<p>So you are the perpetrator! Don’t worry, I’m a little obsessed with TASP as well. The critical analysis is just…I don’t really know how to explain what I’m feeling but… AUUGH. I think it’s more my book choice. I LOVE the book I’m writing about but there are just so many themes and symbols and hidden meanings it’s just…crazy. Hah, out of all the words to choose. Crazy.</p>
<p>I’m a little wary about getting teachers to read my essays because some of them are extremely personal. And I’m scared to ask. I was thinking of getting some of my senior friends to read and edit them since college apps are mostly over.</p>
<p>They all really do look absolutely incredible! I feel like I could really do any of them and just LOVE it. Decisions, decisions, decisions.</p>
<p>Haha, I am indeed the perpetrator. I can’t help it. When I get obsessed with something, I just want to discuss it all day. Even though discussing TASP simultaneously makes me feel like breaking out in hives and dancing around my room in excitement. </p>
<p>I am just doubting my essays right now. I’m worried that my essays aren’t “personal” enough, because I’m not hesitating in giving them to my teachers. My topics just don’t seem that original, I don’t know. This is by far one of the most stressful writing assignments that I have ever done. Haha, and I use “crazy” all the time. I need to think of new adjectives that mean “amazing,” “gorgeous” and “great.” I’m refraining from using them in my essays, but it’s difficult. Haha.</p>
<p>I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get in. I’m doing everything I can, though. Pouring my heart out in my essays, being honest, reading them over numerous times, getting numerous people to read them… at least if I get rejected, I’ll have done everything possible and they just didn’t like me. Which is depressing… but that’s life, I guess. Depressing. :P</p>
<p>I feel like I could do all of them too, which is surprising considering that a lot of the seminars from previous years didn’t interest me at all. But I could even go to my last-choice seminar if I had to.</p>
<p>This is a very CRAZY and GREAT writing assignment. The only good thing about this writing is that I don’t get a grade on it. HAH. When I write, I’m very self-conscious about my writing. I feel like people are staring INTO THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL, analyzing me by the way I write. “Oh, by the use of these words…She secretly hates bees.” or something along those lines. It’s a really strange and anxious feeling…</p>
<p>If I don’t get in, I’ll be very sad. (Another non-descriptive word that kids use in the 1st grade. :P) Like you, I’m trying my best! Hopefully, hopefully. At least you’re editting it and revising it with all your might! I’m just scared to edit. I really have no idea why, though. I prefer to think of rejection letters as “Thank you for your effort. You’re really cool, but we have cooler people here.” ;3</p>
<p>TASP obsession isn’t a bad thing, I know I’m feeling the same :] </p>
<p>It’s an INTENSE writing assignment! I’m spending so much more time on it than I would for a school assignment. I feel the same way, I don’t like people reading my writing all that much. The depths of your soul might be what you need to get into TASP though!</p>
<p>I would be sad too. For a while. Then I’d get over it How do you guys think the competition is outside of the CC genre/the obsessors? Just as high or lower? I’m getting nervous that mine won’t be up to par haha. But I’m trying not to think of that. That’s a good mindset for the rejection letters. If only they actually said that!</p>
<p>I am so excited that I found this thread! I have spent my entire weekend writing my essays (and rewriting most of them as well) and I am so happy to see that I’m not the only one
My biggest fear is that I will have spent all of this time working on my application, and then not even get asked for an interview. After reviewing past threads, I am feeling rather intimidated regarding the competition–the people who have applied for TASP in the past seem to be far more accomplished than I can ever hope to be.</p>
<p>I am spending SO MUCH time on this…But hopefully it’ll pay off in the end. Yeah, I feel extremely self-conscious whenever people read my writing. It’s just uncomfortable. Haha, if the depths of my soul are what TASP is looking for…I’ll just cut out the parts they want and email it them. </p>
<p>Oh geez, I don’t even want to think about the other people outside of CC. I’m QUITE SCARED because the program flyer said that a THOUSAND people applied. A THOUSAND. That’s three zeros. And then they cut it down to only a little over 100 people for interviews. And then they cut THAT down even more. But without a doubt, there will be some people who get the application and not do it because of certain things. Like some of the people on this thread, it may not be a topic that they like (science, history, etc) or they might not have the time or other scholarship opportunities. </p>
<p>Haha, I’ll open a college or program and write ALL the rejection letters like that. It’ll be great.</p>
<p>PS: I’ll consider it an accomplishment to get an interview. @missmel, Don’t be intimidated! Try your best.</p>
<p>I am for sure with you guys in obsessing over TASP.
