Summer Program for Juniors (TASP) | Ask a TASPer
Ask a TASPer
Welcome to the Telluride Association Summer Program Ask a TASPer page! We have tried to answer as many questions about the program as we can on our FAQ page, but for some questions we thought you might like to hear the perspectives of some recent TASPers instead. So we asked TASPers from the past two years to volunteer to answer your questions on this webpage. We started by sending them some common questions we hear, but we would really like the questions to come from you! If you have a question to ask our expert team of TASP alumni, please send it to tasp-queries@tellurideassociation.org with "AAT" in the subject line, and we'll do the rest. Check back periodically for new questions and new answers to old questions.
Questions
- What did you like most about TASP?
- What is a typical day like at TASP?
- How did TASP affect your college plans?
- Was the seminar what you expected?
- How did TASP compare with your high school classes and extracurricular activities?
- How hard was the coursework?
- Are you still in touch with the people from your TASP?
- When you applied, did you have a clear idea about your plans for your future? Did TASP change your future plans?
- Were all group activities mandatory? How did you deal with activities that didn't interest you very much?
- How would you describe the living arrangements at your TASP?
- What level of supervision did you receive?
- (new) Have you ever had serious musicians attend?
What did you like most about TASP?
Obaid (Oklahoma, UT Austin TASP '09) writes
Without hesitation, I would say the thoughtful, warmhearted, and creative individuals I met made the program an extraordinary experience. We meet people everyday in our lives, but seldom do we get to know them at such a deep level. I ended up writing more than eighty pages of reflection in my journal, triggered by the atmosphere they created. Truly, it is this interaction that brings about the best learning experience: we all arrive as individuals and leave taking a part of each person with us.
Sarah (Michigan, Cornell TASP '08) writes
The best part for me was a simultaneous sense of belonging and diversity of ideas. In other parts of life it felt like in order to be part of something you had to be the same as everyone around you, but at TASP you were part of something because you weren't the same.
Douglas (Florida, University of Texas TASP '09) writes
I really loved the people I met in TASP. The other students were wonderful academically and personally; they were extremely engaged, enjoyed talking long into the night about our ideas and beliefs, and formed a close bond in just the six week span of the program. The professors were also very good, because they knew their subjects, and were very inviting; the factota were a little bit like peer mentors, and helped to keep the fun somewhat organized.
What is a typical day like at TASP?
Achyut (Arizona, UMich TASP 2009) writes
I would get ready in the morning, grab some breakfast, and walk to our seminar at about 9:00. Seminar ended at noon, and we would walk back to our house and have a group lunch, often with our professors. If we didn't have a guest speaker or outing previously planned, I would work on some reading and possibly go to the library, and then we would all end up doing something fun at night.
Maia (New York, UMich TASP '09) writes
There really is no such thing as a "typical" day at TASP since every TASP is so different. However, all TASPers attend seminar every weekday morning for three hours, and mealtimes are usually communal. Expect to spend a portion of the afternoon reading, but there is always more than enough time for leisurely activities in addition to the required scholarly pursuits.
Michael (Deep Springs, Michigan TASP '08) writes
The day starts groggily over breakfast, during which discussion of the previous night's lights-off hide-and-go-seek game prevails. Seminar is a few blocks walk away and ends at noon, when we all have lunch.The afternoon is spent with a planned activity (canoeing, for example), an impromptu soccer game, hikes, field trips, card games, or course work in the library. Sometimes we'd meet at the gym for a swim, workout, or game of racquetball before dinner (don't worry, I didn't play before I got there either). We might have a guest speaker over for dinner, and then hear her/him talk afterward, before settling in with a movie, house meeting, or reading for the rest of the night.
How did TASP affect your college plans?
Trey (Oklahoma, Cornell I TASP '09) writes
TASP definitely confirmed my desire for a highly intellectual environment, and showed me that a place like Cornell and other similar institutions were a good fit for me. Seminar also showed me that I really have an affinity for philosophy; and since TASP, I have been looking much more into Humanities than I would have without the experience!
Ben (Michigan, Cornell TASP '09) writes
TASP allowed me the unique opportunity to become intimately acquainted with Cornell, an opportunity I likely would not have had through any other program. As a result, I applied to Cornell and to the House and am strongly considering attending. Further, the professors at TASP, in their conversations with us, helped me determine what I truly desire in a college.
