<p>Yes, they probably will. Telluride tries their best to interview all candidates in person, and will probably fly somebody up there (yeah, they fly people! Just for interviews! Intense!). If they can't arrange something, you may get a phone interview instead.</p>
<p>And caela, I used to live about 45 minutes away from Toronto before I moved from California! Have you ever heard of St. Catharines?</p>
<p>So, I just got the application in the mail today. (Still no sign of PSAT scores-- I'm pretty sure they've been sitting in the front office of my school for about a month, but I guess this is a good sign?) I've heard of TASP before, and I've always vaguely wanted to apply, but now that I've seen the essay prompts, I'm don't know. I'm not the best (expository/analytical) writer in the world, so I think I'm kind of screwed. I'm one of those anal retentive nutjobs who want structure guidance on everything, so I'm kind of confused.</p>
<p>So...</p>
<ol>
<li>I actually placed at this state-wide lit crit competition, so they'll probably expect my first essay to be brilliant. Um... No. I was wondering if we could do something comparative with two works. And if it had to be completely objective third-person or if we could do reader response stuff.</li>
<li>Again, can we use personal experience for the problem essay? I like memoir/creative nonfiction a lot better than straight-up analysis or whatever, so I was wondering if I could use that somehow...</li>
<li>Past school year of past academic year for the booklist? Haha-- I know, it probably doesn't matter. And also-- I'm one of those shallow, hasty people who reads a crapload of books but can't remember them... very well. And I also pay attention to literary devices/style more than plot. So it'd be like:</li>
</ol>
<p>Interviewer: What did you think of Book X?
Me: I found the author's incessant use of polysyndeton distracting.
Interviewer: But what happened?
Me: ....
Interviewer: ???
Me: ....</p>
<p>Overall, I'm not sure if I should bother applying. My chances are nil, and school's out for me, so I can't even ask for the rec and transcript and stuff until like two weeks before the applications due.</p>
<p>1.) if i remember correctly, my critical analysis wasn't completely third-person. but regardless, you can do pretty much whatever you want as long as it fulfills their requirements. telluride is not going to bite your head off if you use reader-response criticism or psychoanalytic or marxist or whatever. i'm not sure about the comparing two works thing, but you can email them and ask.
2.) all of my essays were anecdotal besides the critical analysis, including the future objectives essay and the issues essay. i wrote my issue essay on an incident last summer with parents, so definitely not very global/political at all. i like narrative writing a lot better than expository too, and i guess telluride didn't mind.
3.) i wouldn't worry about it, but i listed all the books i read in the past year. i took out the books i didn't completely finish and the books i didn't remember very well. i don't think you'll run into a problem during the interview with the booklist if you're an avid reader who does not have the best long-term memory. the interview is not a test to see how many plot lines you can spew out, but the interviewer might talk to you about a book on your list that he/she has read and ask you questions relating to your essays. </p>
<p>so yeah, don't worry too much about the booklist, write/critique in whatever style you're comfortable with, and if you think you might want to go, apply! don't dwell too much on little things, especially the interview (worry about that AFTER april :P).</p>
<p>Lunar:</p>
<p>Just because you have a structured writing format, it does not mean you are ultimately doomed for the tasp essays. While the prompts could be considered vague and dont truly allude to any specific writing style, or atleast that of structure, dont worry. The essays are a vehicle for you to express yourself and obviously your structured writing style is part of that. That being said, I encourage you to approach the essays as you would any other essay (Well also with enthusiasm-- something at least I lack when writing school essays) and do not be concerned about your style conflicting with this so called "Telluride style" this thread has been alluding to. These programs are truly a community and an amalgamation of all those who are in it. I know last summer we needed some extra structure, maybe you could have provided it :-P.</p>
