@spark21 Mine was more analytic since I chose a few lines from a song
@sunflowers10 @strive345 thank u guys. I found out about tass a few days ago and it looks like my essays will barely meet the word count requirements
@spark21 same here, i have no idea how i’m going to finish this. i really doubt that i’ll even get in
@hopefully21 me neither, but at least the application is free haha
does anyone know if there’s a quota for international/non-african american students, or if that doesn’t matter? i think part 1 of the application form kind of threw me off…
@hopefully21 I believe that there is no quota, some TASS in the past had no international attendees while others did. It honestly all depends on your critical thinking and ideas presented
Also if you guys feel like your word count is not enough, just make sure it is between the required amount and sound passionate in what you believe in.
@sunflowers10 okay, thank you 
someone told me that because i wasn’t african-american and live outside the us, i was less likely to get in and i just wanted to check
Hey guys! Working on my TASS Application right now (I just started today whOOPS). I’m an international applicant (though I’m originally Asian-American).
@sunflowers10 About the first essay, you mentioned that we should talk about our educational experiences, but would you also recommend talking about the “informal” educational experiences? For example, I’ve completed a lot of online writing throughout my life and I wanted to refer to that as a type of informal education since it has shaped the person I’ve become. Thanks!
is anyone else worried about writing their opinions on African American political and social issues? I don’t want to sound disrespectful to one side, so it’s pretty tricky voicing my own thoughts and keeping it neutral at the same time.
@blueclouds101 I totally get you! I’m struggling with Prompt 3b because I myself don’t have a super strong opinion on this issue, but I also don’t want to give a generic soothing-both-sides answer that doesn’t really show who I am 
@blueclouds101 i’m definitely struggling with that one right now, i can’t keep it neutral in the slightest
Yes! Definitely talk about your informal education.
@rysaaa forgot to tag you in the comment above haha
Hey everyone!! As always, my offer to share my TASS essays is open to anyone who’s interested, but I’m also available to answer any questions about the program itself—what it was like, etc. ('18 TASSer, btw!)
In regards to not wanting to offend anyone, you want to make sure 100% that you educate yourself before you talk about Black issues (if you yourself aren’t Black), but don’t dilute your own identity and beliefs in order to seem neutral. There are a hundred people out there that are “neutral.” TASS wants people who stand out. State your opinions unapologetically but also delicately, if you will—like in a “This is what I firmly believe right now, but I understand that it’s not one that’s shared by everyone/I have room to grow and change or develop my opinions further/etc” kind of way.
@strive345 Thank you! Right now I’m trying to figure out which angle to write the first essay from: my first option is to write about what it was like moving schools across three different countries, and some of the racism I experienced, so it’s a Third Culture Kid narrative, while my second option is to focus more on the personal growth that I got from writing as well as the importance of media representation and diversity to me. Still playing around with each one so I hope I can finish writing this soon lol
@phanakin Do you think it would work if I focused the essay on the specific ways I’d try to address the conflict instead of explaining my own personal opinion on the controversy? I was considering talking about how “agree to disagree” is sometimes necessary but also explaining why I think it’s the best solution.
@phanakin thank you! i was wondering if i could read through some of your essays, i just submitted my application and i’d love to read through what other people think
@rysaaa I don’t know what the exact prompt for the question is, and so I can’t give you as good of an answer as I could if I did know. If the prompt is asking for where you stand on the issue, I’d still advise you to slip in your own stance, no matter how unobtrusively; if it’s more general and asking your thoughts in regards to it, then your idea could most definitely work!!
@hopefully21 Of course!! I just need your email in order to share my essays.
@phanakin I was wondering if I could read your essays as well
@lmo2021 For sure! If you don’t mind posting your email here, or PMing it to me, I’ll share them with you.