Lisa (Delaware, UT-Austin TASP '09) writes
Prior to TASP, I half-expected everyone to be considering the most competitive colleges in the nation--and this was actually true for the most part. TASPers tend to be an ambitious lot. For me, the lifelong friends I made at TASP definitely influenced my decision to not apply Early Decision to any college, keeping my options open instead of making an early commitment. (Many of my fellow TASPers did apply ED, but I don't regret my personal decision one whit.)
Was the seminar what you expected?
Michael (Deep Springs, Michigan TASP '08) writes
My seminar, The Environment and Our Health, wasn't actually my first choice. But once I got there, I was surprised by the interesting material and the professors, who worked hard to engage the students and bring them into discussion. Debating the ethics of DDT use, visiting brown-fields and great lakes on field trips, and reading policy proposals opened my eyes to a field of study I had never considered and made me aware of the greater implications of economic development and growth.
Charlie (California, Cornell II TASP '09) writes
My seminar far surpassed any of the seemingly earthly expectations that I had. I found in the seminar a stimulation that was both intellectual and emotional in nature, and was surprised by how rapidly a topic that was so foreign became so personal.
Lucas (Ohio, UT Austin TASP '08) writes
My TASP seminar started out pretty much as I'd expected, but it soon took a whole new form. We soon found ourselves down different (and exciting) avenues of inquiry that neither us nor our professors could have foreseen. The relationship between professors and TASPers is key; in many ways it defines the TASP/seminar experience as a whole.
How did TASP compare with your high school classes and extracurricular activities?
Lisa (Delaware, UT-Austin TASP '09) writes
I've been lucky to find a few intellectually-minded friends at my high school, but what struck me about TASP was the normalcy of intellectual conversation. At school, my friends prefer to quickly end intense discussions; at TASP, we might complain about the preponderance of Truth, but no one ever interfered to stop a serious conversation (humorous distractions were another matter).
Jane (California, UT Austin TASP '09) writes
TASP was a whole new experience for me. I attend a relatively large public school, where a class usually has more than 30 students. TASP seminar was engaging, tight-knit and personal, and I could express my opinions freely without the fear of others judging me.
Marybeth (Pennsylvania, UT TASP '09) writes
Seminar at TASP was active; everyone contributed to conversation, challenged each other, and brought up interesting points that forced me to think in a way I never have before. Readings and writing assignments have purposes, and through each I grew as a writer, reader, and thinker. Apart from being wholly challenging, TASP is also ridiculously enjoyable. People are incredibly interesting, funny, and caring; each person is "that person" in her own high school, the one that continues to surprise and impress everyone around her. There is no way that my sleepy rural high school could ever compare.
Kyle (California, Cornell I 2008) writes
While my high school classes and extracurricular activities were challenging and rewarding in a traditional sense, my experience as a TASPer was challenging and rewarding in an extra-ordinary sense. My peers in high school cared more about getting by successfully in a system that was designed for them, not about their own creative and intellectual autonomy. TASP was different. At TASP my peers and I created our own system, using the collective energy of a community of exceptional people to uncover something intellectually intense about ourselves, within ourselves, and for ourselves. I can say that what I learned and experienced in high school shaped who I was before TASP, but after TASP, I began to identify myself using a different method: my own.
How hard was the coursework?
Jonathan (Pennsylvania, UT Austin TASP '09) writes
The coursework was challenging but not overwhelming. One of the best things about the TASP environment academically for me was the fact that everyone else was always available to swap ideas about how to approach the assignments, and this made everything more enjoyable, even late nights writing papers. I think my coursework was hard in the sense that I had to do things I had never done before---like interview total strangers and analyze philosophy--and that was more of an exciting challenge than it was a burden.
Maia (New York, UMich TASP '09) writes
The coursework was challenging in the sense that there was quite a bit of reading (approximately 20 to 60 pages per night for my TASP) and that it was of the sort rarely encountered in a high school setting, but the assignments were for the most part very compelling and enjoyable. The writing was very open-ended and was more of a chance to meditate further on the discussions held in seminar than a concrete assignment for evaluative purposes.