<p>As far as the rec goes. If you are worried about not being able to recieve a rec in time, call or email Telluride. The office is very understanding and they do realize many people learn/recieve the app through PSATs. Last year some people recieved the app this way as late as January. They understand this and they should be accommodating if you explain your situation and a letter or a transcript ends up a few days late. </p>
<p>You seem interested in TASP so dont let the intangibles deter you. If you apply full-heartedly and stay true to yourself you have just as good of a chance as anyone else.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>I just started my application today. I know the deadline is sometime in January, but am I giving myself enough time to put together a good application? I'm kind of worried that if I rush it then it won't be an accurate representation of myself.</p>
<p>Also, I kind of get wordy for essay questions (even the short response ones). I know that some applications for summer programs like to keep things brief and some like to read novella type responses from applicants. Would this be an application where being a bit verbose is acceptable?</p>
<p>AWW, BABY TASPLICANTS!</p>
<p>Joy, all over again.</p>
<p>Shuffle, do what you think will suit your style best. If you're used to cranking out good stuff at a moment's notice, procrastinate. HOWEVER, if you think you'll do a better job by starting now, do that instead. It can't hurt to at least think about what you'll be writing in your essays starting now, :). </p>
<p>As for what type of responses--just be yourself. Keep it ubersmart, keep it simple, do whatever feels right. They do, however, say something about a pseudo page-limit (I think it stays more or less the same every year), so try to keep it within those margins. If you go over a bit, it's fine, but don't write 5 pages when they only want one and a half, mmkay?</p>
<p>P.S. - Lobster! Tako! Roam! Fancy seeing you kids here! :P <em>BIG VIRTUAL HUG</em></p>
<p>Also, lunar_years: APPLY. APPLY. Covering books is at the discretion of your interviewer. However, if you don't remember stuff about the books, don't worry about it. Just ask the person to refresh your mind a little. The way it works is that they'll generally ask you to analyze or discuss something within the book. For example, if we're talking about the story of Jekyll and Hyde, we can start to talk about the nature of man, if Jekyll was a manifestation of evil that was just PART of Hyde (so man is inherently part evil, just that sometimes it's dormant) or if it was another entity altogether, that was just living in the same body and was triggered by the potion or if the potion CREATED the monster/evil. We can talk about...devices used in the story, we can talk about alternate endings. Really, the possibilities are endless. It's all up to you and to the interviewer. A tip I would give you is to use your experiences and your knowledge to back that up as much as possible. If you can talk in theoretical terms, that's fine, but if you can ground your arguments with proof or whatever, that's even better.</p>
<p>OH. ALSO. A BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG TIP for everyone: be comfortable talking about abstract, hypothetical situations. I have seen this bite applicants in the butt before. If I want to talk to you about how a society of flying marshmallows would organize itself, GO FOR IT, DISCUSS, and DO NOT block yourself by saying that marshmallows don't fly and can't form societies. Run with it! That has happened one too many times and it has shown the closemindedness of the applicant, and their inability to wrap their mind around new ideas. And that, my friends, is NOT a good thing, especially at TASP, but in life as well. </p>
<p>One of the things an interview is for is to see if you are capable of thinking about concepts on the spot and having coherent ideas; if you can work with hypothetical situations and analyze them instead of saying NONONO, THIS ISN'T HOW IT WORKS IN REAL LIFE. In addition, if you start an argument and realize a valid counterpoint can be made against it, don't be afraid to bring it up. It shows you're thinking about all the possibilities and arguments/counterarguments, and that is GOOD. Showing your thought-process during the interview is good. :) However, don't start contradicting yourself in every sentence!</p>
<p>Again, a lot of the interview depends on you and on the interviewer. It's impossible to say for sure how it'll go, but just go with a mix of confidence and humility, stand your ground, and be yourself. That's all you can really do. :) If you want to have mock-interviews over the phone with people, that's cool, just to get your brain juices flowing.</p>
