<p>The applications are out and here's a thread to discuss it!</p>
<p>Can any alumni TASPs give us some advice? What were some things you talked about? What can we list under main areas of intellectual interest?</p>
<p>I can’t edit my first post but I wanted to add another question for any alumni TASPers, can I do an analysis on a movie? </p>
<p>I’m no TASP alumni (applying this year), but you have to use a written work for your analysis. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tellurideassociation.org/brochures/TASPAP15.pdf”>http://www.tellurideassociation.org/brochures/TASPAP15.pdf</a></p>
<p>“Write a critical analysis of a book, poem, play, essay, or other text you have read outside of school. It will be important for you to formulate an argument about the text and support it. Your analysis should not be a plot summary or an analysis of literary devices, although you should feel free to discuss plot and literary devices as they relate to your broader argument.”</p>
<p>Good luck! </p>
<p>I decided not to do a film analysis but just for your info, their FAQ section says that films are allowed to be analyzed.</p>
<p>Also, I really really love your avatar 
Good luck to you too! </p>
<p>Ah, thanks! I never even saw that. :)</p>
<p>Hello everyone! I have a quick question about the application. For #3, the essay on conflict and personal change, do y’all think an essay about an inner struggle with a piece of music that I am learning would fit the prompt? Thanks!</p>
<p>Protip: check the FAQ for the essays because it really clarifies stuff about the essays, tbh. </p>
<p>Hey, just so you all know, the Telluride Association has acted horribly toward one of its own house members over the past months. As a TASP alum I’m encouraging you to #StrikeTA until they provide safety for all of its members! <a href=“http://striketa.■■■■■■■■■■/”>http://striketa.■■■■■■■■■■/</a></p>
<p>oh god the analysis question so not looking forward to it</p>
<p>i’m horrid at writing analysis</p>
<p>Hello Prospies, </p>
<p>I’m a TASP alumn (won’t mention what year/location because I don’ want to be identified). Please don’t stress about the essays (but don’t procrastinate either!)–even though the application is intense, people write about all sorts of interesting things (I think someone did a Justin Bieber song, once?), so it’s best to look within yourself and see what seems the most authentic rather than trying to conform to a tested model. When TASP says they want diversity, they literally mean they want diversity, and we had everything from debater-ivy-league-sheeple to spectacular flame outs. The one defining trait I think I saw in my fellow TASPers was that everyone was really engaged about something in the world around them, they had passion and really cared, and it showed when you got to meet them. I know it’s tempting to ask about what other people are doing/did for their application, but as long as you come from a place of honest authenticity, you should be fine. Write for yourself, not for an audience!</p>
<p>Above all, don’t apply to TASP because it’s a ‘hook’ on the college application or because of all the rumors flying around about it–apply because seminar kicks ass and self-governing communities will change the way you see the world around you. TASP is amazing because of the experience, the people you will meet and the things that you learn–NOT because of any label. Know also that TASP isn’t Eden, it’s deeply flawed and will have many hiccups, but at the end of the day, your TASP will be what you (and your community members) make of it. Ours was like paradise at the end and afterwards, but we spent a lot of sweat and tears getting there </p>
<p>Love, and good luck on your applications! I agree with what anterograde said, the official website is your best recourse for any essay-writing advice (even as an alum, I can’t figure out why I got into TASP and so can’t give you accurate advice about what to do). Also, do be aware about what hogwartstrawgoh said regarding TA and transphobia. I’m not going to encourage you to act either way, but you should be informed about what’s going on. </p>
<p>Hey, TASP alumnus here as well! Please feel free to send essays my way or message me privately if you have any questions about the program.
Really, be genuine. There was an unusual kindness and authentic intellectual fervor at my TASP, and I hope that next year’s participants are able to create an equally exceptional environment. That being said, your acceptance or denial is not the final judgment of your ability or your passion, but it does suck and that shouldn’t be dismissed (that happens a lot on these threads; I think it’s better to be honest about how devastating these things can be).
