I am at best average any ivy leauge (or equivalent) school I am considering applying to. This seems to be the consensus among counselors, teachers, and users on here on CC. Most of the time this virdict is fofflowed by the “unless you have a hook”. So I am wondering do I even have a possiable hook and if so how do I use it to my advantage.
I’m not going to lie or stretch the truth because I am really not the kind of person who has a hook. I didn’t have a particularly chalanging life nor did I do anything extraordinary. That being said there are two things that come to mind when considering my possiable hooks (if they can even be called that). The first is that I have a differing sexual orientation. This probably is something bad to use as a hook but I mention it because I have had to deal with this while attending a catholic school and having peers who are generally opposed to the idea of not being “straight”. I am wary about using this because it could come of as plain if done wrong as well as overt and in-your-face neither of which I want. The second is relatively new. This year me and a friend started out the first student run leadership organization at our school. This is probably one of the more unique things I have done in high school, but I’m unsure if I could be used or not. If anyone could help that would be great or if anyone has any other ideas of what I could use as a hook.
A hook is something that instantly sets your application apart: being an Underrepresented Minority, a recruited athlete, having a significant accomplishment in an EC (for example, winning an international academic Olympiad or national debate/chess champion, world-class level musicianship, etc.) overcoming significant odds (say, coming to the US as a 15 year old refugee with no language skills or money, and getting Ivy-caliber grades/stats., etc.)
So, no, neither of the things you listed would be counted as a hook. Without knowing your stats, it’s hard to advise whether or not the Ivies are a reasonable or an unlikely reach. If you’re set on highly selective schools, write a killer essay, keep your fingers crossed, and apply to schools where your grades are a match or a safety.
Most applicants, including you, do not have a hook. A hook is something that fills an institutional need or desire for a school such as being a recruited athlete, having a parent as a huge donor, having accomplished something spectacular (ex. Malala), a celebrity connection (ex. movie star, child of someone uber famous etc.) or something along those lines. There are many LBQT applicants to colleges so that will not make you stand out nor will starting an organization in HS.
You need to honestly asses your academic stats (including GPA, standardized tests, course rigor) as well as your financial needs and apply to a wide range of reach (including some Ivy and other top tier schools), match, and safety schools that appear affordable (you will have to run a net price calculator for each school you consider) and that you would be happy to attend. You need to expand your horizons and recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
There are three types that get in without hooks, those who are absolutely great at everything, those who are really great at one thing, and those who can write great essays. You need to be the latter.
It’s not that it’s bad; it’s just not a hook. Hooks have been defined by other users above.
I would be wary of using this, not because of the subject, but because it can come off as trite. I’m not saying that’s it’s difficult for any teen to be “different” in any generation, but an older LGBTIA AO who reads such an essay will immediately roll his/her eyes and say; “Child, let me teach you about Stonewall (or Matthew Shepard or pick another example) and then you can better appreciate how difficult it was.”