<p>@abc: If you can phrase your immigration issues as a conflict of some sort, I would do that essay for #3. If you have more general insights on immigration, you could do that for #2 and then try to weave in your own experience, although I’m personally trying to make sure that my application shows the breadth of my interests, so you may want to vary your topics a bit. And it’s certainly relevant to essay number #4 as well.</p>
<p>Without knowing you and your interests and ideas, I’d say write about your immigration experiences for #3, mention it in #4, but write #2 on something at least a bit different. Of course, I’m just an applicant as well, so take my opinions with a grain of salt. (Maybe two, if you’re feeling generous.)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, Yeoman and Obstinate. I’ve got a few different topic ideas for essay 2, so I don’t think I’ll be using it for that one but now I’m undecided between 3 and 4 lol. </p>
<p>Maybe I should get around to actually starting the things instead of just thinking about them, eh?</p>
<p>@abc: Yeah, I’ve definitely been using endless thinking about the essays as an excuse for actually writing them. But anyway, I don’t think using it in essays 3 and 4 are mutually exclusive. Essay 3 is somewhat specific, but essay 4 asks for you to comment on a variety of things, so I think, as long as you have other influences you can talk about, mentioning your immigration woes can also be done there. I’ve written #4 already, and I certainly mentioned a variety of influences, from music, parents, religion, and various events in my past.</p>
<p>Good point, @Yeoman. Well now that I’ve got most of my topics narrowed down, I feel a lot better. Probably won’t get around to any real writing tonight (maybe an attempt at essay 5) so I’ll probably just study for my US Hist. SAT this weekend.</p>
<p>Who decided to make these two things happen on the same weekend? I want to send them flowers.</p>
<p>@abc: I’m taking the SAT this weekend, and I will gladly go halfsies with you on the flowers.</p>
<p>@Nadia: I’m using some quotes for the analysis, with just a page number in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. At the bottom of the essay, I put a brief note with the name, author, edition, date of publication, etc. of the text I used. I’d think that’d be fine as long as you are only using one text; if you’re using more than one, you should probably ues a bit more detail in your citation method.</p>
<p>Hmmm, for my #4 I just focused exclusively on one influence and my essay ended up being like 1450 words. maybe I should go back and look at it again… and yay, finally picked a topic for #2! I think I’m just going to save #1 for last, probably end up doing it the day it’s due, haha</p>
<p>I’ve done 3 essays too, at least the rough drafts. My longest so far is #4 (future education) which is 1464, and my shortest is my conflict at 964. </p>
<p>Is it bad if for the seminar essay I have 1,000 words? It said to be succinct and I don’t think that’s succinct, lol…</p>
<p>I CAN’T DECIDE on my topics for #1 and #2. #1 can’t pick a book, and #2 I have…fourteen possible essays I’ve brainstormed for but I don’t know which one to pick. <em>headdesk</em></p>
<p>I’ve done I guess 2 essays in the rough so far, since everyone is including the seminar choice response. So 2/5… that makes me feel a bit better lol. I literally have no time this week. 3-day weekend gone because of AcaDec. 5-pg French essay due on Friday. I really thought that I would have more time than this while I was doing nothing during winter break lulz. Meh… I’ll definitely be a last minute applicant. Hopefully the pressure will assist me. </p>
<p>
Is it bad that I’m applying primarily because I’m attracted to more of the social experience? Like the intellectual experience— sure, wonderful! I love learning too! But I want to meet some cool kidz and have fun times, knawmean? And would anyone advise me not to put this in my essay? lol</p>
<p>^ I guess it’s four “real” essays. And I was writing the seminar essay with the view that it’s more for placement after you’ve been accepted…so yeah, not much focus.</p>
<p>The social aspect of TASP is extremely important. The best thing about the program for me was the depth of relationships I formed with my fellow TASPers. It’s definitely a fine reason to apply, and I wouldn’t be afraid to write about it as long as you treat it seriously. TASP is tons of fun, an absolutely amazing amount of fun, but for many people it’s a lot “deeper” than that socially. I definitely got just as much out of the social aspect of the program as I did out of the academic aspect, probably more in the long run.</p>
It depends. If you mean you want a social experience where you can hold stimulating intellectual and frivolous conversations alike, learn a bunch of crazy sheeit, and be challenged by a group of brilliant teenagers for six weeks, then yes. I think that is a perfectly valid reason for applying. But if you mean you want a social experience where you can party for six weeks on a college campus without parents or adults around to tell you what to do, then think again. That’s not what TASP is, and you won’t enjoy it if that’s what you expect. </p>
<p>
Yes, you can analyze any of these if you consider the text to be of literary worth. People have successfully analyzed children’s books, songs, poems, comic books, what have you. Really, as we’ve said so many times now, your analysis matters much more than the text you choose. </p>
<p>
It’s definitely not 6 essays, since the book list is just a list (obviously), but I wouldn’t write off any of the essays as being unimportant, including the ranking. It’s a good opportunity to relate your personality and interests explicitly to the program, so I wouldn’t make it impersonal if I were you. For example, if I were reading applications, I’d be more interested in someone who wrote “I used to dress up like a viking when I was little. I’m not even lying. Hence, Cornell II sounds like it kicks ass. Etc…” than someone who wrote “UT-Austin sounds very interesting. I’d like to learn about public diplomacy.” Yaddimean?</p>
<p>about the essay about a topic that interests you…i’m freaking out now because i wrote that essay on memories…not at all political or social or anything like that. i figured that would work because it includes philosophical questions in the prompt…should i do something more political/social for that essay, or is the memories topic fine??</p>
<p>That sounds f#cking brilliant. That’s exactly the kind of “fun times” that I meant. And lol, no to the partying nonstop for 6 weeks thing. Ahhhh this is like the perfect program.</p>
<p>We CAN do short stories for the critical analysis, right? It’s not mentioned in the prompt but it would fall under "other texts’, wouldn’t it? I just want to make sure before I write an essay about something I can’t use :p</p>