OP, you may not have “said” hooks, but that’s exactly what you’re asking about.
It is definitely not a hook in the way that recruited athlete, legacy, development, underrepresented minority are hooks or for that matter Intel prize winner, started own company, designed an app and sold it to google are “hooks.” However, schools have devoted resources to religious centers and they need people who will use them, become leaders in religious campus groups. For example, my D and I recently went to an info session for a school (Case Western) and she asked me to research the percentage of Jewish students and in the course of my research, I found articles that said that a) they were at a certain percentage but wanted to be higher and b) they just built a Center for Jewish Life at a cost of several million dollars. Reading between the lines, that might be a school that, assuming an otherwise competitive application, might give you a second look or might not depending on the rest of the applicant pool that year.
Nope. But I hear religious involvement and faith can give people a sense of commitment and purpose. So, if that isn’t why you are involved with your religion (but instead are viewing it as a help for college admissions) maybe you should give it up.
@JustOneDad nailed it.
It’s not going to help in the admissions process or set you apart. Now if you did any work/volunteering within your synagogue, you can put that on your resume as an extracurricular activity but that’s as far as it’s going to go. Colleges look at academics first, activities second.
I was confirmed and never thought to mention it on any college application nor to my knowledge did any of my peers. The ritual itself I don’t believe will matter to colleges, but the role of your faith in shaping you as a person and your life goals may be of interest to them if you choose to write about that in one of your essays.
@pittsburghscribe Like a deeper sense of commitment past a bar mitzvah (which most Jewish kids have)? Thats what I was thinking as well.
@codemachine, I’ve read all of your threads. You have not posted any of your stats, but from the many angles you are simultaneously working, it appears as if you are worried that you need a strategy to get into top schools.
Might I suggest you take a look at a very long-running and popular thread, with over 18,000 posts? You might find useful information on some realistic choices: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/931514-colleges-for-the-jewish-b-student-p1.html
There are hundreds of excellent colleges out there, so I’d like to suggest that you begin to broaden your search rather than worrying about all of the things you have posted about (emailing professors, contacting admissions committees about legacies, picking the right foreign language, dropping names of relatives, religious devotion).
Best of luck -
The reason I haven’t posted stats is simply because I don’t have any. I’ve completed one year of HS (without being told my GPA or official rank, which will fluctuate every year anyway), taken the PSAT (and did VERY well), and have said what most of my EC’s are. I will check that thread, however.
^^ if you don’t have any stats then you are starting this process WAY too early.
Work hard and follow your interests. Visit college campuses if you happen to be in the area for another reason (vacation, visiting relatives). Enjoy high school.
You’re going to make yourself sick if you are already this worried about getting into a top college.
I don’t think that being religious gives you a higher chance, but the opportunities you are given. Many churches offer mission trips and other volunteering opportunities. This is why, I believe, religious students tend to have a higher chance, not because they are religious.
OK, one year of HS, no wonder you are focusing on the wrong things. I thought you were just trying to stir things up with off the wall questions. You have a warped view on what college admissions is all about. I suggest you stay focused on your current academics, family, spiritual life and your interests outside school. Challenge yourself. You have a better chance of getting to the colleges of choice by spending time reading quality books than posting random questions here. In another year start to learn about some colleges and read the admissions pages of a few to see what they list for requirements. Also some give good tips like this:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
Colleges want to see that you have something you are passionate about, and they want to see that you are involved in giving back to your community. If you are involved in several service projects at your church, this will certainly increase your chances, even at very secular colleges.
So you’re a rising sophomore? I agree that it’s way too early to strategize the application process. It’s not too early to think about possibilities. I like the thread @GnocchiB posted. I’m not Jewish but that thread was a great source of college possibilities. As a sophomore, your “job” is to focus on school, learn as much as you can, ask questions, pursue what interesta you, and make friends.
In other words, focus on getting the most out of high school now. Don’t worry so much about the next stage in your life that you forget about this stage otherwise you’ll become the student who says “If I knew I wouldn’t get into XYZ and had to attend ABC, I wouldn’t have given up so much of my life studying/stressing/listing sleep.” Those are, honestly, the saddest posts I read on CC.
Still no actual data supporting the notion that religion increases chances of acceptance at competitive schools?
^^The question is who would have that type of data in the first place? Are all applicants asked to state their religion? They can’t be required to answer it, right?
It’s on the Common App but not required to be answered. Most people I know who have listed confirmation on their apps either put it in parenthesis next to “Orthodox Judaism”, under their EC’s, awards/honors, or in a supplement with the common app.
You’re a freshman. Please tell me how many people you asked the question and how many said they listed confirmation as an EC.
My rabbis kids (now grown), friends of mine from other shuls in the area, and confirmation classes about three years ahead of me. Only my rabbis kids listed as an EC.
What an awesome research opportunity.
One of you bright young things needs to get admitted to Harvard, get on the staff of the Crimson and start asking the appropriate questions on the annual freshman survey.
Report back.