Hook or not?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi CC,</p>

<p>So my app is pretty biology-heavy, and one award I've received is a prestigious rank (top 10) in the University of Toronto Biology competition, which had over 4000 contestants this year. Would this count as a hook at all? I don't think it compares to being a USABO (USA Biology Olympiad) finalist (top 20 in nation), simply because the top kids who make it to finals don't all participate in the Toronto competition; USABO finals seems like an legitimate hook to me. </p>

<p>I am wondering because I've done well at USABO, (semifinalist twice and was close to finals) but I don't have USABO finals as a hook. Also the Toronto competiton calls the top 250 "Scholars with Distinction", but I would think that top 10 is much better than top 250, so I don't want to just mention that I am a "Scholar with Distinction". </p>

<p>Thanks for any feedback!</p>

2

<p>A hook is something the school needs or wants: a 300 lb linebacker with 4.1 speed, a family connection with someone willing to donate $$$. What you have is a potentially strong EC.</p>

3

<p>Well, the term “hook” doesn’t refer to major awards. You can be an unhooked USAMO medalist, and most USAMO or USABO medalists ARE unhooked simply because there are fewer minorities/first generations/etc. than majorities (WASP, stereotypical Asian, whatever). It’ll certainly be an advantage for you (perhaps a major supplement), but you can’t really independently develop a hook unless you suddenly become a pro ping-pong player or something to that effect.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-chances/609568-what-hook.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-chances/609568-what-hook.html&lt;/a&gt;
You’ll find definitional hooks listed in this thread.</p>

4

<p>Not a hook…</p>

<p>though great achievements. Congratualations.</p>

5

<p>hook = urm, 1st gen, athlete, legacy</p>

6

<p>It’s not a hook, though it’s a great achievement.</p>

7

<p>A hook is something that gets your application placed in a special pile (and very small pile at that) as soon as adcoms see it. It involves a phone call from the Dean of Admissions requesting it be placed in the special pile, or at least a phone call to the dean explaining why it is not in that pile.</p>

<p>Examples of qualifications that are NOT hooks:
-2400 SAT/36 ACT
-National AP Scholar
-All-State Baseball player (unless recruited)
-Founder of successful small business
-Intern for state Governor (unless the Governor calls the Dean on your behalf)
-National Spelling Bee champion</p>

<p>Congratulations on your impressive EC. It definitely helps your application. However, it is not a hook.</p>