<p>In my opinion, TASP is the least stats-focused program you'll find. Obviously, you won't be accepted with a 1.6 GPA, but there's a reason that it's known for having the fairest admissions process of all the summer programs. Race, religion, location... I don't think any of that plays ANY role in TASP whatsoever. In fact, though only people in the 98th percentile and above for the PSAT are invited to apply, anyone can apply without being invited. Also, TASP doesn't ask for any standardized testing scroes -- an anomaly amongst summer programs that are often very numbers-focused (case in point: COSMOS). The heart of the TASP application process is simple: it's all about your essays and interview. 80% of TASP applicants are weeded out in the first round, on which your 6 (yes, SIX) two-paged, single-spaced essays are of utmost importance (luckily, one of them's simply a list of all the books you've read in the past year). The remaining 20% of TASP applicants go through a grueling (and I really mean GRUELING) interview with anywhere between 1 and 6 interviewers. Basically, it's all about your thinking process. Numbers don't play that much importance. :]</p>
<p>Generally, how many books is appropriate? Can anyone paste their book list that they submitted (preferably someone whose been accepted to the program)?</p>
<p>If you're looking for a free summer program, I recommend the House and Senate Page programs. You actually get paid during your time there, and really get to see the way Washington works, from the floors of Congress. It's a great program if you're into politics, and yes, it is possible to get in if you don't have connections. Contact your representative or senators for an application -- it needs to be in by March for the summer programs.</p>
<p>My d (rising sophomore) really enjoyed the two-week TOPS Physics
Workshop at MIT's Center for Ultracold Atoms. It's exposure to cutting
edge science and they got to spend time with a professor who won
the Nobel Prize in physics in 2001. It's a day camp although some kids
came from out of state to attend. Just a really neat couple of weeks
for science-oriented kids who are too young for some of the well
known programs mentioned elsewhere on this thread. Check it out,
Bostonians!</p>
<p>Math seems to be the summer activity of choice, but spare a thought for a challenging language program. In my experience (I teach these summer courses at the University of Chicago) students who took intensive Greek or Latin have been offered admission all over the place (including Princeton, Yale, Stanford, and of course Chicago), and generous packages (including the Presidential Fellowship at Stanford). Your mileage may vary, but a year's worth (or two) of College Greek and Latin won't hurt your chances. Downside: you may get hooked:-) When you shop around, look carefully if the program is faculty-taught.. many are not. Chicago area public school students can join through the College Bridge program (free tuition). Others - yes, I'm afraid it is private school tuition:-(</p>
<p>Yay, TASP. Ditto what chillaxin said. The majority of my book list was non-fiction, but some of my friends had 99% fantasy. Regardless, the book list should reflect your genuine interests. If you loved Freakonomics, put it down! I did. Who cares if it's not quite the same as Nabokov?</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that anything on the book list could work its way into the interview.</p>
<p>A sampling of books from my list:</p>
<p>[ul]
[<em>] On Globalization by George Soros
[</em>] The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs
[<em>] The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand
[</em>] Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
[<em>] The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
[</em>] Blindness by Jose Saramago
[<em>] Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
[</em>] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
[li] Religion for Dummies by Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Not always the most intellectual books, you see..</p>
<p>wait so the books...does TASP specify what kind of booklists they want...e.g. consisting of books you read outside of school, as school required-reading, or both?</p>
<p>Um I haven't read through this thread but I'll just post my two cents.</p>
<p>New Jersey Governor's School
New Jersey Scholars Program (not as well-known, but selective and a great experience from what I hear; you learn a lot and meet awesome people who go off and do great things =P)</p>
<p>This past spring I discovered this COLLEGE CAMPUS directory and will use again this summer because it is incredibly well-organized, easy to navigate and seems to be updated more quickly/often than most guides.
Though most programs are on campuses in New York State, there are many national programs that include programs throughout USA.
site: It's called SummerOnCampus.com. Here are just some of many many categories...</p>
<p>I would like to reiterate theoneo's suggestion of the New Jersey Scholars Program. They don't do any advertising, and instead rely on word of mouth to get applicants. It's only open to NJ residents, and it's free. The Scholars spend five weeks at the Lawrenceville School, studying a different "big topic" every year, looking at it from several viewpoints, and interdisciplinarily. This year, the topic was Africa, but past topics have included Jerusalem and the Middle East, Russia, the Enlightenment, and the Birth of the Modern... it was amazing! Five weeks in a dorm with some of the smartest, coolest, most interesting kids in the country. If you live in NJ and are frustrated by the fact that all of the summer programs in the world- besides TASP- that are selective are math or science- oriented, do New Jersey Scholars Program. It will change your life.</p>
<p>RE: HCSSiM -- my son went there this summer ('06) and turned down a paying intership to do so. (insert parental sniff here) He said 13 of the 40 qualified for USAMO this year. He describes it as absolutely life-changing. Misses it terribly. He originally applied as a means to boost his abstract math skills to support his programming in USACO, but is now leaning towards a math major. It is very theoretical, mind-bending and he had a blast. It is not as geared to performance in math competitions as some of the other camps, but he is finding HCSSiM is helping him a lot in that regard already.</p>
<p>He was happy he did not do Mathcamp or PROMYS. For those who are interested, there is a HCSSiM list on the AoPS website.</p>
<p>1) It says that application forms for TASP doesn't come out until mid-December. Does that mean we won't be able to start writing these "grueling" essays until then? Also, how long do we have to finish these applications?</p>
<p>2) Is the LEAD program at Wharton for minority students only? "Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) is a four-week program introducing minority high school students to key areas of business. " And what is considered a minority? Also, what about the LBW (Leadership in the Business World) program also at Wharton? Is it less prestigious?</p>