Telluride Association Summer Programs (TASP) 2016

Do you think I’ll be penalized if I criticize the AP program and College Board in general? If a professor involved in creating AP curriculum is assigned to read my essay… well…

@bsdsj22 Probably a bad idea, to be honest. . .

@drakonus Same, I’m finding it really really hard to write something noteworthy but not pretentious

Also - how formal are you guys making your essays?

@comicsans I’m making mine very formal. English class essay formal.

I wrote my thought-provoking-whatever essay on North Korea… but I only wrote about 900 words. I know 1500 words is the word LIMIT. I feel that my essay answers the prompt completely. Should I leave it or add more regardless?

@bsdsj22 Ah. I’m writing two formally and one rather informally. (A bit risky but eh)

Sounds really interesting! I’ve read on earlier TASP forums that people have gotten in with essays far under the limit. I think a concise and powerful essay > a draggy/repetitive one that could be cut down

I’d suggest writing Essay 1 and 3 like you would a personal essay in English class. My English teacher told me that personal essays often work the best for humanities-based programs, provided the prompt doesn’t call for a research essay or something similar. Remember, the essays allow your reviewers to hear your literary voice and see a chunk of your personality before they meet you in person. It’s a method of assessing how well applicants will work together in a program in a way that grades and test scores simply cannot communicate.

hey guys! joining this convo a bit later… anyways i am so confuseed!!! My essay # 2 is super philosophical and basically runs on the idea of existentialism
i feel like its a bit cliched and verbose… and i obvioulsy cant give any examples for it. its literally an opinion piece… should i scrap it?

@nocando123 nobody can answer that without reading ur essay lol

@nocando123 I’d be more than happy to help you out, just PM me about it.

@nocando123 same here, id love to help if you PM me

I guess it’s time for me to join this thread too. The end is near you guys can do it!!!

i remember reading last year’s tasp thread thinking “when i apply next year, there’s no way i will procrastinate” and now it’s next year and i’ve started one essay haaaaaaa not even funny

@tryingforharvard LOL same!
Also, I wrote the majority of my essays personally; it has an organized structure with concise words, but in first-person and personal emotions too?

Does anyone want to swap essays to edit?

word count doesnt matter, formality doesnt matter, being personal is good just be honest
also dont shy from criticizing institutions, including but not limited to college board
i did my essays in the last couple days before deadline and got in/so did others at my tasp. it doesn’t doom you though it is unwise

@aubreygraham you got into both tass & tasp??

yep

Do you guys think it would be too risque for me to write one of my essays as a poem? (I’m thinking the issue one right now.)

If you’re good at poetry, I think it would be a really unique way to showcase your talents!