On the TA transphobia issue, I think it is better to fight the system within or even talk about the issue in your essays if you find it poignant than to boycott the organization simply because there will be applicants to replace those who boycott. The power of the pen is more valuable, but be sure to have all of your research done thoroughly before you take up arms.
Good luck to all of you, and I hope you get to spend time with the wonderful, beautiful human beings that end up at these programs. :)</p>
<p>^^Good point on the fighting the system from within</p>
<p>And I agree with what Kpalm says–even though I advocate approaching TASP a little more laid back, I was on the edge of my seat about this last year (perhaps I’m overcompensating for my younger self’s anxiety?). But please don’t anticipate anything before it happens; give this application everything you’ve got and then we can comfort each other when the deadline passes and everyone is waiting for decisions <3 </p>
<p>Hello,
I am going to apply to TASP and RSI, although I am nervous about my chances.(PSAT CR:800 W:730 M:670 Total 221, 3.99 GPA, science fair/science olympiad) I want to do something science-y (I know TASP isn’t science, but still intellectual and highly acclaimed and I think it will be an amazing "growing up” experience). Some of my dream schools are Penn, Yale, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt (I went to Penn last year for camp). I would love suggestions of other equally merited camps that could help me prepare for the intense, independent life of one of these universities, but that I actually have a chance of getting into. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hey, kellets! I will say that TASP is a wonderful place both for those interested in science (we had quite a few kids interested in pursuing science-related majors) and those looking for a challenging, independent experience. I know that my experience was very trying, and I learned a lot about what I will require in college to succeed emotionally and academically. My summer in Michigan was really tough emotionally, and I had a lot of trouble managing some of my internal struggles, but the experience made me face these issues, which I had never had to deal with fully, and conquer them. I learned a lot about patience and about people, and I think we all learned a lot about ourselves and ended up much more fully equipped to deal with the reality of autonomy post-TASP. Hope this helps a little, and feel free to message me privately with any concerns, questions, and advice!</p>
<p>I’m thinking about applying to TASP. I love the core ideals behind it, and I’m really a discussion driven person, so it seems so cool. I’m not sure if I’m qualified… I haven’t done anything absolutely spectacular outside of school. I keep up with grades, did fine on the PSAT, so I’m not sure if it’s worth applying if my chances are so low? </p>
<p>Any ideas, guys?</p>
<p>I haven’t said this before so it’s probably not obvious to the people who want to apply, but I’m also a junior and applying, too. Honestly, if you want to apply for TASP, just apply. It’s really not about what your stats are (like what scores you get in standardized testing or what grades you have), it’s really about the essays that you write that will make them select you. I know because I’ve had a really long talk with a friend that went to TASP last year and I was pretty worried about not getting in because everything about me except my ability to write made me feel pretty self-conscious and I was like, “I’m never going to get in!” But I looked over the website pretty zealously to the point where it’s probably my most viewed website, and the website pretty much states that your essays are really the defining factor that makes them decide to accept you, not your (or lack thereof) the extracurricular activities you’re in. So if you think you can write all the essays before the deadline, then seriously just apply. If you think it’s not worth it because of the low acceptance rate (like a friend of mine who is pretty baffled that I’m applying because it’s so low), then it’s okay, you know? </p>
<p>So, good luck everybody! :)</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone know how many people that apply are selected for an interview. Are most people interviewed or is the interview also highly selective?</p>
<p>I know someone who got in and literally had not that great stats except maybe a decent SAT 1 score but he was more or less the only person from my state, and I live in one of the more competitive ones, but he was an excellent writer and had a brilliant mindset</p>
<p>I received an email inviting me to apply to TASP (based off of my PSAT score I suppose), and I looked into the program and it seems like something I would really love to do. I plan on working on some of the essay during this last week of winter break. I could use some advice however: my parents immigrated from another country, and I was born here, however my entire family is still in that country, so, I am very much in touch with my culture and “motherland” so to speak. Do you think it would be okay if for the essay that asks about an issue important to you, I discuss something that has had a huge impact on our home country, and something that I am really passionate about? Thank you for any and all advice about applying for TASP, I don’t really have any experience in applying for pre-college programs. </p>