Obstinate

Certainly isn't. It's the experience I've related to with quite a few.

If the benefits of TASP are a strong alumni network, a great experience, some great people, and to be able to go out into my society and tell others of the experience, then yes I have gotten a great experience. I think in any sort of non-bubble experience, you get sort of the same thing?

Keilexandra

JamesChang - TA pretty much doesn't care about your grades. The app doesn't even ask for test scores, I believe.

O - I never said you were the ONLY person with such an experience, only that it was the exception rather than the rule. To put it another way--your experience is in the minority. You and I both know what that feels like already, in a different realm.

Those are not the benefits of TASP at all. That you name them as the benefits you derived, supports my suspicion that with different choices you might--might--have had a different kind of experience. (Not referring at all to the urban/bubble divide. You were hardly alone in preferring the city to the house, and yet your experience was markedly different from everyone else at our TASP.) I almost wish that my TASP experience had been MORE bubblefied, because I missed seeing everyone around the house together.

[/needs to stop scaring away the new TASPlicants with "conflict"]

Obstinate

Well, let's hope this admission cycle has more minority....minorities? *rim-shot*

This isn't an argument, but a declaration. Simply that.

whiteagle

My TASP group at Cornell was an amazing group, Obstinate. Minorities aplenty. Also, I saw many of them at Swarthmore this weekend. TASP opens doors, don't downplay that. Plus, it's an amazing experience. Monastic living, terrific teachers, discussions until 2:00 a.m.

I'm thrilled I got in and I would never discourage anyone from applying.

JamesChang

@ Keilexandra: which is why I said my chances are shot.

Obstinate

Yeah, the opening doors part is something I mentioned I think. If not, yes. Opens a ton of doors. It has for me, and I hope to encourage a few others from around here to go through the process at the very least.

embeezy

And I'm a white girl from a crappy rural PA public school--so what? There is no "average TASPer," as much as you wish there were so you could be the opposite.

Obstinate

Well, hmm...given that that represents the majority of America, it theoretically doesn't stray too far from the norm?

Yes, I have my own goals in my form of direct outreach, not just racially but socioeconomically. From that point, it's all in the hands of TA on how they assemble it.

I'm not doing it for my own self interests, but to open doors for many kids around here. No one knows about TASP in the Los Angeles area public schools except for the really wealthy kids with these resources practically handed to them. Not only that, but how can one discuss things such as urban issues and race relations with very few representing that side of the fence? Sitting in a house and discussing issues with no base in reality is what creates a bubble. Life experiences are what bases said discussion in reality. It's all about balance, and I'm just aiming to bring something new to the table in outreach. Hope this doesn't offend, but it must be done.

Antagonist

Personally, I think embeezy is right, there is no such thing as an average TASPer. Obstinate, if you like to a minority represented at TASP just take a look at me. I am not seem like it but the combination of being gay, asian, and from a rural conservative area is not exactly average, much less is my complete acceptance of my homosexuality. I believe that what we bring to TASP is much more then what is on the surface, much more then where you live and what your social status is but rather your opinion and experiences. Both are closely related, but not the same. Once again this is just my opinion but I feel, Obstinate, if you would have gotten to know some of us more, you'd realize how many people were actually in the minority.


There are always flaws at TASP and we all view TASP in different ways, so to bicker about who and what is rather useless and a waste of time. I believe that we all got different things out of TASP, some more then others sad to say. So let's stop bickering, this thread isn't exactly for us to do so. Snarky comments just make you seem self-important and overly judgmental, no matter where you make them.


And on that note:
JamesChang, don't be worried about not being the strongest essay writer ever. I can say that I'm in the same boat as you and most of my fellow TASPers can attest to this. I don't think it's about the caliber of your writing because one of my fellow classmates also applied to TASP; she didn't even make it to interview even though she's an exponentially better writing then I am. I do believe thought, that it's more of the content of your thoughts and if you're able to form them and create clear connections to how they are relevant to you. Don't think that your changes are shot just because you're a bad essay writer, just apply because there isn't a reason not to. If TASP didn't accept bad essay writers then I can say that my TASP would of been a lot different then what it was. For good or for worse? I have no clue.

Regardless of what the chances are you should always apply if it's something you want.


That's my two cent, folks.

P.S.
I'd also like to say that there are Telluridians, some of which are on TASPCom, that do check and read this thread. Many Telluride Associates also read this thread, take into consideration what you say before you post it. As embeezy said, play nice. It's not to hard to track down a username and the actual person.

embeezy

For the sake of preventing this thread from becoming a 'who's more disadvantaged' thread for '09 TASPers, I suggest that we let the actual TASPlicants post and take this elsewhere.

If anything, this somewhat immature display of disagreement is a snapshot of the reality that every TASP documents, knowingly or not: you will disagree with others, and you will be challenged (interpret that how you will). The experience is not contained in the classroom, but rather an ongoing discussion about what it means to be an intellectual and a TASPer, amongst a variety of other issues.

Any prospective '10 TASPers with questions may of course PM me. I'm here for y'all, should you need some advice or information. Use your resources!

Over and out.

Obstinate

It certainly isn't about any of you. Cornell, Austin, Michigan, I've always hoped to do the same after. I plan on benefiting an untapped portion of the population for TASP. And I certainly shall continue to do so.

This is turning into something with some racist overtones. I see nothing wrong with encouraging disadvantaged youth.

Keilexandra

No one has said anything about discouraging disadvantaged youth, who can be of any race or color. I believe the majority of disadvantaged youth are actually white, although the majority of blacks, Hispanics/Latin@s, and Natives are disadvantaged. And of course no one cares much about Asian socioeconomic status because the cultural focus on education will take care of the gap. [/sarcasm]

I commend you for your outreach plans; I'm sure the rest of us will make an equal effort, given how much TASP has affected us For Good.

embeezy - I feel compelled to correct misunderstandings for the lurkers here. This is reminding me eerily of Furby. As I said in my TASP essays, for good or ill, I enjoy conflict; IMO, disagreement is absolutely vital to the TASP experience.

Determind15

Dont be discouraged by the UT Austin debates. You still have Cornell to look forward to! lol.

nil desperandum

When do applications come out?

analogous

December.
10 char.