<p>^ yay 
</p>
<p>Another question…for essay #2 (the problem or topic) is it a good/bad idea to use “I”? Since it’s my viewpoint shouldn’t I use “I”? Or is it like a formal paper where the use of “I” is forbidden?</p>
<p>^ TA says it “should represent your own views and thoughts”, which means it’s fine to use ‘I’. I think it’s been posted earlier on this forum–style and formality levels are your choice. ‘I’ is better than ‘this humble writer’ or something :P</p>
<p>I wrote all of my essays in first person; thass just how I roll. Go for it!</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Isn’t it weird if you write your lit analysis in first person? Our teacher has a fit if we use “I”, “we”, “our”, or “you”.</p>
<p>It is a little unconventional to write in the first person for a literary analysis, but it could certainly work as long as it doesn’t descended into “I like this book because” type nonsense. Don’t be afraid to use first person, just don’t force it either. I think that’s a good general rule for everything in applications (AND LIFE ITSELF…haha):</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to X, but don’t force X either.</p>
<p>The “and life itself” is something that should be emphasized more not only in this thread, but on this site more. Seems that a lot of kids here have the misconception that one needs to be superhuman to get into TASP and top colleges. You’ve got a year to worry about applying to colleges, but for now, do not take this opportunity lightly. One thing that I loved about the TASP experience was how much grades/test scores were de-emphasized. It’s one of the few grand academic/social opportunities you’ll get in your high school career that isn’t based off of how well you do in the school setting, but rather how well you write and evaluate ideas. Don’t think that a 2370 will get you into TASP, nor will a 1650 (People do get these test scores. Shocking right?) keep you out. Likewise with GPAs. It’s all a blank slate, so you’re doing yourself a disservice by not putting everything you can into your essays. </p>
<p>And don’t feel compelled to write strictly intellectual ideas that you think the TASP readers will like. Just write what you’re passionate about, and make sure every single one of those essays reflects a different aspect of yourself. Just before you hit the submit button, read through each one, ask yourself “What does my conflict essay say about me? My topic of interest? My literary analysis?” It should all present a three-dimensional picture that sounds like you and no one else but you could’ve written that. The more you really hone yourself in the aspect of selling yourself as a unique, individual, and dynamic person, the better the chance you’ll have of your readers going “Hey, this person would add a lot to the TASP community.” </p>
<p>Five more days, right? Make them count, everyone!</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree with you Obstinate. The whole college application process has been hugely blown out of proportion, resulting huge stresses for teens and their parents, and huge profits for various companies. People now are making decisions solely on the basis of how it will affect a college application, and not really viewing things with any sort of perspective, and I think that’s detrimental to the educational system as a whole. One of the things that initially caught my eye about TASP was the unique application process. Quite frankly, it doesn’t really favor me, as I have a good GPA and test scores, but the more intellectually pure nature of TASP really, really appealed to me, after two-and-a-half years of seeing people choosing classes and engaging in extracurriculars on the basis of what would be an easy A and look good on a transcript or resume, rather than what they really hoped to gain from the class or activity.</p>
<p>
Isn’t it weird that people think it’s weird to write in one’s own voice? I do. Sure, maybe it was unconventional, but it was me, and that’s the point. Y’all seem to have a smeeeedgen of trouble grasping that “be you” concept.</p>
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<p>Awesome post and advice :D</p>
<p>So it’s a important to have diverse essays? </p>
<p>Darn. Two of the five of my essays are very closely related in topic, the one I’m about to write right now is similar in topic to those two. So that will make 3/5. Hopefully it’s okay though, the subject is one I’m passionate about.</p>
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<p>HAHA. That reminds me of a presentation someone in my (higher level!) IB English class did a few days ago. It was about the American dream in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. I kind of zoned out until I heard her say in a chirpy little voice, “And that is why Of Mice and Men is my favorite book of all time!”</p>
<p>I gonked.</p>
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<p>Ok, I’m just going to nip this one in the bud right here. DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW YOUR ESSAY TOPICS RELATE TO EACHOTHER!! A good application could be centered around a general subject that the author is passionate about, or it could showcase many different aspects. Neither of those two approaches are “best.” Don’t freak out about your topics because two of them of related, and as I’ve said before don’t try to force yourself to link two of your essays together. Write about what feels right to you. Don’t worry if it’s “not intellectual enough” or “not quirky enough” or “too conventional” or whatever. The only thing that you need to do is write essays that, as Obstinate said “sound like you.” Being that you are you, you shouldn’t have to worry about that too much.</p>
<p>For the analysis of text essay, I was hoping to write an essay on a short story/other essay. Does anyone have any good websites where I can find good essays or short stories? I just want to read a few short stories online and then see what I like… thanks!</p>
<p>So much writing…so little time, mostly because I’m taking SATs on Sat. PLANNING FAIL.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think my most interesting/confusing essay is the topic that interests you- I’m relating the quantum observer effect to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. (It makes sense. To me. Hopefully.)</p>
<p>My literary essay will most likely be on The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, but I’m not sure if I can analyze a biography enough. If that falls flat, I have a backup essay on Pygmalion (Shaw hates poor people. No, really. jk), but I would rather not use that, since I did some of the work for it during sophomore year.</p>
<p>My conflict essay is on some of my family issues, and my future plans/influences is pretty standard.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>So nervous. Not sleeping often. Beginning to find hyper-editing essays therapeutic. Very little contact with outside world this week.</p>
<p>I didn’t do as well as I had hoped on the PSAT: 205, which is commended in Texas, but still a good 15 points lower than my average on practice tests.</p>
<p>My grades aren’t spectacular: I have a 93 average, which puts me barely outside of the top 10%, however, my school is the most competitive public school I know of. Perspective: we had about 24 out of 513 in my class that broke 200 on the PSAT (and, this is Texas).</p>
<p>Thus, I doubt I can get into Telluride, as I’m riding on the essays (particularly critical analysis). Here are my topics (the first three, anyway):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Love-Hate Relationship: Edith Wharton and High Society
(Critical analysis of The Age of Innocence)</p></li>
<li><p>Classical Music and a De-sensitized Generation
(“Problem” essay)</p></li>
<li><p>To Be Great is to Be Misunderstood
(Essay about my agnosticism and loss of conservative values)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>cmm345, I’m also freaking out because I signed up to take the SAT II (Math 2) this weekend. Here are my opinions on the two topics you posted:</p>
<p>a. Allegory of the Cave and Hawthorne effect - wonderful. Great, great idea. My essay topics seem like poop compared to it, honestly.</p>
<p>b. I haven’t heard of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, but I would steer clear of bios. Pygmalion has so much to offer!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>READ it! smarty pants
will do in 3-4 hours hours and will change your life.</p>
<p>Sorry, I will be gone.</p>
<p>Blargh! Editing my critical analysis right now, i.e. changing it completely. I have this weird thing where I need to edit on paper. I feel like trees are dying for the sake of my TASPlication D:</p>
<p>I’m more worried about SATs right now though, to be honest. Good luck to everyone else who’s doing them tomorrow! [:</p>
<p>Question: um January 22 is it due on 12 am or before January 23</p>
<p>^if you are submitting the online app it isn’t due to the 25th. If you’re mailing your application, it has to be postmarked by the 22nd.</p>
<p>so what is the latest possible time to turn an app in?
Monday jan 25 at 11:59 pm?</p>
<p>i really hope i’m done before then!!! only 3 more to go … ■■■. at least i did sats in december</p>
<p>and we need titles for each essay, rightt?</p>