<p>@cortana431, *** is this “hook” you keep talking about? </p>
<p>Also, why do people on this forum feel the need to shoot down anyone who has managed to make headway in the college process?
I don’t think he’s lying at all; I’ve experienced receiving something or being accepted into something that I never would have dreamed of receiving or being accepted to.
I think this negativity stems from insecurity that someone without the perfect SAT score and 4.0 GPA managed to get into an awesome school, suggesting that your academic stats may mean nothing, and that it all depends on YOU as an applicant.</p>
<p>Congrats, timidapplicant on your admission! If you can offer any tips on how to make the perfect app, I’m open!</p>
<p>@Yanaj1: It’s pretty damn obvious that cortana is talking about his URM status, which can give quite a boost in top school admissions.</p>
<p>First of all, it’s fishy how timid just made a chance thread and then starts telling people that he got into those schools. </p>
<p>And no one’s shooting him down; they’re just being realistic. Assuming that he’s telling the truth, if he weren’t a URM, he wouldn’t have had a snowball’s chance in hell at getting into those schools. Let’s be real here, if he were Asian, he wouldn’t have gotten into any top 30 school, let alone MIT and two Ivies. </p>
<p>In general, people need to stop denying that hooks exist in college admissions. Sad reality is, there are some people who will have an automatic advantage over others in admissions. I’m sure that if timid got into schools, he has some very positive qualities and is probably a highly intelligent person in general. However, it’s naive to think that his hook didn’t play any role. </p>
<p>And sorry to disappoint you, but I’m already done with the college app process, so I’m not some kid who’s insecure about his stats.</p>
<p>LOL, URM status? No, it is not “pretty damn obvious” to me; you act like I should know and/or care about such a meaningless term.</p>
<p>Who cares how he got in? Being an URM has to count for something, doesn’t it? No one is denying that hooks exist, it’s just that I’m of the opinion that college admissions is a pretty random process that really doesn’t depend solely on your grades/test scores. ANYTHING can get you in, including your race (after looking it up, btw, I discovered that I, too, have the URM, hook. So, how do you suppose that’s going to help me in any way? Not at all, I think, but you must know. You’re a seasoned college applicant.).</p>
<p>I wasn’t speaking directly to you when I mentioned insecurity, by the way; I didn’t read any of your posts, to tell the truth.</p>
<p>^I wouldn’t be so sure about that. First generation college student is a hook. To some schools it will help a lot.</p>
<p>@Yanaj- Being a URM does generally help with college admissions. There’s just not as much competition. Asians (ORM) have more competition and therefore generally need higher stats than whites and significantly higher stats than URMs. The difference for a top tier school between URM test scores and white/Asian scores is significant. Certainly, being a URM doesn’t guarantee you in, but it is a hook and does help.</p>
<p>I think it’s funny that people still try to diminish other’s accomplishments. In fact, I remember after Ivy week, I approached a classmate and asked how it went (it was common that we’d all discuss the process together). And his response was, “I wish I was Mexican and poor,” and walked away. This misconception that URM applicants have an immediate “hook” is only a means of blaming past or future admissions outcomes. I can assure you, if a hispanic that lived similarly an asian applicant, in terms of socio-economic status and opportunity, what would make or break the decision would be quality of essays and recommendations (assuming similar scores and EC’s). There’s no accepted applicant with a “weak” application–barring athletes to certain schools.</p>
<p>Sure, someone with a 2400 SAT is much more likely for admittance than someone with a 2100, but if the person with the 2400 tanks the essays (can’t portay his or herself), and the 2100 applicant can, well who knows the outcome. The val at my school happened to be denied by all of the ivies and stanford, even with legacy at stanford. Scores, EC’s, and recommendations were all top-notch. Who knows what the flaw was in his application, but something was there. </p>
<p>Advice:
The most important parts to private colleges are the essays, EC’s, and recommendations. EC’s don’t have to be spectular, but they have to show dedication and genuine interest. Schools don’t want robots at their school, they want students who can succeed, live, and learn on campus. An applicant must prove to be confident (but humble), curious, and dedicated to learning. Lastly, admissions officers have to put a face to their applicants. It’s your job in the essays to SHOW who you are. Don’t do things that seem like resume boosters. Be yourself.</p>
<p>I don’t want to get into this whole argument about qualifications and racial status and whatnot, but let me say this: 1) Asians with sub-2000 SAT scores rarely ever get into MIT 2) Socio-economic affirmative action is an ideal that is not actually fully realized in practice. 3) Questbridge is an amazing program that helps boost the chances for underprivileged students to get into good schools.
Anyways, it certainly won’t be the last of the haters and people who tell you you don’t deserve it, so keep up the hard work and prove them wrong.</p>
<p>“I can assure you, if a hispanic that lived similarly an asian applicant, in terms of socio-economic status and opportunity, what would make or break the decision would be quality of essays and recommendations (assuming similar scores and EC’s).”</p>
<p>I’m pretty confident in the exact opposite being true. Essays and recommendations definitely matter, but being hispanic is a “hook” whether you want to believe it or not.</p>
<p>No. It is not a misconception and they DO have a hook. Maybe you should try reading some testimonies from admissions officers at schools like Duke to start.</p>
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<p>Many would argue that your application to top schools is weak based on your test scores and class rank. </p>
<p>Again, I am obviously not looking to attack and insult, I am simply showing facts and discussing.</p>
<p>Yes, a weak area of an application can be compensated by the URM hook. I don’t see how this is debatable. I’m legitimately not whining by agreeing with you guys, though. I’m a white male in the United States of America. With that alone, I’m “better off” than almost everyone else in the world.</p>