<p>The people are amazing… it’s a very diverse group of students, both ethnically and intellectually. The students had all sorts of academic and personal interests, from Shakespeare to physics, which created the perfect atmosphere for intellectual discussions. Despite the diversity, the political affiliation of TASPers leaned heavily toward the left. I think that Cornell TASP was about 90-95% liberal, but given our diverse backgrounds and passion for controversy, there was still plenty of debate during pubspeak discussions.</p>
<p>The difficulty of readings varied. At my seminar (Foreign Policy as Subversion), it ranged from mainstream memoirs (e.g. Confessions of an Economic Hitman) to obscure essays on Orientalism (Edward Said). We also read a good deal of primary sources (e.g. National Security Council reports, interviews, etc.), as well as books on political theory/history, including:</p>
<p><em>glances at bookshelf</em></p>
<ul>
<li>The Perils of Dominance<a href=“on%20the%20causes%20of%20the%20Vietnam%20War”>/u</a></li>
<li>Excerpts from Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations</li>
<li>The Last Colonial Massacre<a href=“about%20Latin%20America%20during%20the%20Cold%20War”>/u</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, we had about 7 books and numerous essays/excerpts. However, I’m sure that the nature of readings differs according to seminar. The seminar itself was interesting to me because it was entirely discussion-based. Again, the diversity of the students brought many different ideas to the forefront, and as a result, I had the opportunity to reflect upon viewpoints that I had never considered.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that TASP is difficult, but the seminar is rather intense. The discussions are sophisticated, and you will have to not only read but also think proactively so that you can contribute in seminar. However, you aren’t offered grades or credit, so I wouldn’t say that there’s a whole lot of pressure. There certainly isn’t any academic competition. Overall, it’s a great intellectual experience, but it’s not worth sacrificing the social aspect of the program.</p>
<p>The more diligent students usually complete their readings in the afternoon, but some (aka, me) often waited until 2 AM. Such is the result of a bedtime-less TASP. :D</p>