<p>Okay, so I am planning on applying to a few of the top Ivies + Stanford but I am worried about my lack of extracurriculars/hook or whatever. I think that my grades/test scores are up to par with others applying to those colleges.. but like I said, I'm more worried about extracurrics. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm wondering if I can use languages as a hook (or is that even a hook?). I take 3 different languages (French, Latin, Chinese) although only one of them is advanced.. but if I write about languages in my essays and about how I had to take classes outside of school to pursue my interest in languages.. will this make me stand out? Or is this actually quite ordinary at those schools.. any help would be appreciated, thanks!</p>
<p>i dunno...because you seem to be chinese, i don't think taking chinese counts....and...unless you have tons of awards for language, i wouldn't consider language as your hook.</p>
<p>No, many languages is not a hook, actually it if fairly common for ivys. There are a lot of students that are fluent in up to 6 or 7 languages. And actually I have read serveral essays over language so unless you are REALLY desperate I would not use languages. Sorry!
Best of luck anyway!</p>
<p>Ice sickle is a moron, there aren't lots of students fluent in 6 or 7 languages. That might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. But do try to find something besides languages to emphasize.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don't think Chinese really counts if you're Chinese.</p>
<p>So really you're taking two foreign languages, which is pretty common inside of school. But since you're pursuing your interests outside of school then they'll know you're interested in it.</p>
<p>well. i used language and dulcimer as my "hook" for boston college. the elaboration on an activity on the common app was about my 12 years of dulcimer and my performances within a band around boston.
my main essay was about how spanish had given me more confidence with the patience of my teacher.</p>
<p>im chinese too, but i speak cantonese. i plan on learning mandarin and continuing french and spanish in college. im fluent in cantonese (first language), english (second), and spanish (third). im an AP scholar with honor but im taking french 1 senior year because i like languages and i'd prefer that over another AP class. im more interested in modern languages, somethign that can be used in real life. my guidance counselor, who has done admissions at BU and harvard, said it was a "really good factor to include"</p>
<p>im applying to some top schools, including some ivy(s), and she said it may make up for my "okay" grades</p>
<p>Languages aren't really hooks for the most part, a better hook would be to cure cancer. </p>
<p>Well, I mean it would. But yeah, languages won't help you too much considering I don't even think they care if you speak Cantonese or Mandarin (because they're both "Chinese"). It's still better to have something else as a hook instead of languages though.</p>