Can someone help me define my "hook?"

Applying to College
1

<p>In researching the college application process, I came across something called a hook. I'm not totally sure I've got one, and would love some help picking one out, or defining one to work on.</p>

<p>Keep in mind, I'm barely a junior starting this year ... So, I've got 2 years yet to add to this.</p>

<p>I'm a white female, living in an underrepresented area. By underrepresented, I mean that most kids from my state go to the state schools, so most of the schools I might apply to will not have had too many kids from my area. Also, my area is generally poor, and that's pretty well known, as well.</p>

<p>I've got a 4.0 GPA (all A's all the way down my transcript). I'm ranked 2nd in my class. I'm taking all advanced and AP classes available to me -- however, there is only 1 AP class available to me: English. The rest are just called "advanced."</p>

<p>I am the Class Historian of my class's council. I'm the Webmaster for my school's Interact Club, where I'm also an active member. I was recently inducted into National Honors Society. </p>

<p>I taught myself HTML and CSS a few years ago, and used them to keep up my own blog. I shut it down for about 2 years, but recently decided to start blogging again. I also kind of trained myself in graphics and web design -- just because I was interested (and still am, of course).</p>

<p>I'm also a self-taught visual artist. I draw, paint, sculpt, etc... I was accepted to a selective art school in the Northern part of my state, but ultimately couldn't attend.</p>

<p>I've been teaching myself Portuguese for about five years, with hopes of someday soon traveling to Brazil to volunteer to work with street children. I've also taken 2 years of French in school, and study it independently. I may take Spanish or Chinese for the remaining 2 years, as well. I have many pen-pals in different countries, including France, Brazil, South Korea, and China.</p>

<p>I'm going to participate in Science Olympiad during my junior and senior years, and possibly science fair as well. I've recently become interested in science -- a surprise to everyone around me, because I was never particularly taken by the subject in past years. I really like Biology, Human Anatomy, and Neuroscience. And who knows, maybe Chem won't be so bad ... ;)</p>

<p>I play the bass guitar, and I sing. I love music. (Not much else to say about this ... haha.)</p>

<p>I really love writing. I've participated in NaNoWriMo 3 times, although I did not participate last year. I plan to participate again this year. Actually, I'll be working on the 3rd draft of my novel -- which I hope to have finished by the end of 2012. Also, I'm going to try my darnedest to start a school newspaper or newsletter. I've also got a blog.</p>

<p>I've volunteered this summer at the homeless shelter. I'm enjoying it a lot, so I'm hoping to be able to do it again next summer.</p>

<p>On the downside, I'm not an athletic person, and I'm therefore not in sports. I don't regret this. </p>

<p>My ACT score was also not very good: 25. So, I'll work on that, because I know that I can do better.</p>

<p>In the mean time, I was hoping to find a "hook" to counterbalance my score and lack of EC's. If you don't think I have one, can you help me find something to work on?</p>

2

<p>I don’t really think you have a “hook”, but that’s not a bad thing. The only places that a hook is really beneficial are top 20 schools, particularly the ivies. If you can get your ACT up (I suggest taking the SAT at least once, you may be better at that test) you’ll be a pretty strong candidate for most schools your senior year. Your hobbies may not really count as EC’s, but they will help you write amazing essays. If you’re from a very underrepresented area, that can sometimes be a hook. What state are you from?</p>

3

<p>Agree that the underrepresented area may be your hook! Especially when supported by a great application with great grades.</p>

<p>You have a lot of interests- that are really interesting! Follow your passion with one of them-- it doens’t matter which one but explore it fully with either volunteering in the area of talent &/or making $ in area of talent. You can continue to do another interest or 2 but realize that theya are for your own enjoyment. And Enjoy!</p>

4

<p>No, you don’t have a hook. It seems that you don’t understand the concept of a hook. A working definition of a hook would be something that causes your application to be placed in a special pile in the admissions office. Examples include: recruited athlete, legacy, URM, building on campus with your family’s name, a father living in the White House, performed concerts at Carnegie Hall, etc.</p>

<p>It is highly unusual to develop a hook. Perhaps you can learn to row a boat quickly and contact the school’s crew coach. Perhaps you can get Bill and Melinda Gates to adopt you. Perhaps you can cure cancer or win a Nobel prize before graduating from high school.</p>