Are you still in touch with the people from your TASP?
Roy (California, UT Austin TASP '08) writes
Absolutely: some of my strongest friendships were forged at TASP. After the program, my TASP started a blog to keep in touch, and many of us wrote letters and lengthy emails to each other. We also have had many opportunities to meet up to see each other after the program in person, which is remarkable, considering that many of us live in very different parts of the country.
Obaid (Oklahoma, UT Austin TASP '09) writes
Already, my fellow taspers have had many visits and reunions. Whenever we visit a state another tasper lives in, we always holla. I went up north for college visits this year, and set up some rendezvous with friends. It's insane how spending 6 weeks with strangers made them closer friends than people who I had known for years. There is not one thing we haven't done to stay in touch. With the technology boom of this era, it seems likely that I'll know 'em for the rest of my life!
When you applied, did you have a clear idea about your plans for your future? Did TASP change your future plans?
Sarah (Michigan, Cornell TASP '08) writes
When I applied to TASP I had a lot of really specific plans about what college I wanted to go to and what I wanted to become--I was planning on going to a local state school or community college and majoring in something practical rather than something I enjoyed, actually. Going to TASP taught me to expect more out of myself and gave me a better idea of my own abilities, so when I started filling out applications I ended up choosing a completely different college that I never would have considered before, and I'm incredibly thankful for that.
Sonya (Chicago, Cornell TASP '09) writes
Going into TASP, I had no idea about what I wanted to do in the future -- I even wrote one of my essays about that! I suppose I wasn't looking for a clear-cut answer to my career questions at TASP; rather, I expected to have my eyes opened to something new or to ideas I hadn't though about in certain ways. And although I still don't know in which direction my future will take me, I can say that I was definitely influenced by TASP to begin leaning towards a more humanitarian career.
Aaron (California, Cornell TASP '09) writes
I personally had a quite lucid vision for my future plans in the field of law, which was reflected in my TASP application. Indeed, having these plans was actually part of the reason I ranked my TASP seminar (which was about criminal justice) in particular as my first choice. TASP did not significantly change my future plans; indeed, the topics presented in my seminar increased my burden for the career path that I have chosen, and solidified my resolve to accomplish my goals in that area of expertise.
Keyanah (New Jersey, Cornell TASP '09) writes
Before TASP, I had every intention of studying Spanish when I went to college. I also entertained the idea of going to law school and studying law. After TASP, however, I realized that I had a very surprising affinity for philosophy and critical theory, so after having just been admitted to my dream college, I'm thinking about majoring in either Philosophy or Gender and Sexuality studies. In some ways, TASP helped me learn to appreciate the power and significance of human thought and rationality, and being surrounded by so many beautiful minds also made me realize that I wanted a life in which I could surround myself with people who were also interested in thought. I now want to be a professor, and although it may be a bit cliche, I want my chance to try to inspire young minds and create a new appreciation for thinking simply for thinking's sake.
Douglas (Florida, University of Texas TASP '09) writes
When I applied, I had no clear idea about my plans for the future, but TASP motivated me to begin making plans. I met amazing people, some who were clearly better students than me, and I started solidifying my own plans for the future.
Were all group activities mandatory? How did you deal with activities that didn't interest you very much?
Maia (New York, UMich TASP '09) writes
Several group activities are mandatory, including seminar, guest lectures, PubSpeaks, and house meetings, but these were never a chore to attend. Other activities were optional, but I found myself participating in a majority of them simply because being with such a great group of people made everything fun and interesting. However, if there is an activity in which you really do not want participate, it is not too hard to find other things to do. After all, there's always reading to be done for seminar!
Marybeth (Pennsylvania, UT TASP '09) writes
It varies, really. Usually we would vote on activities to do as a group during weekly house meetings (e.g. go to Blazer Tag, the movies, Barton Springs, etc.), and if a majority of people voted to go to an event, then we all went together. There were some other things that were mandatory for everyone, like seminar, PubSpeaks, community service activities, and guest presentations, but these are all things we wanted to attend, so it wasn't a big deal. Also, there are plenty of group things that people did that weren't at all mandatory for the whole group; going to the gym, grabbing junk food at 7-11, going to a Spoon concert, going shopping downtown, etc. Basically, it's a mixture--one with which few people have problems.
