<p>So what happens if you write an analysis on a book they haven’t read? Does the interview contain questions on the ideas you’ve contained in your essays? Like debating what you’ve written?</p>
<p>i wrote my first essay- the what makes you tick essay. i’m glad its done. but it definetly needs help.</p>
<p>All interviews are different. They start off with ideas presented in your essays and they try to cover everything your wrote (at least a little). However, they are conversations, so they will flow where they may. You may end up talking about something that’s only tangentially related to your essays. They may challenge your ideas, ask you to expand, present alternatives, etc. It depends on the interviewer and your essays. The only advice is to be on time, dress nicely, know your essays, and treat it like any conversation with an adult. It’s way too early to be giving this advice since it will be asked again when it’s more relevant but w.e.</p>
<p>First of all, I fail because I haven’t started any of my essays. I should prolly stick around here to get motivated. </p>
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<p>Wait, so it’s supposed to be more a book review type thing? I write book reviews, so if that’s how the essay is supposed to be structured I’d be pretty happy 
Otherwise, I have no idea what I’m doing, lol. </p>
<p>Also, what do you former TASPers say about writing experimentally in essays? I’ve been told my writing style isn’t…conventional. I want to sort of delve into that with my essays and I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not.</p>
<p>Basically my question is: is the writing style for the essays supposed to be just very dry and informative, or can you inject your voice into it? Experiment with the prose?</p>
<p>In the essays, are you supposed to focus on your unique ideas as a basis and write the essay formally or should you focus more on writing unique words to convey your idea?</p>
<p>Sorry if this makes no sense at all. :p</p>
<p>And last thing: are you suppose to include EVERY book you’ve read on the list–like books just for fun, or must it be literature with merit?</p>
<p>Whoa.
first post on college confidential goes to a pretty … prestigious program’s thread.
choco, FWIW i read the application a bunch of times and it really seems to want more of a … theme analysis than a book review. I don’t think they want to know whether or not they should read the book, but more of what the book’s message is.
Feel free to correct me if anyone thinks that’s the wrong interpretation. In fact, I’d appreciate feedback, since I haven’t started that one.
:l</p>
<p>Am I the only one who wishes to scream in frustration before the great TASP essays ? I feel like nothing I write will ever be good enough.
I’m terrified.</p>
<p>believe me, nil, you aren’t
x_x
i’m… stuck on my “makes me tick” one.
i know what i want to say, i know it, i know it… nope, can’t
find the words. :(</p>
<p>umm…i don’t see any essay on what makes us tick in the application…</p>
<p>am i wrong?</p>
<p>They’re probably referring to the “problem in an area that interests you,” or essay #2, although it could be personal conflict as well.</p>
<p>I’ve also been procrastinating these essays. I’ve been thinking of ideas, but implementing them in the right way in solid writing and effective organization is fairly difficult. I’m half done with essay #1, so… .5/5 = strangely, 10% done, that sounds like a lot…</p>
<p>Yay! positive terms. I just wrote and i don’t like it. I gave it to my mother to read and we both agreeed that it needed more. So I have 20% of my essays done. But the first essay needs to be completely overhauled. New topic, everything. I better go.</p>
<p>Can someone post the verbatim essay questions? I’m curious to see how they varied the prompt wording.</p>
<p>Eh since I’m up late for vacation and on here and youtube doing random things instead of being productive…</p>
<p>here are the questions:
- Write a critical analysis of a book, poem, play, essay, or other text you have read outside of school. It will be important for you to formulate an argument about the text and support it. Your analysis should not be a plot summary or an analysis of literary devices, although you should feel free to discuss plot and literary devices as they relate to your broader argument.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Discuss a specific problem or topic in a field that interests you. You may address political, philosophical, social, literary, aesthetic, or other questions. Your essay should represent your own views and thoughts; it should not be a research paper.</p></li>
<li><p>TASPs are small, educational communities that rely greatly on individual members’ maturity. Write an essay discussing a conflict you have faced and attempted to resolve that led you to new insights about yourself and/or other people.</p></li>
<li><p>Describe your hopes and plans for your future education and career. What experiences motivated or influenced these hopes and plans? If you feel indecisive about your goals, explain the reasons for your indecision.</p></li>
<li><p>Discuss the topics of the seminars, in the order of your preference for attending each, addressing the following: What attracts you to this seminar? What would you like to gain from this seminar topic? What concerns would you have if placed into this seminar? Please indicate if there is any seminar you would definitely not want to attend, and explain why. Please
be succinct. We do not expect a formal essay. Your answers to this question will help us to place you in an appropriate seminar if you are selected.</p></li>
<li><p>List the titles and authors (where applicable) of some of the books you have read in the past year that you consider most significant, for whatever reason, along with any periodicals you read regularly. Indicate with an asterisk which books you read for school. This should not be a list of every book you have read in the past year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Interesting. #3 is a complete rewrite, #5 and #6 have clarifications added (not a formal essay and not a list of every single book you’ve read).</p>
<p>First drafts: 2.75/5 done (#4, #2 and most of #3).
Working on #3 right now, actually. Last night I just spilled out about 600 words, plus a bullet list of everything else I wanted to say. It’s way better than the other 2 I’ve written so far.
And I haven’t even come up with a topic for #1. Fail.</p>
<p>1: Not started (getting an idea of what book I’m going to write on).
2: 0.5 done, but I’m really stuck…
3: All done! (finally)
4: 0.5 done, but same problem as 2.
5: Done.
6: Done.</p>
<p>@chocobok, essay 1 is definitely NOT a book review, and as for the book lists, don’t put down every book, but put down the books that define you as a reader. i included all the “impressive” sounding books i liked as well the pleasure reading books i loved this year.</p>
<p>Hey guys, joining you all. </p>
<p>I haven’t done any of the essays except the first which I’m halfway through. When do we need the teacher recommendations done by? thanks.</p>
<p>don’t they tell us about the recs after qualifying for the interviews?</p>
<p>Do we need teacher recs?</p>
<p>Not at this point. They’ll be needed later, if you get to the interview stage.</p>