honestly for the third essay question about what you’ve done to hurt someone, i don’t think you should write anything too extreme (i.e., “this one time i used to bully this kid”). i’m really having trouble with the essay about what book/movie changed your perspective about an issue because my gut tells me to do a narrative but my brain tells me to go literary analysis, and i’m really conflicted.
As for the “what you’ve done to hurt or upset someone” essay, you can write about a disagreement that you had with someone and how you worked it out, a philosophical difference and how you found common ground, etc.
As for the interviews, they ask about what you had written and probe a bit, present other interpretations and analysis and see how you respond, etc. My D’s interview was conducted via Skype with two former TASPers (one in college, one in law school).
the application is more long and daunting than actually scary
For the first essay, do I have to answer both questions in the essay or do I need to you choose only one? I’m finding the task of connecting both questions a little difficult. (The questions are: What experiences you felt fortunate or unfortunate to have? and what part of your education has challenged you the most?)
If we write about a book, should we give a little synopsis? for the second questions
A synopsis is less interesting than a reason. You can tell what effect a book had on you and/or why it’s important to YOU.
How long are you all making your essays. I’m a bit scared because none of mine are close to 1,500 words.
@gamerpatriot It doesn’t matter how LONG your essays are all that matters is the QUALITY. Telluride also says that in their application too. Honestly, I know it may feel wrong to not use the full word limit, but trust me you don’t have too. They much rather you have four or five paragraphs that are incredibly strong, than you trying to stretch it out to 10 because you want to take up the word count. And if it helps only one of my essays is really close to the word limit.
Great on apps, but is anyone actually excited about the program topics? When my daughter read them she was not even .01% interested.
One of my essays is super informal (not swearing or anything but it breaks the fourth wall twice), and the other is a lot more “standard honor student tone”, is that okay or will the reader not like it?
Also is conversational tone okay, I’m pretty worried 
Trying to get the essays out of the way during winter break…
(sorry double posting but thought I’d reply to some so far unanswered questions)
@P1nkSky I think we have to do both stories, I personally am putting one story in another story because they are kind of related, but I don’t know how everybody else is formatting/doing that question.
@hannahlyu hmm I personally like all the seminar topics this year, Cornell I threw me in for a loop because the description was kind of trippy but that’s just me
Is it ok to write a peer as a family member for #3?