The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (yeah, kind of a mouthful, but pretty cool program) focuses on the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the importance of community.
This six-week summer program (formerly known as TASP: The Telluride Association Summer Program—in case you’re not sure you’re looking at the right program) invites high school students to work together in what TASS calls “democratic community” to hone their critical thinking skills through seminar classes and community projects.
So, if you’re a lone wolf and group work is your nightmare, TASS probably isn’t for you. But if you love to collaborate and are energized by working with other cool people (especially cool people who are into the Humanities), then TASS might be just the thing you’re looking for!
Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know to assess whether (and how) to apply.
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(click to skip ahead)What is TASS—the Telluride Summer Association Seminar?
The TASP Summer Program was founded in 1945 at Cornell University and was revamped and renamed TASS in 2021. The program’s original mission of bringing together promising high school students with an interest in the Humanities and leadership remains the same, but now, this happens through seminar-style classes over a six-week period in the summer.
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar allows students to live and study on a college campus (the locations change yearly and have included Cornell, the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland, and Boston University) while learning what it means to be a Humanities scholar (so, a lot of reading and class discussion, engaging critical thinking skills, and participating in an academic community).
If you happen to be one of the lucky few to attend TASS, you’ll join the ranks of some pretty impressive alumni: Stacey Abrams (Georgia House of Representatives), Eve Kosofksy Sedgwick (literary critic and queer theorist), and Kathleen Sullivan (Dean of Stanford Law School) are all TASS grads (to name just an illustrious few), and these are the kind of minds you’ll encounter if you get to participate!
What programs does the Telluride Association Summer Seminar offer?
TASS challenges its students to think about how power and privilege shape society, and it is this foundational idea that informs both seminars: TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) and TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies).
Both programs rely on seminar-style classes in which students often read a text or complete work ahead of class and then come to class ready to engage in discussions and debate, but TASS-CBS focuses specifically on the “intellectual and cultural contributions from people of African descent” while TASS-AOS focuses on “systems of power and oppression.”
These are, quite obviously, important and complex areas of study that require thoughtful engagement and the willingness to grapple with some challenging issues, so if that isn’t how you want to spend your summer (no shame there, we promise), you might consider some other options (here are a LOT of other extracurricular activity ideas for you—like, 400+).
What do TASS seminar attendees do?
Tass Seminars
These are daily, three-hour, college-level classes that involve class discussion, group projects, and lectures by TASS faculty (keep reading for more about these amazing people). Your texts are books and articles, but also films and visual art. Oh, and you’ll be writing essays, too!
We also feel it’s imperative to let you know these seminars aren’t graded. TASS doesn’t want its students to be distracted by or worried about that A or B. Instead, they want students to focus on the work they’re doing and the skills they’re acquiring.
You’re there to learn, and we all know a preoccupation with grades can sometimes overshadow the knowledge you’re gaining. But not at TASS.
Community creation + engagement
The community aspect of TASS is something that makes it truly special. You’ll work closely with other students to arrive at shared decisions about everything from extracurricular activities to community service projects to managing a budget.
You’ll also learn about the methods of Transformative Justice to help you and your fellow TASSmates resolve conflict, and you’ll get to participate in a public speaking program (stage fright is up there for most common fear in America—so if that idea gets you anxious, you’re not alone, and you can overcome it.)
Teachers
The team of teachers you have behind you at TASS is one of the programs many, many strengths. In addition to the two faculty members who teach your seminar, you’ll also have two resident advisors and teaching assistants (TASS calls them “factotums”).
Just like at many colleges and universities, these factotums teach writing workshops, offer support with assignments outside of class time, and live amongst TASS students to help create and guide the community.
It sounds like a lot of eyes on you, and it is, but in the best way possible. Each of these people is invested in helping you work to your fullest potential (and they really, truly mean it when they say that)!
How much does TASS cost?
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is free!
TASS is dedicated to making this program available to deserving students without cost being an obstacle, so they cover tuition, books, room and board, and any field trips.
They can also help with travel costs AND offer additional financial aid if you would normally be working at a summer job and can’t afford to lose that income. They are serious about student access to this program!
Who is eligible for TASS?
If you are a rising junior or senior who is between 15 and 18 years old, you are eligible for TASS. If you are a US or international student, you are eligible for TASS. And if you are a student of color or a student facing economic hardship, TASS welcomes your application.
The Telluride summer program is all about creating an inclusive and diverse community of students, and they believe that diversity is about racial and cultural diversity, but also about economic diversity and diversity of experiences.
How to apply for TASS
There are multiple deadlines to keep track of when applying to TASS, so if you decide to apply, we encourage you to set some reminders for yourself somewhere (your phone, your computer, a good old-fashioned paper calendar, but something):
Mid-October: Students are often nominated by their teachers or counselors for TASS (although this isn’t a requirement), and the nominations open in the fall
November 15: TASS applications officially open
December 1: Student nominations are due
First week of January: Applications are due! Circle, highlight, put a star next to this date!
Mid-March: Students are notified if they’re being invited to interview (oh yes, there is indeed an interview)
Mid-March to Mid-April: It’s interview time!
Early May: Scholarship notification
Late June to early August: You’re off to TASS! Congratulations!
As with the deadlines, there are also multiple components to the TASS application.
You will need to complete an online application, submit your high school transcripts, submit a letter of recommendation (probably from the teacher who nominates you), sit for an interview, and share an essay that you’ve written for school.
The most important part of your application is the additional essays TASS will ask you to write. Since they don’t look at high school grades or test scores as part of your eligibility, TASS relies on your essays to learn who you are, what you care about, and how capable you are of using your critical thinking skills.
We know this sounds like a lot, and it is, but the great news is you can probably re-use some of these essays when you apply to college. In fact, the entire TASS application process can be a good dry run for college applications (click here for more about what colleges are looking for).
How hard is it to get into TASS? (Acceptance rate)
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar acceptance rate is low. This highly selective program accepts roughly 3-5% of applicants each year, which means it’s a lot of work to apply without a guarantee that you’ll get in.
TASS is prestigious, work-intensive, and serious about guiding student scholars in the Humanities. All of this adds up to their commitment to accepting a small number of students who then benefit from a lot of individual attention and support. So, we encourage you to think carefully and honestly about your interests before applying.
If your goal is to just add another entry on your resume, this isn’t the program for you. You will be reading and writing, wrestling with complex social issues, and actively participating in your student community. If your heart isn’t in it, TASS would be a long six weeks for you.
Plus, there are so many other ways to spend your summer doing something you actually enjoy if TASS doesn’t really get your pulse racing.
Are you into Fine Arts? Check out Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Is Science your jam? Head on over to the Summer Science Program. If you’re a creative writer ready to work on your masterpiece, the Iowa Young Writers' Studio is waiting for you.
But if your heart is really in the Humanities and social justice, the Telluride Association Summer Program could be an amazing experience for you.
You will have to work to get accepted and work once you get there, but that work could be truly meaningful for you if your interest is genuine. You will spend six weeks in community with like-minded students, guided by dedicated faculty, and getting a preview of what it’s like to be in college. If all of this inspires and energizes you, then go for it!
Special thanks to Jessica B. for writing this blog post
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, cozy sweaters, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
