Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) 2010 - Page 3

Keilexandra · 10-05-2009, 11:22 AM

As far as I know, international students are considered in the same pool as domestic. There are usually only a few internationals each year, though--UT had none--because of the tiny proportion of intl-domestic.

glassesarechic · 10-05-2009, 09:42 PM

Governor's School v. TASP

coollege · 10-05-2009, 10:22 PM

k, so wait, with UM not having a TASP seminar this year, does this mean the juniors this year get shafted because last year there were 4? Or did Cornell only have one seminar? But I thought there was a total of 4, but I could easily be wrong.

Keilexandra · 10-05-2009, 10:28 PM

^ Yes, the number of TASP seminars this year will be 3 instead of 4.

JamesChang · 10-06-2009, 01:28 AM

Oh no! ): It'll make it even harder for people to get in.

Obstinate · 10-06-2009, 08:06 AM

TASPers are pretty weird for the most part. Stay away from this if you have a soul. People there actually judge others off of internet experiences. Which is way creepy. I mean, we all knew each others usernames and stuff, and sometimes jokingly referred to each other as them, or at least I thought. It was funny for like, three days, then the fourth day it kept going....then the 2nd week....then the 3rd week....then the 4th. Don't think that they won't remember you from this cesspool of elitist one-ups-manship they call College Confidential. Haha.

Oh, and I can't stress enough, if you go to UT Austin, break the bubble. Engage yourself in the city, and you will love the experience even more. Austin really makes the UT Austin TASP experience, IMO.

embeezy · 10-06-2009, 12:04 PM

The instance to which Obstinate is referring is the exception, not the rule. Three other TASPers were also involved in CC threads (though to a far lesser extent than Obstinate, since he posted virtually every day and conveyed his internet personality very inconspicuously). We did not experience this "creepy...elitist one-ups-manship" phenomena at TASP, mostly because we were far less invested in the CC aspect of the TASPlication process. I honestly didn't think it was weird for us past the first day or so.

Please note that the case Obstinate is making is hardly applicable to all, though again, see my leviathan of a post regarding Dos and Don'ts for intermingling CC and TASP. Post when it's relevant, chill out when it's not.

Quote:

Stay away from this if you have a soul.

Strange advice, considering the messanger.

Keilexandra · 10-06-2009, 01:33 PM

I will trust in Subtlety (

) and simply quote myself:

Quote:

The sole "problem" at my TASP (rather minor, really, nothing like the schisms I've heard about) was related to pre-TASP communication but I truly believe that it couldn't have been avoided even in the olden days before Internet. People, and any conflicts arising between people, don't change.

whiteagle · 10-06-2009, 04:28 PM

TASP is the most amazing, enlarging experience. If you want six weeks with brilliant and interesting people then put your heart and your soul into your essays. TASP kids are recognized by top universities for their creativity and for having made it into TASP.

Keilexandra · 10-06-2009, 05:28 PM

^ But remember that there are too many deserving people putting heart and soul into their essays for TA to admit them all. Don't get TOO attached to the ideal. You could very well write the best essays of your life and still be rejected. It's not personal. For instance, people have gotten rejected from TASP in the first round--not even to interviews--and accepted to Yale SCEA. (And contrary to popular belief, TASP alumni do get rejected from Yale et al, as well.)

Obstinate · 10-06-2009, 08:28 PM

Wait, I'll amend that. If you have a heart, soul, etc.

wombatsoup · 10-06-2009, 08:52 PM

^I think what Obstinate means is that becoming involved in the CC thread has the potential to cause problems, not that those who do are heartless/soulless.

Obstinate · 10-06-2009, 08:58 PM

And I'm not talking about an incident, I just mean in general or any specific people actually.

And don't beat yourself up if you don't get in. It's no biggie. Great experience, but life is full of great experiences. Go outside, meet different people.

Yeah, embeezy's right. I come from a different background. Black kid from crappy LA public school, I'm not quite the average TASPer. I may not fit the mold and the status quo (and proud not to), but this is my own experience, and not everyone has the same TASP experience. Mine is as valid as anyone else's. And I shall proudly speak my own truth as much as I please, because it is my own experience. I was here too a year ago, having my own fun against the wishes of the Telluride Association. Whatever, that was then. I wouldn't change that for the world. Basically, take my words however you want, but I've said my peace and back my words completely.

One thing I've learned, TASP sort of mirrors the sort of thing you'll find at a lot of liberal arts schools too. So don't get beat up if you don't get accepted. Looks great on college apps, fun experience, but there's a ton of experiences to be had too. I can tell you right now that I had a long conversation with someone I met at Discover Swarthmore on a plane just yesterday, which was infinitely better than the best conversation I had at TASP. So, you know, just be on the lookout for whatever you need in life to be successful.

Keilexandra · 10-06-2009, 09:34 PM

O, your experience is absolutely valid. No one's experience is invalid. It is, however, an exception rather than the rule, by simple statistics. My personal opinion is that some of your choices led you to not get as much out of TASP as you might otherwise have--but that is merely my viewpoint.

JamesChang · 10-06-2009, 09:50 PM

):

I'm not the strongest essay writer, but my grades are pretty good... I think my chances are shot :/