<p>I’m waiting for the apps to be out! This totally sounds like a badass experience. I still have a hangover from Carleton Liberal ARts Experience (Haha). Well more like post-CLAE depression. I miss it. This sounds badass though! Six weeks?!?!</p>
<p>tasp=more amazing than john mccain’s life insurance plan (if anyone can offer him one)</p>
<p>^ lol. Obama for president!</p>
<p>Hahahaha, hell yes Foucault came.</p>
<p>But seriously, TASP is amazing anywhere you go, I’m sure. But my allegiance is definitely with Cornell.</p>
<p>Though one could argue that TASP is TOO amazing, and everything afterwards pales in comparison. Life becomes a journey to recreate it, whether through college, future factotaing, Deep Springs or random camps. </p>
<p>It’s really too soon after TASP to ask about how it relates to the outside world, since posters will quickly find hungry and tearful alumni ripping into anything that breaks the ideal (and idealist) TASP bubble.</p>
<p>High scores are always a plus but not a deciding factor; great essays and a good interview will get you in. </p>
<p>It is prestigious amongst non-science summer programs, but I would say it is not as heavy a factor in admissions as RSI. This is probably because RSI judges applicants on a body of work and provide them with the opportunities to further those studies, while TASP really just gathers people who write and discuss things well for more writing and discussion; the vetting process does not value past achievements very much, and the program itself does not lend to singular pursuits like RSI does. </p>
<p>However, if you’re a strong applicant TASP will assuage fears and push you a bit over.</p>
<p>Contrary to the last post, our factota repeatedly told us that our lives after TASP should not be an attempt to recreate the experience because it just won’t happen.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree 100% with illuminar.</p>
<p>After going to TASP, I have come to the realization that the most intrinsically beautiful, specular, and moving moments in life cannot be planned, or coordinated, or foreseen. They just happen. And, to be honest, you just have to hope that they will happen, because by trying to organize them and force them, they shall never happen. Even at TASP, the most beautiful moments were all those which occurred by coincidence, in an almost haphazard manner. The random walks around the lake which were ambushed by a torrential storm of poring rain, the whimsically random decision to go to College Town bagels at 6 am one Saturday morning, and then go sleep/talk/ruminate on the world in the cemetery, or a totally un-planned rave (Rave 2.0) which occurred at 11 PM after some TASPers decided to crank some hot techno and let their bodies succumb to the rhythm of “La Musique”. </p>
<p>As one who was previously obsessed with planning out his life (from where I was going to college and getting my PhD, to the characteristics of my ideal wife/husband and private schools for my children) I can totally empathize with those who are determined to try to “re-make” TASP. However, the inherent truth of the matter is that TASP can never be recreated. The beauty of TASP originates in that it lasts only 6 weeks; it is short, sweet, yet ephemeral. </p>
<p>Now, this is not to say that you cannot continue to develop your TASP friendships and become even closer to your fellow TASPers (there has not been a day after TASP that I have not talked to at least 5 TASPers; in fact, I am talking to 2 on facebook right now). However, you shall never know your TASPers in the same context; you shall be forced to love and appreciate and embrace them in the real world, outside of the benevolently semi-monastic forces of the Telluride House and its many, many comfortable sofas (I know from experience, I spent 6 weeks this summer sleeping on them). </p>
<p>Also, you should not judge people compared to TASPers. Not to be totally elitist (even though ALL TASPers are) but the vast majority of people on the earth are not TASPers. But, more importantly, they have not been given the privilege to access the resources often necessary to become what one would deem TASP “material”. Personally, for example, I have come to the conclusion (albeit begrudgingly at times) that everyone should have the ability to define their own lives and existences. More importantly though, not only should you let others define themselves, but you should also refrain from judging others. You have no idea what other people have been through and what experiences have shaped their existence. TASPers are a very privileged group; not socio-economically (as most would assume when traditionally speaking of privilege) but in many, many different ways. </p>
<p>It is a privilege to be a TASPer. It is a privilege to have enjoyed an absolutely amazing and mind-blowing summer. However, more important is that you embrace that privilege in your daily life and accept the opportunities you have. Life after TASP does NOT suck. You can cognitively brain-wash yourself to think so, but doing that would only indicate your lack of appreciation and insight on the 6 weeks granted to you by LL Nunn.</p>
<p>Aww, Edward, I miss you so much. <3</p>
<p>awwwwwwwwwww. Annette. I miss you more!!! 
<3</p>
<p>zomg…I’m almost inclined to wage a Post-TASP superiority war against the other tasps after seeing all of these anti-cornell comments…let’s not go there</p>
<p>at any rate, apply to TASP even if you’re not sure you’ll get in…you may pleasantly suprise yourself. And don’t even try to imagine what TASP is possibly about…the only way you’ll understand is if you get in…although I must say Edward did a great job in trying to capture the magic a couple of comments ago</p>
<p>TASP 2009 thread is up. Let the roller coaster ride commence again (except this time we can watch it happen without all that emotional investment). There were so many dirty rumors about the Cornell TASP flying around – how could we not be superior? :P</p>
<p>not to be hatin’ on the cornell tasps (i’m sure the grand majority are as cool as taspers are), but who was the one who replied to the very friendly first email Sarah (from U of M) sent? if there was any catalyst for the “anti-cornell” sentiment it would’ve been that rather obnoxious reply email. and then the complete lack of response to our blatantly hilarious LOLspeak reply.</p>
<p>I wasn’t actually present for that whole snafu, but I think I know the people responsible for that reply. It caused a stir, believe me.</p>
<p>Anyway, as a Cornell TASPer, I can say that most of us had no anti-UMich sentiment. We love our brother and sister TASPers to the West.</p>
<p>What are the percent of students from TASS who get into TASP? I attended TASS and am really interested in doing tasp.</p>
<p>Well, one day, me and some of the other TASPers at UT were up writing essays (or something) at 2 in the morning. After ordering Jimmy Johns and creating a fort-like area in a nook, we discovered the TASP “book of secrets”, AKA the minutes from the most recent convention…</p>
<p>Anyway. All TASSers automatically make it to the interview phase of TASP (provided you don’t totally put them off or you didn’t screw up at TASS), and are strongly encouraged to apply. </p>
<p>However, most don’t apply to TASP (they have a very different focus and the caliber of participants is far higher) and I’m not sure how many make it. In my TASP there was only one TASSer, I believe Cornell had 2 (but among twice as many people). </p>
<p>So it seems like the proportion is very low, but you do have some kind of advantage if you interview well.</p>
<p>Cornell TASP had 3 TASSers.</p>
<p>Do you guys remember when interview/actual acceptance letters came in?</p>
<p>interview letters i think come in march. yes, interviews are hard. acceptance letters are in may.</p>
<p>seriously, i want every junior in the world to apply to tasp. it was the best experience of my life, bar none, and i don’t think i’m ever going to be able to recreate it (not, as illuminar pointed out, that i’m about to try). that’s less because of the people (texas: my heart goes out to you daily, others: you’re pretty swell too) than because of the holistic nature of the experience. nothing else educates you as an intellectual and a person in so integrated a way.</p>
<p>I want the tiniest amount of people possible to apply. only way I’m getting in, haha.</p>
<p>Knickerbockers, the only way you’ll get in is if you get off of CC and throw yourself into the things that you love–write some letters, play in the snow (rain, in my case), enjoy life. The people who write Proust-esque posts on this site are generally not the ones who get in.</p>