When evaluating summer opportunities as a high schooler, you may often face a choice between prestige-heavy, fee-based university courses and research-intensive programs that require specific technical output. The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) occupies a unique niche by offering a highly selective, six-week residential experience that is completely free of charge. Compared to specialized STEM-centric programs like the Summer Science Program (SSP) or regular Ivy League pre-college sessions, TASS stands out by prioritizing critical inquiry and understanding of power and social structures over standard grading or lab work. This makes it a good fit for students interested in moving beyond the standard high school curriculum and exploring how power, privilege, and social structures function in the real world.
Before you decide about your next summer, here is everything you need to know about TASS!
If you are looking for other opportunities in the humanities, check out our list of summer programs here and our selection of humanities research opportunities here.
A quick overview: What is TASS all about?
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a residential pre-college program hosted by the Telluride Association for high school students interested in exploring the humanities and social sciences through hands-on research, mentorship, and academic exploration. Unlike the standard lecture-and-grade models common in typical university summer sessions, TASS focuses on democratic community and critical inquiry. It is a selective, academically rigorous program that is completely free of charge. Participants work with two experienced faculty members and two “factotums”—resident advisors and teaching assistants—to gain exposure to democratic decision making and seminar-style discourse.
Quick facts
Location: Select university campuses in the U.S. Current sites: University of Maryland, College Park, MD, and Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Duration: June 21 – July 25
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (i.e. rising juniors and seniors) who are 15 – 17 years old. Both US and international students are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: December 3 (applications open in October)
Tuition: $0; TASS covers all tuition, books, room and board, and field trips!
What do you learn at TASS?
While applying for TASS, you will first choose between two specific areas of study. TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) focuses on the intellectual as well as cultural contributions of people of African descent. TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies) investigates how various forms of power shape social structures. The program curriculum revolves around small-group discussions, the analysis of books and articles, and the viewing of films or art. You will attend a three-hour college-level seminar each weekday, and are expected to produce several essays over the summer, receiving technical feedback and guidance from the instructor team and factotums.
Additionally, you and your fellow TASSers will democratically make decisions on out-of-class activities, planning activities, projects, and outings together, and learning about the democratic process by practice. TASS also runs public speaking workshops and guest lectures to round out your learning experience.
The key components of the program include:
- Faculty-led seminars: Daily three-hour intensive sessions centered on humanities and social sciences
- Writing and critical reading workshops: Guided sessions led by factotums to improve your analytical writing and research synthesis
- Public speaking program: A structured environment to practice delivering formal presentations and defending academic arguments
- Democratic community living: Opportunities for you and your peers to fully manage the program budget and make collective decisions regarding group activities and service projects
How do admissions work?
The program is open to high school sophomores and juniors, ages 15 – 17. International students are also eligible, given that they are sophomores and 15 or 16 years old. To apply, you must submit multiple essays and a high school transcript. If selected for the interview, you may also have to provide a recommendation letter.
The program is known to be highly selective. After the initial application review, a subset of applicants is invited to an interview in February. While there is no strict GPA cutoff, the admissions committee looks for students who are intellectually curious, community-minded, and self-motivated. You are limited to applying to only one program track (CBS or AOS) per year.
What are the costs associated with TASS?
Tuition for the program is $0. The Telluride Association covers all program costs, including housing, meals, materials, and facilities fees.
Financial aid is available to cover travel costs to and from the program, based on need. A unique feature of this program is the “replacement grant”; if you normally work during the summer to support your family, the association can offer this grant to replace those lost earnings, ensuring that financial obligations do not stop you from attending TASS.
Student feedback
Past participants have highlighted the strong sense of community that forms during the program, driven partly by the small-group interactions and partly by the democratic decision-making. The lack of traditional grading is another positive factor, allowing for a deeper focus on intellectual growth rather than performance. Alums also talk about the valuable experience in critical thinking and research methods it provides, specifically teaching you how to navigate complex texts and engage in high-level academic debate. Many students mention that the program helped them prepare for the self-directed nature of college-level research.
The program also focuses on transformative justice, teaching you how to work through internal community conflicts and create inclusive environments.
Here is how one participant summarized their TASS experience on the official program site: “TASS was truly a transformative experience … my incredible professors, factotums, and peers pushed me to better understand the path to a better world for all.”
Strengths and Considerations
Strengths
- Free participation and extensive financial aid: TASS charges no tuition and provides a full scholarship, including room, board, and books. It even covers your transportation!
- Small-group instruction from experts: At TASS, you will learn from university faculty in a small, close-group seminar setting, ensuring a high degree of exposure and interaction.
- Focus on development of transferable skills: The program has a strong focus on research, technical writing, public speaking, community engagement, and leadership. All of these are great skills to master, regardless of which path you choose to specialize in, and these skills can do a lot for your profile when applying for college.
- A truly democratic experience: TASS provides the unique opportunity to participate in a self-governing community and experience what democracy really means.
Considerations
- Highly competitive admissions: As the program is both fully funded and prestigious, it is extremely selective.
- No certification or credits: While the experience is highly engaging and beneficial, it offers no grades or formal credits, which may not appeal to students seeking a GPA boost.
- Considerable workload: At TASS, you will have to engage in intense daily reading and the development of several reports and essays.
Verdict – Is TASS right for you?
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is best suited for students who want an experience that differs from the rote academic focus of high school, allowing them to explore leadership, social justice, and research. It is particularly meant for those who prefer critical discussion over standardized testing.
If you are looking for a structured, mentor-led research experience that emphasizes social justice and the humanities, this program is a strong fit. If you prefer a collaborative, project-based environment where you have a say in your community governance, you will likely find the democratic structure at TASS rewarding.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying toHorizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!