<p>Don’t worry that you lack a hook. Few applicants do. Realize however, that when you look at the 25%/75% statistics for an admitted class, most of the bottom 25% do have hooks.</p>

5

<p>What you probably have is not a “hook” but rather a “tip,” or several of them, or a lot of them. A tip is something that tips your application into the Admit pile, something adds that extra sparkle to your application, something that makes you stand out among other students with similar stats. </p>

<p>I said you “probably” have one tip, or several, or a lot, because the tip will vary from one school to another. A school which has a strong commitment to service will especially like your work at the homeless shelter. A school that has an artsy vibe (like my D’s school) will especially like your art and music interests. Science-y or tech-y school – Science Olympiad and computer stuff (although many, many people have blogs; I wouldn’t say that that in itself is going to earn you major bonus points). You get the idea.</p>

<p>The thing that strikes me as being most unusual is your novel-writing (and remember, you want to stand out). In fact, that might make a good essay – why you decided to write it, what it’s like to be a novelist, difficulties you’ve encountered and overcome, how you plan to see it through to publication, ideas for future writing.</p>

<p>The best advice I can give you is to pursue what you love. Colleges are often more interested in what you do with your interests than what those interests are. They want to see that you’ve developed and grown in your interest, demonstrated leadership, and most important – that you aren’t just doing it to make your college app look good.</p>

6

<p>Are you a 300 lb linebacker who can run a 4.3 40? Are your parents rich and willing to donate a building to the college? If not then you don’t have a hook.</p>

7

<p>Many of you said I don’t have a hook, and one of you even said that I probably won’t develop one. Which is fine. However, I’d like to know, if I focused on one area (writing, art, science, etc.) is there a way to turn that into a hook? (IE, if I won a pretty art award that is nationally recognized, got my novel published, or won an essay contest?) Is there a way for something like that to be a hook?</p>

<p>Also, one person asked what state I was from: New Mexico.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help, advice, and clarifications.</p>

8

<p>No, you can’t develop a hook. Hooks are things that have nothing to do with YOU (your father has given millions of dollars to the university, or is a US Senator) or things which are rare and would benefit the university as an institution (supremely gifted athlete, or under-represented minority). </p>

<p>That doesn’t mean you have nothing to offer a school, and in fact, I think you have many things which a lot of colleges would be very interested in. These are things you DO have control over. Forget the word “hook” and start working to develop the many interest and talents which you have.</p>

9

<p>I don’t really think you understand what a hook is. You don’t have a hook and probably will never have one unless you win the lottery or find out you had a hidden talent in football you never knew about between now and college admissions. And that’s okay - because most other people don’t have a hook, either. If everybody had a hook, then hooks wouldn’t really be special.</p>

10

<p>You have interests which make good ECs. These can be a factor in an essay or in balancing a class during admission. While these are not hooks, they can be very useful in admission.</p>

11

<p>One hook not mentioned here is that you are the first in your family to attend college. If that doesn’t apply to you, then no hook - but you sound interesting, self-directed, curious, independent and have a lot to offer, so I wouldn’t worry about it. </p>

<p>What I would worry about is what you can afford to pay - have that conversation with your parents now, before you dive into your college search. It often defines which schools are on the table and which are not.</p>

12

<p>Best thing ou can do for yourself is spend time studying for ACT and stop with all the other self study. You are sunk without raising that. Anti hook</p>

13

<p>“Anti hook”</p>

<p>LOL --I love it!</p>

<p>Other examples would be crooked teeth, halitosis, GPS ankle bracelet, bad hair!</p>

14

<p>Haha, don’t worry about my ACT. I’m working on it – believe me! However, I am trying to not “over” prepare. By that, I mean that I’m trying not to stress myself out … But trust me. I’m going to hike that ACT up. And try the SAT.</p>

15

<p>If you are applying to selective schools that do not get many applications from New Mexico, being from NM could definitely help you. </p>

<p>I do believe you will increase your ACT. Also know that there are loads of test optional schools. [SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the link. Actually, one of my first choices is Sarah Lawrence, which is test optional.</p>

<p>As for raising my score, though, I’m trying to find a tutor …</p>