<p>Question: how much do PSAT scores factor into admissions?</p>
<p>I don't know but I'm in conscious denial right now.</p>
<p>I'm not sure it does much at all; we had a pretty wide range of PSAT scores, as far as I could tell. There is a teacher rec required, and a transcript too, but the bulk of the app is essays: 6 of them, to be exact. The interview is also probably given more weight than in most college processes. In all, I think test scores are low on the list of admission requirements, and I not even sure you have to send scores at all.</p>
<p>But straight from the source (TASP bulletin):
The application process is more rigorous than most college admissions procedures, and each application is given serious, thorough attention. Because TASP is an experience in community living as well as in intellectual growth, we try to select students who seem concerned for the welfare of others and who are flexible enough to enjoy the challenge of interacting with people whose perspectives and experiences
vary enormously. We also try to evaluate the accomplishments of all applicants in light of their circumstances. In this way we hope to ensure geographic, economic, and racial diversity. So while they help us identify promising candidates, test scores and transcripts have only a limited influence on our decision. Were much more interested in the essays written for the application. These essays give applicants a chance to characterize themselves and to demonstrate their independence of thought, curiosity, and concern for social and political issues.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think that basically, the most important selection criteria can be whittled right down to those essays, and your interview.</p>
<p>Well i am definetly applying cuz it seems like a great program. I love to debate and will probably focus in on that when i do my app. I got a couple questions sry if they were asked before.</p>
<p>What were the questions or types of questions that you had to write essays for last year?</p>
<p>How many essays do you have to do?</p>
<p>How many teacher recs do you need?</p>
<p>There were six questions to be answered, and I don't think they change from year to year. My memory's rather hazy on this, but I think only three of them demand a formal all-out essay. </p>
<p>One calls for an analysis of a poem, play, or novel (basically, any written work) of your choice, and the two others are those oh-so-generic questions where you're meant to discuss "a matter of local, national, or international concern" and mull over a conflict and its impact on you. </p>
<p>Next comes a list of books and periodicals read within the past year. Apparently some people wrote little blurbs about the texts they'd read, but I just submitted a simple list.</p>
<p>Then they ask about your plans for the future, career-wise and what-not.</p>
<p>And the sixth required piece of writing is a ranking of the five TASP seminars in order of their appeal to you, along with rationale.</p>
<p>Now, some wrote the maximum double-page-single-spaced for these questions, but it's definitely not required. And while you could conceivably write six pieces of essay-esque length and detail, note that only three are actually required.</p>
<p>I sent in one rec. from my English teacher.</p>
<p>Eh, replace the "matter of concern" with "write about anything that interests you" and you've got it</p>
<p>Yeah, the essays should be used as an opportunity to talk about what you want to talk about. The prompts are broad enough that you should be able to accent your many interests, talents, and possibly activities.<br>
Give these some thought, they matter much more than you think they do. Don't stress over them, but understand that TASP admissions people could really care less about your grades.</p>
<p>"Don't stress over them, but understand that TASP admissions people could really care less about your grades."</p>
<p>A TASPer making a usage error? What's the world coming to? Did Dr. Dave teach you nothing? They COULDN'T care less about your grades, ie. they don't care about them.</p>
<p>But in all seriousness...</p>
<p>I actually disagree with pianoking...while I would fall short of advising against, it, there is certainly NO NEED to promote yourself in your essays. The book essay is lit-crit, the "issue" essay is polemical journalism, and the personal essay is creative non-fiction. They are NOT "this is how great I am, these are all my great ECs" essays. Oh, and I wrote 5 pages (single spaced) for the personal essay, so don't worry about length (conversely, I just did a list for books, and a paragraph for future plans).</p>
<p>yeah hdm i know what ur saying and i wasn't going to promote myself in the essays that way. Im just going to use them to show my passion for politics and discussing issues (debating).</p>
<p>Oh yeah would the fact that I have lived in five countries since i have kept moving every 4 years help me in any way. Like as a diversity factor.</p>
<p>Hi,
I'm pretty interested in TASP.</p>
<p>What's the political scene like over at TASP? Am I allowed to/should I express my political views in the interviews? I feel very strongly about certain topics and my goal isn't to offend anyone... Is the interview like a grilling? Overall, what are the interviews over/what are they like? Do you discuss recent books you've read?</p>
<p>Yeah, I've got lots of questions :(. Sorry if they've already been answered -- if they have been, just point me to the post # :); it's 2:43AM over here, and I'm off to sleep soon :).</p>
<p>I don't think we've mentioned much about the interview. Or maybe we have, I really don't have time to read back either.</p>
