<p>I can provide a bit more information about the transportation voucher. It’s not really something you “apply for” per se, there’s no application. Basically if you or your parents might have some difficulty paying for the entire cost of the flight or other transportation you can email TA and they’ll try to help you out. It’s generally informal, like I said just shoot them an email. Also your factota probably won’t meet you at the airport, like embeezy said it will probably be a shuttle you share with some other TASPers. I know it’s very easy to take a bus if you’re in Austin, and it’s cheaper than a shuttle, but I have no idea how that would work in Ithaca.</p>
<p>I made both NJ Gov school of the sciences and the Telluride TASP program for talking about politics, democracy, etc in Austin. Which should I go to?</p>
<p>Wow, good job! Both of those are really prestigious programs. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in science at all, though, I would go to the Governor’s school - my cousin Adam went last summer and he loved it. Also, he’s going to Princeton in the fall so it definitely looks great on a college app.</p>
<p>The same could be said for TASP, too, though, I’m sure. I guess it’s up to you and what you want to do with your summer.</p>
<p>(I am slightly biased because if you go to the Governor’s school, people like me who got into NOTHING this summer - except the TASP wait list - could maybe go to TASP. So yeah all the waitlisters who are waiting desperately would probably love you. But honestly, it’s up to you, and whatever’s meant to happen happens, that’s what I keep telling myself. Just do what feels right.)</p>
<p>If you care about prestige–which I don’t recommend, but acknowledge as an influence–then TASP is more prestigious on a national scale than any state gov school. I have to recommend TASP, of course, because I think it’s an unreplicable intellectual experience, in particular regard to the social aspect. I myself benefited from being admitted off waitlist, but I would never encourage someone who is a good fit for TASP to choose anything else. (Well, if you’re REALLY into science research and only science research, I suppose I might recommend RSI. :rolleyes:)</p>
<p>One thing to think about is the format of the two programs. I know that my state’s governor’s school is similar in format to a very advanced and specialized residential high school–most of your day is planned out by the program, either in class or other activities. TASP, on the other hand, is more like college. You have seminar (which is actually set up almost like a grad-school class, our syllabus was adapted from one) and meals together, and a few scheduled events per week that you don’t get a say in (pubspeaks, presentations, academic guests), but the vast majority of your time is planned either by you as an individual or by the group. There is a LOT of independence, which I’m not sure you would have at a governor’s school type program (in my limited experience). In addition to this I know you won’t have the same social experience at a governor’s school program, partially because they are so much larger than TASP. I literally have not gone for more than a day without at the very least touching base with someone from my TASP, and I continue to have amazing conversations with them on a regular basis. I’m traveling the west coast with one of them this summer. I know people who went to governor’s school, and they made friends, but simply not on the same level. It’s very hard to explain why that is, but I think it’s a combination of the size of the program, the effort people put into knowing and learning from each other, and just simply eating/living/adventuring with the same 18 crazy kids for six weeks. Also NEVER pass up a chance to live in Austin TX. NEVER EVER. Especially for free.</p>
<p>That being said, I personally am a science person who leans pretty heavily to the humanities side. I can definitely understand wanting to really dive into science, which is obviously not something you would have at TASP. It’s ultimately your call, but I think outside of academic subject (possibly) TASP wins hands down.</p>
<p>It’s obviously your choice, but just saying about science/humanities, I am fairly categorically lazy, but I would also consider myself a “science” person in a sense. I don’t like math too much (I mean, I can do it…), but I’m interested in scientific concepts in areas like physics; you know, space, time, and all that stuff (not into bio/med area). 2 of my essays (here) were about science; one was almost exclusively about it, one was tangentially related to it. </p>
<p>Of course I enjoy writing and I don’t really have a problem with the humanities (except excessive memorization aka history, or poetry and hardcore literature), but I assume the same if you even bothered to apply and got in. It’s your choice, but I don’t think that spending a summer in a more humanities-oriented environment is going to suddenly dwindle your scientific interests.</p>
<p>wombatsoup, so how does the travel grant work? Do they reimburse you or arrange your flight for you?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it’s a reimbursement thing. That’s how mine was, anyway.</p>
<p>AGREED to everything wombatsoup said. To add to that, a quote from a somewhat clandestine roadtrip we waged together over winter break:
“Can you imagine doing this with friends from a governor’s school or something?” [literally]</p>
<p>Many people agree that the most important component of TASP is the social one, and that simply cannot be matched anywhere else. You will be changed for life by the people you meet at TASP, and as wombat said, it doesn’t stop once summer ends. CHOOSE TASP (:</p>
<p>Noting that things differ day-to-day, what kinds of things do you guys do outside of seminar hours (in Ithaca)?</p>
<p>What time did everyone who got accepted into the Austin program fly in last year??</p>
<p>I’m going to nationals for my school for HOSA which is being held in Florida. And we’re supposed to be flying back on the 27th but my teacher doesnt know what time yet. She thinks it’s around noon but she’s not sure. Does anybody remember what time they flew into austin?</p>
<p>A bunch of us all got in around noon last year, and we were the first group to arrive. Some stragglers (ahem, Obstinate…) didn’t get in until about 3am, if I recall correctly, but that was due to some flight issues rather than planning. Talk to your factota about it once they contact you if you think it’ll be a problem.</p>
<p>I’m going to sit down and talk to my teacher about it tomorrow.
At the latest we should be getting in around 2 or 3 pm and from where i’m landing to austin is like less than an hour flying so i shouldnt get in that late. i was just wondering if there was a certain time we all had to be there on sunday. </p>
<p>hopefully it’ll all work out.</p>
<p>Which email do we use to request financial assistance for flight?
Or do i just wait for my factota to contact me and address it to him/her?</p>
<p>Email <a href=“mailto:telluride@cornell.edu”>telluride@cornell.edu</a> . Make sure to add in your email that you’re addressing it to Ellen Baer, she’s the main coordinator for TASP. Tell her you’re going to need help with paying for your flight, and she’ll send you forms.</p>
<p>I got the travel grant form in the mail with all of the medical stuff yesterday.</p>
<p>has anyone been emailed yet as to when we should arrive in austin? i’m flying out the day after i get out of another thing, so i want to make sure i don’t arrive too late.</p>
<p>All my forms arrived today.
Still waiting to get contacted by factota.</p>
<p>Just got all of my forms also, waiting to hear from my factota to find out if they’ll meet me at the airport, Mrs. Baer said they might be there.</p>
<p>Hi, I need some serious advice guys. I got accepted to both TASP Austin and the Clark Scholars Program, and I have to confirm attendance at one soon. I cant decide which one I should go to…any suggestions guys? Thanks!</p>