The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a free, five-week residential program for high school sophomores and juniors, run by Telluride Association. Students take a three-hour, college-level seminar each weekday in either TASS-CBS or TASS-AOS, and run their house as a democratic community.
The 2026 sessions ran at Cornell University (Ithaca) and the University of Maryland (College Park). The Board will not offer TASS in 2027 while it reviews the program; it intends TASS to return but has set no date.
Benefits & funding
- Tuition, books, room and board, field trips and facilities fees covered for every student; no application fee.
- Help with all or part of travel costs for students who need it.
- Extra aid to replace summer-job earnings; aid needs do not affect admission.
- Five weeks in residence; no grades are given.
Eligibility
- High school sophomores or juniors (rising juniors and rising seniors); US and international students may apply.
- At least 15 at the program’s start and no older than 17 by its end.
- 2026 cycle, students in US high school or homeschool: born July 26, 2008 – June 21, 2011.
- Students studying outside the US without a US passport must be sophomores; 2026 cycle: born July 26, 2009 – June 21, 2011.
- One focus area per year; after attending one, a student may apply only to the other.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“For students studying outside the US who do not have a US passport, birthdates must be between July 26 2009 and June 21 2011. International students (those studying outside the US who do not have a US passport) must be sophomores to apply.” Eligibility
Education required
High School
Age requirement
15–17 yrs
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Application process
- 1Choose one focus area: TASS-CBS or TASS-AOS.
- 2Submit the online application with your essays by the deadline; no fee and no recommendation letter are needed to apply.
- 3Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online or by phone; a recommendation letter may be requested at this stage.
- 4Final decisions follow the interviews.
Program timeline
December 3, 2025
2026 application deadline
Interviews
February 2026
Final notifications
March 2026
June 21 – July 25, 2026
2026 program
No sessions; TASS paused for review
2027