<p>If you live in the States, it will be a face-to-face interview, lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours (at least these are the limits that I've heard of so far), with one to six (!) interviewers. Experiences vary, but basically every interview centers on - or at least draws discussion material from - the essays in your application, so be sure you know them well. Generally, the interview seems to have been rigorous, with the interviewer challenging your stances in the essays and probing for weaknesses, in order to gauge how eloquently, quickly, and coherently you can discuss and defend them. Knowledge of current affairs also wouldn't hurt, I guess. Apparently, many TASPers were asked for their reactions to the Terri Schiavo case. Didn't happen to me though. Basically, the interview is probably a test of how well you would fit into a TASP atmosphere.</p>
<p>Yes, the books on the booklist can come up in discussion, most likely when the interviewer is well-acquainted with a certain text. So make sure you don't do something silly like listing works that you haven't actually read. Having said that, I frantically re-read one of the books on my list upon finding out that my interviewer was an English professor. We didn't touch the booklist.</p>
<p>Don't feel as though you have to hide your political views during the interview. Several TASPers at UMich (well, one in particular comes to mind) disagreed vehemently with their interviewers, but got in just fine. I guess it's all about how well-reasoned and persuasive your arguments are.</p>
<p>The TASPers were a pretty liberal bunch, but don't feel as though this is an environment hostile to others. The others can give a better impression, because I'm not very politically passionate, but basically know that there's a lot of respect for differing views. And of course be ready for some serious discussions (argument doesn't convey the right sense) of the profound and eloquent kind if you do indeed get in.</p>
<p>pyroman</p>
<p>Mom of TASPer from '04 here. The fact that you have lived in so many different places could very well be an asset, depending on how you present it. It does seem as if there is a lot of thought given to the mix of students at each TASP-- in terms of diversity as well as academic interests and life experiences. For the essay on something which had a great impact on her, my daughter wrote about her return to the US after being a "global nomad" in several countries. TASP really seems to select interesting and passionate individuals--if you think that your experiences give you something new to add to the mix, then by all means highlight them.</p>
<p>Wow.....TASP sounds awesome!!!!!!!! OMG I am soooo applying.....</p>
<p>When-ish is the application due and when-ish is the actual seminar? I just need approximations because I know the dates probably change from year to year. Also, I want to make sure it doesn't overlap with my trip to France this summer. Does anyone know these dates?</p>
<p>Wow I'm really depressed....I just found out that last years' dates were June 26-Aug 6. If they are similar for this year (late June to early Aug) then I can't even apply, because I'm going to France from June 28-July 6. If they can just push their seminar back a week for me...........aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!</p>
<p>At least it only took me like 5 minutes to figure this out instead of getting all excited about applying and later realizing I can't make it (IF) I get in.</p>
<p>Thnx alot siusplau, i think im going to include it alot in one of my essays since it is because of living in so many different countries that i can see many issues from alot of viewpoints and have kinda a broader perspective than most of the kids at my school do. This especially applies to the middle east since that was one of the places that i lived. Hopefully i will have some sort of chance</p>
<p>First of all, could not care less means that they do care, and could care less I believe means that they don't. If nothing else, a colloquialism is very fitting for a blog. (Don't worry my TASP hopefulls, not every tasper is so nerdy) ; )</p>
<p>Pyroman, if this has been important in your life, then go for it. Obviously there were many strategies to these essays, so do what is best for you.</p>
<p>I always thought they both meant the same thing.</p>
<p>It's just that "couldn't care less" means you care as little as possible, so you could not care less. The double negatives mean that it can be interpreted either way, but I've never heard someone use the phrase to mean they actually do care.</p>
<p>"Could care less" seems at first to imply that you actually do care. However, the connotation is that you don't; I guess that would be justified if you took it to mean "I don't care enough to care less than I already do."</p>
<p>Though I have to say, "couldn't care less" doesn't sound as familiar. I guess it's just more convenient to leave out the apostrophized "not".</p>
<p>Heh, since we're already at it...</p>
<p>I agree with hdm245. "couldn't care less" means you already care as little as humanly possible. You basically don't care.</p>
<p>"could care less" means that you do care some. You basically do care.</p>
<p>Although I have to say that your meaning would actually have been the same, and perfectly clear, either way. It's just that "could care less" gave me pause... I've never actually seen people use that phrase. </p>
<p>Egads, my own pedantry appalls me. :p</p>
<p>Oh, and for confirmation from the TASP Timeline on the Telluride Association website, 2006's TASPs will be from 25/6 to 5/8.</p>
<p>Eh, I (and probably some other '05 TASPers) will likely be an interviewer, so just realize that if you live in the greater St. Louis area, you are going to get the weirdest questions ever. I think my control is going to be "When you're saying something lengthy on whatever messaging program you use, do you send in paragraphs, or in one/two sentence clips?" I'll mess with your head guaranteed, then send out good recs for the people whose names end in vowels :D Cheers!</p>