared of any rejection after seeing the Stanford Massacre)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...somehow I don't think TASP and Stanford SCEA are on quite the same level. haha</p>
<p>
[quote]
...somehow I don't think TASP and Stanford SCEA are on quite the same level. haha
[/quote]
That's right, TASP is probably a bigger deal than Stanford SCEA. Anyway, I 15th or whatever everyone's reaction. If you have a chance to do TASP, do it. And since you can't know if you will have a chance to do TASP, apply to other things as well.</p>
<p>Guys, I was thinking about applying to Stanford's summer program...but, is it selective? Is the stanford program hard to get into? Btw I'm a sophomore...so, maybe do you think that I might not be ready to handle it?!</p>
<p>I made the same choice last year. I applied to both, planned and got excited about Stanford HS Summer College (It's not selective, more of a self-selecting applicant pool), then I got into TASP. </p>
<p>GO TO TASP. It will change your life :)</p>
<p>Stanford Adcoms also say that Taspers "are some of the most interesting and intellectual students", so if any summer program helps it's TASP. (this is a paraphrase from the sink or swim article I believe).</p>
<p>btw, I was admitted SCEA if that says anything.</p>
<p>I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard of TASP before this year. It sounds great though, I wish I had applied and, if accepted, gone. I wouldn't do Summer College because a) it costs $10k, and b) its really not the greatest or most impressive use of your time. TASP is free I believe and it it appears to actually be the greatest and most impressive use of your time, which will help you out a lot come college application time. Try for TASP, but if you don't get it I'd suggest trying to find local research opportunities, something that you could make an impact in. That's what I did last summer and I'm pretty sure its one of the things that got me in.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, guys. I think I will apply to TASP, but I'll have to see when payments/confirmations are due for other programs. It seems like a really nerveracking process esp. considering they admit less than 10% of applications! But having the hook, the experience and another $10k in my pocket would be great.</p>