<p>How far can a hook drag you up in an application process? Something that the adcom considers unique and special - is it really all that special?</p>
<p>I don't think anybody has much of a chance to get in without a hook. Music, legacy, URM, low socioeconomic status, art, writing, politics, sports . . . you need SOMETHING. But since so many people have a hook, I think what's best is a COMBINATION of various hooks . . .</p>
<p>depends on the hook. If you're the grandson of one of pton's presidents and if pton has been in your family since the 18th century, there is probably no chance in hell that they will reject you.</p>
<p>lol. thats a good one. im not one of those priveleged kids unfortunately :(</p>
<p>A hook can take you far. And it doesn't need to be a conventional one like being a world-class pianist, it could be your wrestling, your rubber-band collection, your essays... Mzlover3 said it best:
[quote]
I don't think anybody has much of a chance to get in without a hook."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You have to remember Princeton is still an academic insitution. For example, the new Dean of Admissions, Rapelye, is rumored to have placed less emphasis on athletic recruitment. That's why I was stressed by my coaches to do well on my essays, etc.</p>
<p>Think of it this way. The admissions board sifts through 20,000 applicants, all with decent SAT scores and high GPAs, all claiming they are the presidents of their respective clubs. You need to answer the question, why you?</p>
<p>One other comment. They admit well rounded classes, not necessarily well rounded admits. A common theme of admits are kids with a demonstrated passion. You probably don't need more than the form provided 8 brag sheet line items. Don't join clubs to add line items to a brag sheet. But one or two items should be drop dead standouts. The adcom should read the applications and have three (two, four?) bullet points locked in their mind about this applicant.</p>
<p>i agree w/ sox. instead of naming a proliferated list of activities i just mentioned six and really only concentrated on four throughout my app. as for hooks, good grades alone will not usher you through the gates. how many hooks you need depends on the depth of each one. for instance, a winner of some regional writing, orchestra, and sports awards is comparable to being someone who made the first cut for the national volleyball team.</p>
<p>my hook was URM...and i got in</p>
<p>Very good point. You want to stand out for something, not be mediocre in everything. Unless you are a prodigy and rule everything you touch.</p>
<p>what is URM? exuse my ignorance...</p>
<p>haha, when i first opened this thread i thought the title had "hookah" in it. i guess not.</p>
<p>"what is URM? exuse my ignorance..."
URM = under-represented minority</p>
<p>I concentrated on a couple of things. which one of these jump of the page(if they do at all)? What's the overall impression u get? Please be brutally honest...</p>
<ul>
<li><p>started my own finance company <a href="http://www.strikegold.tk%5B/url%5D">www.strikegold.tk</a> , all profits go to N. Korean refugees.</p></li>
<li><p>Founded an MUN club that travelled overseas, started a stock market club</p></li>
<li><p>International experience (indian who lived in Norway for 15 years, now in korea. international school).</p></li>
<li><p>Athlete- soccer player, hope to get recruited at least at club level in college</p></li>
<li><p>Lead roles in plays, drama letters</p></li>
</ul>
<p>the finance company, international experience in Norway, and the drama letters stand out. they make a uniquely interesting combination, and you should take full advantage of that.</p>
<p>yeah. i didnt concentrate much on the drama...i just mentioned it in passing. i concentrated a LOT on the other two.</p>
<p>What is a good "hook" in music and math?</p>
<p>i dont know...why do u ask?</p>
<p>good 'hook' in math might be placing nationally in the AMC (american math competition) or AIME (american invitational math examination)</p>
<p>good 'hook' in music might be state symphony, regionally known performances (in a quartet or something or maybe solo), or part of a well-known youth symphony (houston youth, NYC youth)</p>
<p>so would having taken college credit calc 1 and 2, being on the school's math team, and being a white female from green bay wi be a hook?</p>
<p>i wouldn't call it a hook, but it'd be a nice plus</p>
<p>a hook is something extremely powerful, like siemens-westinghouse winner</p>
<p>although the white part isn't anything special, the greenbay might be an under-represented area?</p>