<p>OMG Muse! I need to call you ASAP, we havent talked in ages.</p>
<p>I really liked the whole Marshmallow thing... It got me thinking. Some points I would cover is...</p>
<p>The Climate -->Has to be temprate. If it was to humid or hot in any intimate situation things would get sticky and that is no good. </p>
<p>Communism -->All marshmallows are affectively the same (Ooops, you could argue that). So I could see it as the only true communistic community in the sense that I dont believe their would be any marshmallow hierarchy. Marx would be proud of the little white sugary delicacies. </p>
<p>Mundane --> Perhaps what attracted Marx to communism so much is that it could never be perfect. The whole revolution thing, and in the end every communist society has "failed" due to leadership abuse. So these marshmallows if a "flawless" form of communism was to transpire, it would be boring. </p>
<p>Flying --> Chastise me for being literal. But why flying marshmallows? Is this some elitist clique of marshmallows. And if so were is the proletariat non-flying marshmallows. And when do they get to revolt? Then maybe it wouldn't be so mundane. </p>
<p>Lol, wow. Thanks Muse!</p>
<p>P.s. you better ask somebody a question like that in an interview.</p>
<p>hey! it's musechick!! omg!</p>
<p>and corey, that last post just upped the amazingness quotient of this thread significantly.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. I feel a little better about it now, and I just have to overcome my natural tendency to procrastinate. (Who am I kidding? I'll probably wake up one morning and think, "Crap! TASP applications were due... three weeks ago.")</p>
<p>Actually, for the lit analysis thing, I'm kinda tempted to do some kind of contemporary song-- you know, the ones with really obscure, quasi-poetic, possibly drug-related lyrics. I'm sure you could come up with a plausible explanation for what it's actually talking about, and it'd be... interesting?</p>
<p>Okay, so maybe not. I'd probably better just play it safe and read Burns or something.</p>
<p>LMAO. Corey. I love you. AND YES CALL ME.</p>
<p>Oh lunar_years...I feel you. :D You can slack off time-wise with the essays, since those can be submitted online, but you CANNOT do that with the teachr recs and important paperwork. DO NOT SLACK WITH THAT. Those are due before and...yeah. Pay attention to the due dates of everything. Mark that shiz on yo' calendar.</p>
<p>Go for that lit analysis. It'll make for an interesting read and I'm sure you could do it. If you want, PM me with a draft or your ideas. :)</p>
<p>P.S. - best TASP brochure was '07 with the '06 TASPERS THANKYOUVERYMUCH. Srlsy. We looked effin' fun.</p>
<p>The 2007 Washers sort of dominated this years brochure a little to much for my liking. </p>
<p>And yes, 32flavors. I used proletariat just for you. :-)</p>
<p>they may have dominated the brochure, but we were still the cutest ;)</p>
<p>I've gotten two applications/brochures in the mail. I guess one because of TASS and one because of PSAT scores...?</p>
<p>Shuffle - I didn't know about TASS last year until towards the end of December, and I still applied and got an interview. Go for it.</p>
<p>All right, just a few questions on essay content.
For the one about a conflict, would it be all right if I talked about coming out? I mean, I'm not afraid to let the TASP people know I'm a total homo, but the story of my coming out involves a lot of me acting like a total spaz. I've become a lot less spaz-y, but I don't want them to think that I'm a total whackjob...?</p>
<p>and also, would I be the lamest person ever if I did the critical analysis on Harry Potter?</p>
<p>I forgot all about the brochure! I never read it...Christmas is really running my life.</p>
<p>I want to finish at least 3/5 essays over break.</p>
<p>haha, i like you lookbeyond. i think it's fine to write about coming out, and if you want to make it funny, make it funny. you have four other essays so if one makes you sound spazzy, you can always change the tone for the other ones. </p>
<p>if you can do it in a refreshing way, go for it. people did their critnals last year on songs, children's books, nonfiction, etc, so as long as you can make it work, do whatever you feel like.</p>
<p>i'm reading through all of these posts and it just makes me want to go more and more.</p>
<p>AHHHH</p>
<p>o man...i rly awnna get in tasp but their acceptance rate is kinda crap</p>