<p>I agree with Lisa that we didn’t have a problem with cliques. One of the reasons they were a large problem last year (and this is speculation) is because of the nature of this thread. It was not simply an informational, “TASP-only” thread, it was a discussion forum for TASP applicants and led to a lot of pre-TASP judgments and friendships forming, which led to more cliques. So don’t do that. I think the new FAQ and Ask a TASPer section on the website are there to prevent that from happening again.</p>
<p>There was an extreme diversity of thought at my TASP. We had several TASPers and one factota who were very well read in and concerned about Philosophy, while several others and the other factota found it as interesting as “the quacking of ducks.” Academic interests and personal perspectives ran the full gambit, from a culture-concerned aspiring poet from a West Coast city to an aspiring brain researcher from a one-horse town in Pennsylvania. Debate happens, a lot, over just about everything, because the ways that TASPers think are so diverse.</p>
<p>i didn’t get any letter about applying, and don’t think I will… i got commended but not national merit scholar. i’m applying anyway, but will this affect my chances of getting in?</p>
<p>A lot of applicants to TASP apply without receiving a letter because of the PSATs, and it does not effect your chances in getting into TASP whether you got a letter or not.</p>
<p>If I could bold this I would:
Contact between applicants, future interviewees, and future TASPers is strongly frowned upon by The Association. As a lot of people will attest to this, making contact before hand tends to cause problems, if you make it into the program. </p>
<p>@Wombat:
Quacking ducks. Fantastic! By the way, we’re on a first name basis now on CC?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a problem to post here, if you are using it to ask questions/clarify things/talk about the application process. I wouldn’t take it beyond that, the important thing is that you don’t “get to know each other” before the program starts. I think “tend to cause problems” is a little strong though, a better phrasing (I think) would be “has the potential to cause problems.” There was already a big discussion about the role of this thread earlier in the thread.</p>
<p>Uh oh. If I didn’t get a letter, did I bomb the PSATs? I haven’t gotten scores back from the school yet, and I was hoping I made National Merit.</p>
<p>I don’t recall exactly, but pretty sure that I started and finished my essays (other than minor revisions–I write relatively clean first drafts) over Winter Break.</p>
<p>Keil and wombat are good TASPlicants. Emulate them, and not me. Ahem, not that I would ever write my essays two days before the application was due or anything (though I wasn’t the only one).</p>
<p>EricLee, they don’t send applications to all National Merit people. I think their cut-off is higher. I also didn’t get a letter until after I knew my official scores, but I can’t remember exactly when I got it. It doesn’t matter in terms of your application anyhow.</p>
<p>I finally got my PSATs back and got a 226. I got a letter. My friend, who got a 222, did not. I hope this helps somewhat. I have a feeling the cutoff is somewhere around 225 or above the highest National Merit state cutoff. I’m not completely sure if everyone has received them yet, though, because I am the only one in my school (I think) who has received it as of yet, although I do not know other people’s scores. Good luck EricLee!</p>
<p>Is the teacher recommendation still a component of the TASP application? Looking at the 2010 Application, I couldn’t find it in either the PDF or the online component.</p>
<p>I haven’t checked, but I believe it’s now part of Stage II, only required (along with school transcript) for those who make it to the interview round.</p>
<p>So I just received the letter for TASP. Initially, I thought it was one of those fake “prestigious” programs that promote leadership… until I read that they give full scholarships to all those accepted.
Obviously, I came to CC to check out this program and apparently it’s amazing. Am I too late to the party? There’s less than a month and a half until the deadline and it seems that many hopefuls have been thinking about this for months.
And WOW, a 6% acceptance rate (even less this year)?? aow;iejgo;waeiwae.
I’m new to this, and I got to page 6 of this thread before giving up… The advice was too sparse.
Can an alumni (or other knowledgeable person willing to share) compile some basic things I should be thinking about?</p>
<p>Also, I just tried to make an account. What would be an appropriate username? I mean, “TheBaus” probably wouldn’t be recommended would it?</p>