The letter said that OVER 1000 kids applied. That means acceptance is LESS than 7%. Which is extremely scary.
But I do think CC kids have a history of having a higher acceptance rate than the general population, judging by last year’s thread, which I read in its entirety (who was talking about being obsessed earlier? haha).
Oh lord, I need to lower my hopes. And rewrite my essays.</p>
<p>@missmel I am completely intimidated too. I read the TASP 2008 thread and it was terrifying, not only in its huge-osity (not a word, I know. Note to self: Do not use in essay!) but in the way that only one or two people in the “inner circle” got past the first round. And they were smart, funny, and accomplished in ways that I will never be. It’s kind of scary, not knowing what they really look for.</p>
<p>I was talking to my dad during supper about my chances. I am trying not to be optimistic, but secretly, I will be crushed if I don’t at least get an interview. I am working my butt off on these essays. I’ve probably read the first four about twenty times by now, tweaking little things here and there. And I’ll get about… five or six of my teachers to read my essays, along with anyone else I can wrangle into doing so. These essays are probably going to be the best essays of my entire life, and they might not even be good enough to get in. The competition is scary in that way. ):</p>
<p>Definitely an intense writing assignment, though. I NEVER edit anything for school, so me editing? Is a big freaking deal. I’m probably trying harder on this application than I have worked on anything in my entire life.</p>
<p>@Qualitative: Woo, you make me feel better about obsessing now. I just scanned last year’s thread for some inspiration and motivation. Scanned = read 10 pages and got excited about filling out the application. And the 7% thing…Now I am pretty scared about the application process. </p>
<p>I am actually intimidated by the people on this thread! All of you guys seem so intelligent and accomplished and awesome and…just amazing. By the way you are all talking about the essays and the revisions and the people you’re getting to read them, makes me feel incredibly inadequate. I mean, CallistaHogan, reading the essays almost 20 times! The fact that you’ve finished the first four is an accomplishment in itself. I’m really just jumping around the different prompts, finishing them when I can. Intimidated of you all? YES.</p>
<p>To be fully honest, I have actually had fun writing these essays (hopefully that doesn’t make me sound completely weird). I feel as though having the opportunity to put my thoughts and ideas down on paper has helped me to learn a lot about myself, as well as to become a better writer (I have probably rewritten essay #2 at least three time now). I would be absolutely crushed if I didn’t get in to TASP, but I would get over it pretty quickly.</p>
<p>I’ll probably have my family members read over my essays, but not my teachers. I think my essays may be too personal to share with people who aren’t related to me. I’m afraid that the people who actually have to read these essays once I submit them will want to burn my essays after reading the essays from the other applicants. And that 7% is scary as well.</p>
<p>@rainycloudy: Don’t think about the 7% admittance rate! Just think about the 14% chance we have of getting an interview. Then we have doubled chances! :P</p>
<p>And don’t feel intimidated by me, honestly. I just have an obsessive personality and my current obsession is TASP. That means that I read over the essays obsessively, scroll through 500 pages of previous TASP threads, and overall just WANT to get in so badly. Don’t feel inadequate. I read about some people who did all of the essays in one day, didn’t get anyone to revise them or anything, and they got in. So just go with the flow, do what works for you. That’s what I’m trying to do, but since I’m verbose and I tend to go over the limit, that necessitates editing to cut it down to 1500.</p>
<p>HAHA Qualitative I did the same thing, very nice :D</p>
<p>Let’s think positive guys, INTERVIEWSINTERVIEWSINTERVIEWS eventually :] CC posters have had pretty good rates in the past, anyways! So, that can be skewed as a bonus.</p>