How would you describe the living arrangements at your TASP?
Jane (California, UT TASP '09) writes
The eighteen of us plus two factota lived in a beautiful sorority house on UT Austin Campus. Four people were assigned to a suite that included a sink, bathroom, and two rooms. There were many common rooms in the house for all TASPers to hang out together and engage in some deep conversation. We had delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner fully prepared by the house staff every day (except on Sundays).
Roy (California, UT TASP '08) writes
The first word that came to my mind when trying to answer this question: mansion. The sorority house at UT we stayed in was well-furnished and large. We all stayed in suites of four, with two rooms of two people per suite. We each had a bed and a desk, and we all shared a bathroom and a refrigerator. We spent most of our time in the house, which had many spacious rooms, televisions, comfortable chairs and sofas, and a looking pool. We also had access to the nearby gym and library. I never had any issues finding a place to do work or to socialize with someone else. Privacy never became a problem for me.
What level of supervision did you receive?
Lisa (Delaware, UT-Austin TASP '09) writes
The level of freedom I experienced at TASP was remarkable compared to other summer programs that I had attended in the past. This is not a "camp," although the factota are somewhat analogous to camp counselors. Of course we had house rules and curfew--no bedtime, just stay in the house--but very few days were fully "scheduled" (and even those usually gave us the evening free, for homework and socializing).
Six weeks away from my musical instrument would be very difficult for me, not only because of the practical reason of Senior year and preparation for music school auditions, but because my music is so central to who I am: it's as if someone told me not to breathe! Have you ever had serious musicians (I mean scales/etudes every morning, pre-dawn usually!) attend? -- dedicated double bassist
Elston (California, UT TASP '08) writes
Well I'm a pianist, and during TASP I definitely managed to put in a good deal of time practicing piano - there will definitely be a place for you to practice, as well as people willing to listen. Transporting your instrument will probably be the biggest struggle, but more significantly, it may be hard to tear yourself away from your fellow TASPers. I came in rather motivated to practice daily, especially because I had a major event soon after TASP, and this motivation is possible to sustain; during the latter half of TASP, I maybe practiced an hour a day. Thus, TASP should not be a major obstacle in terms of maintaining yourself as a musician.
Sarah (Michigan, Cornell TASP '08) writes
My TASP had a number of dedicated musicians at it. My roommate played the double bass, but was unable to bring it with her from home, so we used part of our budget to rent one for her. She and a number of our other TASPers ended up forming a little jazz band. On any given night you could hear piano, violin, and even saxophone coming from different parts of the House.
Ben (Michigan, Cornell TASP '09) writes
At Cornell last year we were fortunate to have three musicians in residence: a pianist, a violinist, and a guitarist/vocalist. All three were quite diligent about practicing, and their level of public involvement varied. Our violinist primarily practiced in his room, but at times would open his door for all to hear. Our pianist was at first somewhat shy about public performance, but listening to her practice each day while reading was divine, and her accompaniment for various musical escapades was very enjoyable. Our guitarist/vocalist was a delight to hear practicing, and she found inspiration in our seminar that led her to compose several songs.
I would advise the questioner that TASP is an excellent place for musicians and that the community as a whole is very open to listening to practicing and performance. If the questioner is rather private about practicing, perhaps TASP will at first be somewhat difficult, as people are very eager to share in whatever others are doing or experiencing. Therefore, I would advise the questioner to approach the program with an open heart and an open door in an effort to share the experience and emotion of music with the fellow TASPers. (I am a french hornist, though I chose to leave my interest at home while doing the program primarily due to the hassle of transporting in on an airplane.)
Marybeth (Pennsylvania, UT TASP '09) writes
I am a fairly serious musician (I don't wake up at 7 a.m. to hit the chromatic scales and arpeggio exercises, but I do attend a local music conservatory and participate in a lot of ensembles), but it wasn't an issue for me not to be able to practice daily, since I didn't apply to music schools. I think it's very possible to devote a block of time to practicing your instrument regularly if it's important to you, but your first priority should definitely be getting to know the incredible people you're living with and the topic you're studying.