<p>OK
I have a letter of rec coming from a coach at MIT
and I sent supplimentary piano</p>
<p>My question is:
i've never even owned a piano (parents haven't had enough money to barely pay for lessons let alones a piano) but I've practiced at my neighbor's house for more than 11 years (they call it "free concerts!")</p>
<p>The pieces I sent were Chopin's Revolutionary Etude and a new age piece, both of which were nearly perfect (executionally and musically). These pieces are pretty advanced, so I am pretty sure the music department will be impressed, but i had nothing to back piano up (no certificate of merit, competitions, awards, symphony participation, etc.)</p>
<p>So is this even close to resembling a hook if the music department likes what they hear????</p>
<p>A "hook," by my definition, is something about you that makes a college want you in such a way that they will look for ways to decide in your favor, even if your academic stats are below what they would like to see. The classic hook is demonstrated in the way Division 1 football players with dismal stats get into places like Stanford, Berkeley, UVA, and the like.</p>
<p>If you are applying to MIT and the coach has asked for you, that's a hook. It is not quite the hook it might be at a school that's crazy for sports success, but it's still a hook. The music faculty might be able to provide a hook, depending on the school, if they like your tape. </p>
<p>A word of caution. Be very careful about using the word "perfect" when it comes to musical performances. I have a sister-in-law who won the Geneva piano competition, and I doubt she would use that word to describe any performance she's ever had. Perfection is in the ear of the listener, and the higher achievers tend to find perfection a very, very elusive goal.</p>
<p>I hook is usually that which gives an applicant an edge and helps them stand out in the admission process. There are several types of hooks. Those who are legacies, recruited athletes, development cases, URM's could be considered to have hooks.
There is another type of hook. That is where an applicant has an unusual or extraordinary talent with great accomplishment - ordinarily in an area where most applicants do not, or in an area where others might have similar talent but where that applicant has received recogition at a very high level of accomplishment ie at the International or National Level - usually for something he or she did on his own. For example, having a solo singing engagement at Carnegie Hall might be considered a hook. Going with your school chorus to sing at Carnegie Hall for a performance would show talent and dedication but would probably not be considered a hook.
A hook is usually something that helps the applicant stand out in the applicant pool from thousands of other applicants. It may also be something that the school needs, ie. if they needed an oboe player.
I dont think that submitting a recording of piano could be considered a hook unless the music department reviews the cd and indicates to the admissions office that this applicant is so extraordinary that the he or she hopes that the admissions office will accept this applicant because he or she must have him or her. What it can do however if the music department conveys a positive review, is show the admissions office that you are very talented and that could work in your favor.
It sounds however as if you may be a recruited athlete and that would be your hook. On the other hand MIT might find it refreshing that you are an excellent student which you must be to apply to MIT, are a great athlete and have passion and talent in piano</p>
<p>I agree with most of what you said, but would caution anyone reading this that there is a difference between a "hook" and a "tip." Both are useful, but a hook will make an admissions department "look to like." A tip will help the admissions department determine which, among many similarly qualified applicants, they should accept.</p>
<p>I'd say that most people on this board have these terms comingled. They're not the same.</p>
<p>Tarhunt, I understand what you are saying in terms of a tip, but think there are some instances where extra curriculars could be considered a hook. There are some instances where I dont think it is a tip and here is why. Yes, if two applicants have similar competitive scores and grades and one has leadership ect, but it is more similar to other applicants and another might have done some things that might be more interesting and have significant accomplishment in that area that might be a tip. However, where an applicant has competitive scores/grades for that elite school but has done some extraordinary things or excells in a field that not many are involved with ect- with great passion ect. and where these applicants clearly stand out from the pool, they may be accepted because of those accomplishments/talents ect. I dont feel in those instances the admissions office says A and B have the same stats but there is a tip for B. What I do believe is that B just stands out as having unique interests, passions, talents and achieveents and that causes admission officers to take notice. Anything that causes admissions officers to take notice I believe is a hook. Anything that tips the scale in favor of one applicant over another would be a tip.
There are probably many who have tips that tip the scale in their favor, and there are probably a smaller number who have some type of special talent hook that sets them apart from other applicants I agree with your analysis that thips and hooks might get comingled however.</p>
<p>I have been on the undergrad admission committee at two institutions. That does not make me an expert, but it does provide some insights.</p>
<p>I think we mostly agree, with one exception. A "hook," as I have heard it used in meetings, is something that makes you want a kid without regard to academics. In the case of a hook, academics may disqualify you but if you are in the academic ballpark, you're in. If you're an extraordinary oboe player and the symphony needs an oboe, then that can be a hook.</p>
<p>I agree with you about "excels" being a hook, but the definition of what looks like that is going to vary from place to place. And I know from experience that one can excel at something the college doesn't offer and have it not treated as a hook.</p>
<p>The issue, to me, with "hook" and "tip" is whether the college looks first at the hook or at the academic record. A hook comes first. With a tip, the academic record comes first.</p>
<p>Tarhunt. I like that interpretation that with a hook the college looks first at the hook then the academics, and with a tip, they look at the academics and see if there is a tip. That is interesting. I understand what you are saying that a hook differs depending on the school and their needs. That makes sense.</p>
<p>Hooks are probably the most important where the benefit received by the college - (e.g particularly avoiding utter humiliation on the college football field or basketaball court) - is the most visible</p>
<p>That's why (of course) that at some of the Ivy's at least -they will do whatever they can to land that (unlikely to turn pro anytime) but otherwise very excellent football or basketball player - although he is academically deficient</p>
<p>Of course at Notre Dame and similar schools it more about winning itself -as opposed to just avoiding embarassment.</p>