<p>Haha, I’ve been intimidated too, by past and present competition. Are a lot of people here done with all their essays? I’ve basically finished the last three, but only have bits and pieces of the first three. AHH! </p>
<p>I’m with you missmel, I’m not having my teachers read my essays at all.</p>
<p>CCers have pretty good rates, that’s true. That’s keeping my spirits high. Of course, I am a little saddened by the fact that the inner circle of the 2008 thread didn’t get in and they were so intelligent and articulate and it just seems so crazy that they didn’t. But this is three years later, so who knows what they’re looking for now? CCers in general seem to have a better chance of getting in for some reason.</p>
<p>I think a lot of the people here have at least started work on their essays, Kelime, but I’m not sure if anyone’s entirely finished. I know that I have about 500 words left and I’ll be done with them, but for the next three weeks, I’m going to be revising, revising and revising like mad, so I’m really no further ahead than any of you.</p>
<p>@missmel You said it before I could. I’ll probably end up rewriting portions of my essays and maybe playing with other ideas. Suffice it to say, I won’t be submitting my app until about 10:59:59 PM on January 24, 2011. And only that soon because I normally go to bed at 11. :P</p>
<p>Kelime: high five And don’t worry about getting the essays done so fast, a lot of people who’ve gotten in from past years were apparently big procrastinators. I’m just worried that if I procrastinate too much they won’t get done.
And I have like 400 words left of one essay and then a full one that I haven’t started on yet, then I’ll be done. I’m actually the opposite of a lot of you guys, though, I’d rather have my teachers edit essays, even ones that are more personal, than my parents or friends or whatever. I really don’t know why, but I’m more comfortable that way.</p>
<p>Qualitative, I’m like that too. I definitely wouldn’t want my family reading any of my essays. That would just be unaccountably awkward, especially if they read my conflict essay. Friends don’t bother me so much, as long as I’m close to them, but family? No way, Jose. I want people who will be able to offer me constructive criticism as well, and teachers seem to be the perfect people to go to for that. I also worry about not getting my essays done; that’s why I made a goal to have them all finished by the end of Christmas break, because if I didn’t, they probably wouldn’t get done. This way, I can just relax and edit them whenever I feel the need strikes, instead of being under the clock trying to write them in between coursework.</p>
<p>Hmm, I hadn’t realized that the inner circle hadn’t made it in. But then a lot changed in three years? I’m still gonna stay positive on the matter haha. </p>
<p>Okay, that makes me feel a little less behind schedule, good! And ohhhh yeah, I’m not submitting mine until the latest possible date. Leave as much times as possible to edit! Or would that just be procrastination? Hmm… </p>
<p>I’m paranoid that if my teachers look over them, then I’ll end up make changes to the essays that dilute from my chances of getting in. My family at least knows me really well? That’s my reasoning, flawed or not haha.</p>
<p>Is everyone submitting theirs online? I definitely am, just because that gives me so much more time and it’s so easy, perfectly laid out and everything.</p>
<p>That, and the fact that I can’t make heads or tails of the directions on the brochure, haha.</p>
<p>Kelime, I’m remaining as optimistic as I can. At least for the next three weeks. Then I’ll resign myself to my imminent rejection. Hee. :P</p>
Don’t worry, I’m a little obsessed with TASP as well. The critical analysis is just…I don’t really know how to explain what I’m feeling but… AUUGH. I think it’s more my book choice. I LOVE the book I’m writing about but there are just so many themes and symbols and hidden meanings it’s just…crazy. Hah, out of all the words to choose. Crazy.</p>
How do you guys think the competition is outside of the CC genre/the obsessors? Just as high or lower? I’m getting nervous that mine won’t be up to par haha. But I’m trying not to think of that. That’s a good mindset for the rejection letters. If only they actually said that!</p>
