<p>@Saaamy: Are you a junior?
What do they look most in the essay? Both, and either. Heart or mind? They’re looking for intellectual kids, not just those who have sob stories. But if you do, be sure to turn that into a lesson and demonstrate what you learn. Does this answer you question?
@huxleyy: I don’t know much about international applicants. But there is at least an international alumni on here who frequently browses thru the forum, so if you’re in luck, he’ll message you ;)</p>
<p>Very interested in attending TASP for 2012! My top program pick would be Moral Complexity in Literature at Cornell but my second choice would probably be Modernism Through Art at UMich.</p>
<p>I do have one questions about the program though…
- Would you say that getting into TASP is pretty much fully based on the essays?? That’s what it seems like from reading the thread to me!</p>
<p>@ LitWit:
Short answer: Kinda.</p>
<p>Long answer: First, an explanation about the TASPlication process–there are two rounds: the essay/demographics section and the interview section. About 1100 people applied last year during the first round; of those, 133 made it to the interview round (which was further whittled down to 64 who attended the summer programs). </p>
<p>For the first round of applications, the essays are absolutely key–although the application asks you to report approximate class rank and such, the real core of your application will be in the essays and how well your capacity for critical thinking/reflection comes through in them. If your essays are meh, it’s unlikely that you’ll make it past the first round.</p>
<p>If your essays make it through the magic box of TASPlication readings/screenings (don’t ask me how this works, because I’m not sure anyone actually knows), then you get invited for an interview with a Telluride associate–a member of the Telluride Association, a resident of one of the Telluride Houses, a former TASPer or TASSer, or some combination of the three. That interview will also generally focus on the topics and themes that you brought up in your essays but isn’t limited to them. </p>
<p>The interviews are an important part of the process–I’d argue that they’re the most important part–but getting there is predicated on your writing really good essays. I think that’s why the thread’s mostly been focused on essays thus far.</p>
<p>Can someone address the types of interview questions they ask (specifically give an example of what a question about your essays might be and some other type of question). Did anyone find it boring? It seems all positive so far.</p>
<p>Also, when you say they send out apps to top PSAT scorers, I wonder how high your scores would have to be? I took my psats in sophomore year, without prep, and I scored 198. I was high in CR and CW - high 70’s - but my math was in the 50’s. I didn’t receive anything last year. This year, we won’t get our scores back until December, and so wouldn’t that be a bit late to contact people for junior year?</p>
<p>Litwit: The first round is all essay based. The second is interview round. But don’t be afraid; TASP adcoms will try their best to understand your individual circumstances. Therefore, don’t worry if your topic does not seem the most amazing ever.
The reason that many TASPers get accepted to top tier colleges is the applicant pool is self selective. More likely, dedicated and bright students would be the ones who are willing to take their time to take this risk. After all, the acceptance rate is very low. These students have most likely done some amazing stuff in school. The essays only add to their intellectual and personal sides, which do make a difference in selective college admission.
My interview wasn’t intimidating at all. He asked me questions about my essays, and nothing about the book list. (Actually he did, but I told him I read that book a long time ago, so he said “That’s ok” and moved on to the next questions.)
Did I find the program boring? No. Sometimes I did get frustrated with the factota, but overall it was the best in my life. The community aspect was really stellar; and even if it wasn’t, in retrospect, it would be.
I heard you have to score in the top 1% of your zip code to get invitation. idk if it’s true. Btw, your sophomore psat is still high, medavinci 
. And no, scores won’t matter much.</p>
<p>definemyself: Thanks for the info! Can you self-nominate, or do you need a teacher to nominate you?</p>
<p>You can just go to the TASP website and fill out the application (once it is available). No nomination needed nor helpful.</p>
<p>Can you get in without having taken the PSAT?</p>
<p>Nope, you do NOT need to take the PSAT; Telluride only uses the PSAT as a recruiting tool. You can just download an application from the Telluride Association website.</p>
<p>Seems pretty straightforward. I think I will be focusing on Ayn Rand (no i’m not an objectivist).</p>
<p>^ chowling, i’m not sure that’s the best idea.</p>
<p>take it from me, a 2011 TASPer: you want your first essay (where you select a literary work of your choice) to be centered around a work that is less well-known among kids your age. i’m not saying it has to be obscure: it certainly doesn’t have to be. but i’m going to go out on a limb here and recommend that you not select a book among typical “teen favorites.” telluride is looking for an original response, but they also want to see that you think outside the box, and it’s hard to do that with Rand, whom i’m sure quite a few applicants to TASP write about for that first essay prompt. pick a book, or poem, or article, that is two things: (1) interesting and unique, and (2) that you’re interested enough in to talk about, make an argument about, and connect back to you. really think about the things you’ve read in the last year before you decide.</p>
<p>^ jk ribalto…</p>
<p>I’m actually deciding between the Brothers Karamazov or Brave New World, but i think i understand Karamazov better</p>
<p>Also, since you’ve been there - how well do i need to know current events?</p>
<p>Does this mean that the work we choose should be deep and philosophical?..</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>great, great choices! either one would work; now it’s up to you to make it happen.</p>
<p>current events? depends. if your essays relate to current events, then yes, you’ll need to be well-informed, especially on whatever it is you wrote about. but if you’re not a news junkie, don’t become one for the interview’s sake (if you get that far in the process). they’re only going to ask you about what’s on your application–so what you write on there should be what you can talk comfortably about in a challenging conversation. they may also throw in a couple of current events questions to see if you have a grasp on what’s going on in the world, but it won’t be anything too specific or difficult unless your essays addressed it.</p>
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<p>absolutely not. if you’re the kind of person who wants to write about nietzche or kierkegaard, then go for it. but if you’re not a philosophically minded person, then you definitely shouldn’t write anything philosophy-related. you’ll need to ask yourself: what am i most enthusiastic about? what do i know a good bit about? don’t be put off if what you choose is something unusual or seemingly unintellectual (like a piece of news in your local newspaper, or a war novel, or a poem). just go with your own flow–what makes you tick is what they want to hear.</p>
<p>Yep, I concur with ribalto. Don’t be something who you are not. Read my comments above. TASP DOES look into your personal background, so if you’re good at writing, why bother assuming yourself as a science person?</p>
<p>This may sound slightly dumb but I was just wondering what TASP considers a “current high school junior.” Are they asking for applicants to be in their junior at the time they attend the program or at the time they apply for the program? As of right now, I am a sophomore.</p>
<p>@studen</p>
<p>Current juniors go to TASP</p>
<p>Current sophomores (like yourself) go to TASS</p>
<p>Ribalto- you say the critical analysis should not be about a popular piece of “teen material”. However, I decided to go out on a limb and do an essay on a rap song. I had hoped that would be interesting, and I’m passionate about music. Does that sound feasible, at least?</p>
<p>@shyams
I wouldn’t do that if I were you? I’m applying this year as well and I just don’t think a song is academic enough and isn’t showing an intellectual interest in literature. Just my two cents though.</p>
<p>But to previous TASPers, is there any specific argument we’re supposed to make about our choice of literature? Like are we to argue the implications and development of a theme or analyze the validity of our choice? I just have no idea what exactly to say.</p>