I had some books for school but also books by Mark Haddon, an astrology guide, Divergent, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat…I was all over the place. My concern with my book list was really seeming like I was trying too hard.
@mightve ayyy good taste 
(regarding your program choices)
My list was very short. I think my favorite book that I listed was Ishmael. Which essays do you guys think were your strongest?
I thought that my strongest was the conflict one. I talked about how I overcame crippling shyness (my parents almost took me to therapy because of it, at one point). Included how, at a program last summer that my school nominated me for here in Missouri, I “Took a metaphorical hammer to those eggshells instead of walking on them.” Or something like that. It was my favorite of the ones I did, though I liked the one over any topic (mine was genetic engineering).
Mine was also the conflict one, I think. It talked about my place as a freethinker in a conservative Christian family. Strong family dynamics & revelation of the kind of background I grew up in. I like being an anomaly, although rebelliousness isn’t the reason behind my secularism.
My conflict essay was eh. I decided to write about typical teenager self consciousness. I specifically spoke about an accident that left me looking rather non-aesthetically pleasing, and my struggles with going out in public subsequent to the accident, as I was filled with stereotypical concerns of being judged and mocked.
I was originally going to write an essay about facing adversary in sports and I’m very happy I steered clear from that (it was very generic sounding).
@Ozymandeos dude could I please steal that metaphorical hammer quote for a school essay? I’ll even quote it and say it was written by Ozy Mandeos (my teachers don’t have to know that’s not a real person’s name haha)
You can use it if you want, you don’t even have to attribute it.
Guys, I haven’t really been “nervous” because I’ve been living in sort of a state of denial about TASP - maybe if I forgot about it, it would hurt less when I actually got the results?
Winter Break was so tough because it was nothing but me and my essays and TASP pretty much occupied every minute of my thinking… now that school has started up again, its easier to kind of put things in perspective and not worry too much… but as March comes closer I am re-becoming nervous… ! !
On another note, if anyone would be willing to send me any of their essays (we can trade if you like), I would love to read what you guys all wrote about! You guys all seem like very interesting and intelligent people, and I feel like even if I don’t make it I’d at least get something out of the whole process by learning about others povs, if that makes sense.
snow day again!!! snow is good. thank you winter.
Sure; if you send me a message on here I’d show you my essays. The way I see it, they’re already done and submitted. Can’t really use them for other things, so why not share them?
I didn’t have a snow day today, but probably should have; tons of fender-benders in the parking lot today.
I’d be down to trade essays, message me if you’re interested 
Sometimes I delude myself that I’ll get in, but then I remember how awful my conflict essay was and hahaha no. I’ve actually done a pretty successful job of forgetting about TASP, but this thread is giving me anxiety.
Doesn’t the website say we’ll know mid-March? But in the past the decisions have come out very early March, right? When do the denied notices come?
@LikeThis I’m sure your conflict essay was fine! What did you write about? (If you want feedback you can send it to me)
I feel like my weakest was the one over our chosen topic, cause I was in such a rush to get it done. Time management isn’t my strong suit, ha…
can someone review my selected books/journals and tell me what they think?
Caesar: Selections from his Commentarii de Bello Gallico by Julius Caesar, edited by Hans-Friedrich Mueller (in original Latin)*
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes edited by Langston Hughes
The Crucible by Arthur Miller*
Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers (French Translation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) by J.K. Rowling
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The Economist
Foreign Affairs*
I added Harry Potter because I did not want to give the impression I was putting down classics just to look smart, plus it’s an interesting study in translation as I’ve read them in English already.
Seems like a fairly good selection. More comprehensive than mine.
Ender’s Shadow - Orson Scott Card
Shadow of the Hegemon - Orson Scott Card
The Foundation Trilogy - Isaac Asinov
In Conquest Born - C. S. Friedman
Of Mice and Men * - John Steinbeck
Red Mars - Kim Stanley Robinson
Xenocide - Orson Scott Card
Children of the Mind - Orson Scott Card
Science World Magazine - Multiple
Beowulf - Unknown
House of Many Ways - Diana Wynne Jones
Origin - Jessica Khoury
@Ozymandeos I totally approve of every Sci-Fi novel on this list. Ender’s Shadow was too good.
Thanks! I need to get the ones after Shadow of the Hegemon too. 
Yeah, I read a lot of sci-fi. Write some too.
I think all of you people have pretty impressive (and diverse book tastes). From what I’ve read and heard and asked, our book lists aren’t really huge factors of judgement (like it won’t be a huge tipping scale of whether or not we get in), but I was still antsy about my book list anyway (although it was 100% truthful and reflective of my personality), I still feared of being a total dingleberry.
What my list was:
• A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn*
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate*
• A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway*
• Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
• Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
• Longreads.com
• The New Yorker Magazine
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
• Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen*
• Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
(Also, did anybody start reading past TASP threads during the application notices? I hadn’t been too worried about TASP in a while because I shoved it in the back of my mind, but now the reality’s hit me and I feel like rolling around on my floor because I’m like OH DINGUS ITS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.)
According to last year’s thread, results came out the first Tuesday of March. That would be the 3rd for us. Does anybody know if you can call them on Monday the 2nd for results? I saw that a lot of international students got their e-mails later than the rest and there is no way I’m waiting a second longer than I absolutely have to, lol.
(also, ohmygod ohmygod three days left???)
@anterograde omg I read never let me go too! It was a very unique book/unique, kind a left me feeking dark but Really made me think
@anterograde I agree. I think the book/reading materials list’s main goal is to represent our interests and the topics we enjoy exploring in our free time.
I’ve read Never Let Me Go and other works by Ishiguro and liked all of them! I wonder what his new book will be like.