<p>I doubt it. At top colleges, too many kids get behind on their grades because they are addicted to video games. I personally know someone who was expelled for this very reason.</p>
<p>Plus, a kid who plays video games professionally does not exactly contribute to school spirit or campus liveliness as actors, artists, activists, and athletes do.</p>
<p>Yea, no way video games can beat a recruited athlete, unless the video game person is world famous and brilliant or something like that.</p>
<p>Are you kidding me...video games are NOT hooks. Many previous posters have already said the main points. If the video gamer is world famous and brilliant, that would be why he gets in, not because of video games.</p>
<p>What does the word "hook" mean? I think you can present or spin a world or national video game champion as a powerful hook, if I understand the term correctly.</p>
<p>Call of Duty 4 is so much better than Halo 3. Try it and you probably won't go back.</p>
<p>I play cod4 for money competitively on the computer. I'm probably one of the top players in the game. If only that could help me on college apps =[</p>
<p>Wasn't there that article that some Johns Hopkins adcom wrote regarding his pet peevies, one of which was how students think it's a good idea to write activities such as "exercising" and "playing video games" under their extracurriculars section? He called it space filler, but I think if you played on some level of merit, such as at international competitions, it would be a fascinating hook.</p>
<p>I think a hook is something on an application that would get an adcom excited enough to pull out the application, show it around, and then let you in. I think you'd really need to happen to have your application run across the desk of an adcom who's a gamer to consider it a hook. I think it's possible that even if it were a national video game championship, some adcoms would consider it less than a desirable trait in a potential student. Especially if grades weren't absolutely perfect. Otherwise they may think the gaming was a waste of time that cut into studying. There are many adults that look at gaming as a perfectly fine pursuit for relaxing, much like watching TV, or hitting the mall with your friends, but not something you'd tout. (And I'd say it would be similar to mentioning hours spent shopping, even if you won a national contest on best bargain shopper.)</p>
<p>If you are applying to a specialized school or internship at x developer, then yeah it could be a hook.</p>
<p>For Harvard? No. Never.</p>
<p>some guy on the Harvard board got in for being a ping pong champion...</p>
<p>Echelon32, I know its unlikely, but what if a person were world famous because of the video games.</p>
<p>HSisOverrated makes a good point. There probably are schools out there that value video game players. I really doubt any of your top tier schools would be among them. As for world famous, I don't know, would you think they would give preference to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champion?Kobayashi is world famous. What about that teenager who is the world's fastest at text messaging?</p>
<p>You can also toss in the kid who won the stinkiest sneaker contest... Definitely unique. He is going to be the hottest pick for a roomie...</p>
<p>No, no, and no. Not a "hook" and not an EC.</p>
<p>if that person is great in all other areas and has these gaming awards, it'll help slightly. definitely not a hook, unless you're a gaming designer?</p>
<p>I agree with BunsenBurner...it wouldn't even count as an EC, so how would it help at all. You could mention it as one of your hobbies, however most likely adcoms would just think thats a waste of space. Being world famous in games is amazing, but its not the kind of thing Ivies want to see/want to admit if that individual sucks at everything else. </p>
<p>@FellowCCViewer - gaming designer might be a bit different, since those skills could be applied into graphics design/maybe even engineering. But I still think that gaming awards at best do NOTHING to the app. The whole "versatility" argument might have worked before the Ivies started focusing on slanted apps with people being really really good at one thing...but nowadays, that person would have to be good at something other than games to get admitted.</p>
<p>Is the hook being the video champion or the way you articulate your championship?</p>
<p>I think that if you can write a compelling essay that speaks to the trials and tribulation of becoming a national video champion is a great "hook". The National Championship brings you in and a fantastic essay could seal the deal.</p>
<p>Not a good thing to tell the colleges unless you're talking bout Digipen.</p>
<p>I would venture to say that some of you "academic champions" are a bit threatened by the possibility that being really good at video games could be equal to winning a significant science olympiad medal in the admissions process. No offense but you're all so defensive about it.</p>
<p>Like I said what's the difference in what you have to put your body through between being Kobayashi or winning at Chess, you work just as hard, but just differently.</p>
<p>It all comes down to skill(unlike the "worlds stinkiest sneaker"), the fact is you are more skilled than anyone in the world, top .0000001%.</p>
<p>Skill == talent, what colleges want.</p>
<p>it's a good EC because how many other applicants claim to be gaming champions? very few. it makes you interesting.</p>