<p>I’ve heard some things about “hooks” that will give you an extra edge in really selective college admissions…
What does this mean?</p>
<p>Basically being an under represented minority … eg: Hispanic/Afro American etc… increases your chances of getting into top colleges.</p>
<p>Or a legacy, or an athlete…</p>
<p>to be more general, the idea is that a “hook” is something that makes you stand out from and more desirable than the other 30k applicants</p>
<p>A “hook” is something that the college has identified as an institutional priority. For example, most selective colleges want a diverse student body. This includes students from all 50 states. If you live in an underrepresented state (like Wyoming, North Dakota), that’s a “hook.” Brown has a very strong institutional priority to have first-generation students on campus (a student whose parents did not attend college). That’s a “hook.” The college must fill all its sports teams – if the coach says the football team needs a quarterback and you are a quarterback, that’s your “hook.”</p>
<p>A hook doesn’t necessarily mean you stand out – like the only kid who plays the harp. If the college doesn’t want a harpist then that won’t help you. Usually a hook isn’t something that you can whip up your junior year. (Unless you have uberwealthy parents willing to give several million dollars.) </p>
<p>In many cases, if you are a “hooked” student then your stats might be on the low end, but you might get in over higher stat kids. That’s why legacy isn’t really a hook – legacies get in at a higher rate, but most accepted legacies have pretty good stats these days.</p>
<p>Umm. I come from a unique-ish geographical area (Martha’s Vineyard, an island off Cape Cod), but I don’t know if that counts. I’m 1/4 black…also don’t know if that counts, ha. Not first generation (my mom went to college, my dad was a high school dropout). So not really any hooks. Pooooop. Thanks anyway!</p>
<p>^ hahaha Martha’s Vineyard… I mean I don’t think Rhode Island counts as underrepresented. I know a LOT of people from around the area. a fourth black does count (the maximum is an eighth). btw, Martha’s Vineyard is BEAUTIFUL! I’m jealous. :P</p>
<p>Martha’s Vineyard is in Massachusetts, and it won’t help you at Brown (but it would be a hook at some schools in the south, Midwest and west).</p>
<p>Whats a smart, hard working kid to do?</p>
<p>Keep on being smart and hard-working, and show the AdCom that you’re passionate about your interests and that you’re an interesting person.</p>
<p>Many smart hard-working kids get into Brown and other great colleges. Not every slot is reserved for kids with hooks. But also remember that there are dozens of excellent colleges besides Brown and the other Ivies.</p>