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<p>They call essays like that “Dead Grandma” essays. Adcoms have to read thousands of essays, try and find something that makes you unique and discuss it in the essay.</p>
<p>Re the ‘dead grandma’ essays- so D should not write about how difficult it was to have her father die unexpectedly while she was living in Beijing for the year?</p>
<p>Ah…I’ll see if I can find a relevant article. Also, I don’t feel entirely qualified in judging that, I mean, I’m just parroting what I have heard from adcoms. I think the point that they were trying to make is that we all have to overcome obstacles, and that’s just the gist of life. But again, I don’t feel particularly qualified to answer this, I’ll try and find a direct quote from someone.</p>
<p>Edit: <a href=“http://www.careersandcolleges.com/tp2/cnc/articles/view.do?cat=cnc.aa.the-application-process&article=learn-how-to-shine-in-your-application-essay[/url]”>http://www.careersandcolleges.com/tp2/cnc/articles/view.do?cat=cnc.aa.the-application-process&article=learn-how-to-shine-in-your-application-essay</a></p>
<p>This one references the Dead Grandma essays near the bottom.</p>
<p>From the text:</p>
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<p>The point here is that a tragic event may not be the epitome of who your daughter is. It might have affected her, it might have helped her learn about who she was, but it does not define her. From what I have gathered your essay should be a cry of individuality, an essay that makes sure that regardless of the rest of the application you are remembered.</p>
<p>Again, this feels really weird to me.</p>
<p>What’s a hook? Something that takes your application off the main pile and puts it on the: “we want this student, can the student do the work here” pile. That could mean that the school is graduating their tuba player and really needs one now, or the student projects to be on the track team as a sprinter and the track coach is beating on the admissions office to take the student.</p>
<p>Too many confuse hooks with factors. There are few hooks and most involve very unique circumstances and cause you to have an advocate at the school to which you are applying. Legacy is a factor, building a dorm is a hook. URM is a factor, the band director saying “I need this particular tuba player” is a hook.</p>
<p>Think of hooks this way: if you have to ask, “is this a hook?” It isn’t. If you have a hook, you know it.</p>