Tasp 2007

<p>another one of the TASPers at my tasp went to TASS and he was Pakistani.</p>

<p>Went on a tirade there and forgot to ask my question.</p>

<p>For the book essay, where it asks to list books ect.. Am I suppose to write the list in paragraph form and delve into my choices? (Your answer would be appreciated)</p>

<p>and again, anyone know where we get teacher evaluation forms? or do they just write their own letter, etc.?</p>

<p>I think its a list. Though I was wondering if I can write a small comment for some books or something.</p>

<p>I was also wondering whether we can send an extra one or two recommendations, instead of just one. Like I have a teacher that's with me for 4 years, though its not an academic subject, and I'd like to ask my history teacher for a recommendation too, or even my english teacher.</p>

<p>teacher evaluation form = recommendation letter</p>

<p>one more question. do you have to have an interest or humanities and writing to be considered into TASS? i mean, im more of a science guy, but would they still accept me or would they be a little biased?</p>

<p>They aren't really BIASED per say. But I get the feeling they will tell if you don't really want to be there. Programs as prestigious as this will be able to tell who is just trying to pad their resume from those genuinely interested.</p>

<p>Redwood, what seminar are you most interested in? Because if your into science in the last essay that asks about which seminar your interested in you can kind of show your more science-y side and write about how you want to do the epidemic seminar. (Just a thought)</p>

<p>And no, one was Half-Hispanic and the other one was Turkish, plain Turkish. ^^</p>

<p>Nope, just list them. If you want to talk about some of them, though, feel free to do so. </p>

<p>No teacher evaluation forms; just ask your teacher to write a rec/evaluation and send that in. That's how I did it, anyway.</p>

<p>I don't think they'll kill you if you send extra recs, lol. At worst, they might not read them. </p>

<p>Well, if they're a little biased, only they would know that. ;) But I certainly think they try to be as objective as humanly possible. As long as you show you have true passion and a thirst for knowledge and WANT to go to the seminars, it should be fine.</p>

<p>Hey, question to the former TASPers: what exactly is the interview? I mean, do they ask you about stuff that you put in your application or is it general? Is it about life, politics, just a friendly chat? Is it like a college interview at all?</p>

<p>Also, I swear I'm sincerely interested in the program, outside of resume/application-padding but seriously, is it well-known to colleges? I mean, it's fiendishly hard to get in. Do most of the Ivies/Stanford etc. recognize that?</p>

<p>The interview is an opportunity to (a) understand more about you as a person; (b) understand more about you as an intellectual. Basically, you and your interviewer(s) discuss the topics mentioned in your essays, and the conversation could take a variety of directions. For example, I wrote my critical analysis on George Orwell's "A Hanging", and my interviewer played off of the themes I mentioned by asking about human nature, ethics, and human rights. Often, it depends on your interviewers' area of expertise or outlook on your essays.</p>

<p>It's definitely more than a friendly chat about your hobbies. The interviewers will ask you questions, and you're expected to respond with the same maturity and insight that you demonstrated in your essays. Having been to both a TASP interview and college interviews, I can certainly testify that TASP interviews are much more intensive (and interesting!). The mood is usually casual (the interviewers are far from aggressive), but the topics discussed are pretty serious. </p>

<p>Don't worry if they point out some holes in your argument; just respond to them as insightfully as possible. Demonstrate intricacy and originality of thought... don't just pull out a string of BS. Your interviewers are TASP alumni; they'll notice if your argument has no substance. Before my interview, I had conversations about my essays with some close friends, which helped a lot.</p>

<p>TASP is very well-known to colleges. It's mentioned several times in various college admissions books as an impressive activity (e.g. Admissions Confidential). It's also very well-known among college counselors, especially experienced ones. Based on my experirences, I think that the most popular destinations for TASPers are Harvard, Princeton, Yale, UChicago, and certain LAC's (e.g. Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, etc.). All Ivies and Stanford will take it into consideration.</p>

<p>Regarding the recommendation letter, here's what to do:</p>

<p>(1) Print out the TASP brochure with the description of your top-choice seminar and give it to your teacher.
(2) Talk to your teacher about your interest in the seminar/program.
(3) Have your teacher print a letter on school stationery, insert it in a sealed envelope, and sign the envelope across the flap.
(4) Include the signed envelope in your application if you're mailing it. Give your teacher a stamped and addressed envelope if you're applying online.</p>

<p>In addition, A-san, if you think it makes a significant difference, e-mail the Telluride Association about including two recommendations. However, essays and the interview are ultimately the most important components in an application; I doubt that an extra recommendation will make much of a difference.</p>

<p>essays are way more important than anything else. I really wouldn't worry much about the rec unless you think your teacher will write a poor one or something (in which case, maybe find another teacher, lol).</p>

<p>and as for the interview, it's intense. it's scary. it's not fun.
be warned.</p>

<p>There are countless threads on TASS and TASP up on these boards, yet I never have seen anyone truly say thank you for the insight from all of the past participants spreading their knowledge of the proccess and the program. Being so excited about the program I started to get really nervous about the whole thing, but all of you guys have really helped. And if i can say one thing that has been reiterated by all of you, its to be yourself. Here i am working myself into a tizzy, just so i could realize that its me they want not the fake harvard-y superunrealistic throw away my passions for pure academic achievment me. </p>

<p>So once again thanks to all of you guys!</p>

<p>i concur, Giantredlobster.</p>

<p>thank you, previous taspers, for gracing us with your wisdom and knowledge. it is much appreciated. =)</p>

<p>yeah, thanks a lot, esp. vegangirl and musechick...you've both been very helpful :)</p>

<p>btw, what are your preferences for the seminars? mine are:</p>

<ol>
<li>mich (race, space, american self)
2(s). cornell ii (conceptualizing the modern body) and washu (st. louis as an experiment and classroom)</li>
<li>austin (science)</li>
<li>cornell i (foreign politics on film)</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li>cornell I</li>
<li>cornell II</li>
<li>Mich</li>
<li>Wash U</li>
<li>Austin</li>
</ol>

<p>I would say...</p>

<ol>
<li>Cornell I</li>
<li>Austin (science)</li>
<li>Mich</li>
</ol>

<p>Then Cornell II and St.Louis.</p>

<p>hm, interesting. i remember last year i liked the topics that most people listed as their 4rth or 5th choice.</p>

<ol>
<li>Mich</li>
<li>Wash U</li>
<li>Cornell I</li>
<li>Cornell II</li>
<li>Austin</li>
</ol>

<p>YAY SIDJENKS! XD Oh Cornell house, how I love thee.</p>

<p>Anyway.</p>

<p>"and as for the interview, it's intense. it's scary. it's not fun.
be warned." - Mine was so EXCELLENT, though! I fell in love with my interviewer. I was so happy to find someone who was so... intelligent and interesting. He was amazing and I was googly-eyed, lmao. We talked for about an hour and it was a really nice conversation. ^_^ </p>

<p>It depends on each individual interviewer though. <em>shrug</em> Be prepared for anything, hehe.</p>

<p>If you have holes in your argument and they point them out, don't worry, just FIX THEM! There's nothing wrong with acknowledging your mistakes, just don't go all self-loathing and "omg I suck. I am so stupid." lol. That's why you should go over your essays before the interview and have others critique them. Find faults and be prepared to correct them during the interview. In fact, if you do that, it indicates that you don't just throw ideas out there and forget about them, but instead you keep mulling them over. They like that; one of the points of Pubspeaks (oral presentations held at TASP about w/e topic you like) was to spark conversations and discussions that would go beyond that moment.</p>