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<p>Transparently cynical and ridiculously costly effort to pad a resume . . . ?</p>
<p>I do not want to denigrate smiley66’s intent in traveling to Nepal. I think he/she means well, and I also imagine this would be an extraordinary experience. Expanding on it further, as STLmom23 suggests in [post</a> #17](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14104182-post17.html][b]post”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14104182-post17.html) above, would make it even more beneficial, both for smiley66 and for his/her community.</p>
<p>I just want to point out that this is the kind of extracurricular experience that many of the families on CC can only dream about . . . because we simply cannot afford to send our children all the way to Nepal to perform community service. So, yes, it’s an extraordinary opportunity and smiley66 should absolutely take advantage of it, but I, for one, would hope that a two-week community service project does not become a “hook” simply because it was performed thousands of miles away instead of next door.</p>
<p>Being from a poor country is a hook. Traveling to a poor country is NOT a hook. It is an extracurricular activity that will have a good, bad, or indifferent impact on prep school admission depending upon the nature of the activity and the connection, if any, that activity has to the other extra curricular activities of your child. </p>
<p>It is one thing if your child consistently helps the poor and then travels abroad because she wants to become involved in international relief efforts. It is quite another if your child does nothing locally to help the poor and then travels overseas for a broadening experience UNLESS that experience then inspires her to help the poor in her community in meaningful and sustained ways upon her return home.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the question isn’t prep school admission. It is whether you are doing the right thing for the right reasons. If you are, any benefit your child receives in prep school admission will just be the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>We here in America are unaware or underestimate the need for Global Service needs which are much more severe and acute compared to local needs, imo.</p>
<p>[One</a> billion slum dwellers](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/02/slum_life.html?fb_ref=homepage]One”>http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/02/slum_life.html?fb_ref=homepage)</p>
<p>Where would I get the money to volunteer overseas, or an opportunity to procure any other hook that doesn’t come by birth? Looking at the most widely-agreed-upon hooks (legacy, ethnicity, location)- wouldn’t it be that hooks that you aren’t born with are all “pay to play”?</p>
<p>People are not born as recruited athletes or accomplished artists. Money can provide private lessons for these athletes and artists. But money cannot ultimately trump talent, heart, and hard work. </p>
<p>Prep schools should provide a hook to poor students regardless of race or ethnicity. But they don’t. Life is unfair: all you can do is play the cards you have been dealt. </p>
<p>There are scholarships to summer programs. Again, these programs may enhance your extracurricular activities, but they won’t provide you a hook you don’t already have by virtue of your race, your residence, your talent, or your parents.</p>
<p>Race is an Anti-Hook for Asian Americans.</p>
<p>Sometimes poverty does, in fact, sway an admissions council. But as I’ve listened and sympathized with so many families who aren’t selected, the reality is that there just is not enough room for everyone who wants to go. And even fewer spots for families who can’t pay some portion of the tuition (even if not a full pay). There are growing numbers of middle class families being admitted who are paying partial tuition - which is allowing the schools to spread the limited budget further.</p>
<p>But the discussion of “hooks” and needing more classifications makes me sad because ultimately what it means asking the school to turn down some other worthy kid in favor of whatever attribute suits the declined student’s specific situation. Isn’t that what they are doing now? Favoring some over others?</p>
<p>I think so. I’m a little annoyed at the splashy international community service trips- in the end, are they about making a difference or about adding on community service hours?</p>
<p>So at what point do we distinguish between a hook and an extracurricular?
Maybe we should make a list of hooks…</p>
<p>*Under-represented minority
*Geographically distant out of state students
*International student (particularly,from interesting countries, such as Nauru)
*Legacy, or double legacy
*First generation college applicant
*Nuclear Prize recipient (I’m serious.)
*Clam farter (Google)
*Alumni Connections
*Recuitable athlete
*CC posters</p>
<p>Feel free to add.</p>
<p>Hooks are:
URM
Development Case
Underrepresented state</p>
<p>I just want to clear this up. I am being ‘sponsored’ (Probably not the correct word to use) by a foundation. I’m not going to give out any details about the foundation, but I am going with a group of people to volunteer. Thank you for answering my question and I now understand that travelling to Nepal is NOT a hook.</p>