<p>Ahhh I do not know if I have a hook or not. My mom tells me I do not have a hook, but I think I might. Do you need a hook to be accepted into a boarding school? I hope not, because then I might not be accepted. I am working on my stats, in case anyone wants to see an official, final list of them.</p>
<p>What do you think your hook is?</p>
<p>A hook can be geographic, racial, extracurricular, etc.</p>
<p>Well, I am from NJ and I am only applying to NJ schools. I am caucasian, so racial does not count. I play violin, which is not very rare. I do play golf, which is not too common. I am on a bunch of other clubs, like academic, newspaper, school spirit, and the National Junior Honor Society.</p>
<p>You seem like a normal candidate to me, unless you are AMAZING at violin, however that still might not be a hook because so many people play it. Being from NJ is probably one of the worst states you could be in. haha</p>
<p>I am not really that amazing. I have been playing violin for about five years. I have been in a region orchestra for four years.</p>
<p>HAH! I'm in CT (which is just as bad!)</p>
<p>ASDAABS: What are you most passionate about? What is your god-given talent?</p>
<p>I am most passionate about violin. I truly think it is a God-given and natural talent. For example, in elementary school, I was always the best in violin at school and I still am. Even when I do not practice to much, my private teacher says I did good. I am not first chair in the orchestra or anything, but I still think I am pretty good at it.</p>
<p>To answer part of your original question - no you do not need a hook to get into boarding school. It certainly helps, but the same thing may be a hook at one place and may actually work against you at another. For example, using the violin...if a school is in need of a violinist in the next couple of years, you might have a hook at THAT school. The next school however, may have a great player in the 10th grade, and they would know you'd never see the first chair. If that is your passion and the school knows it, it could work against you.<br>
Same thing with sports. </p>
<p>Like I said, not every kid has a hook that attends boarding school.</p>
<p>I think I understand. Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>No people from my town have ever attended or even applied to any boarding schools. However, my town is very large and fairly well known. Some of the adcoms seemed to be surprised where I told them where I was from. Hmmm, would this be considered a geographical hook? I know it is a stretch, but still....</p>
<p>Geographical hooks are if your from Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan. Somewhere they can add to the list of countries that their students are from.</p>
<p>But I'm sure if there were 2 students with the exact same stats. They both have the same SSAT scores and the same E.C.s. They're almost clones of each other but one is from a wealthy county in Connecticut and the other is from the bayous of Georgia. They have more incentive to admit the child from the bayous since they already have numerous kids from CT. The Georgian might not get a good education where he/she is now and the girl/boy in Greenwhich Day School might have come from a prestigious school with the top-notch education. </p>
<p>Who would YOU choose?</p>
<p>I don't think being from Saudi is a hook because there's a lot of Americans living there because there parents work for Aramco.</p>
<p>Some of the schools have really small girls golf teams, so that could be a hook. They might need more players if some of their players are seniors and will be graduating soom.</p>
<p>Geography:
If you're from northern Idaho, it's a hook. It has to be a state where most years, there is not even one candidate.</p>
<p>So, if you're from Ohio, no hook. Texas, no hook. Alaska or Hawaii, now we're talking!</p>
<p>If you are applying to NJ schools and you are from NJ, it is very difficult. Many families will only consider schools that are very close, so as a result the acceptance rate at lawrenceville, peddie and blair is quite a bit lower for NJ residents than other places. I have a student at Exeter this year who was denied at both Peddie and Lawrenceville---it can be really tough.</p>
<p>For violin to make an impact you shouild be in NJ Youth Symphony and also have a good tape of your music to send it. Have you considered Hun or Pennington? Or George School just across the border in PA? Those might be easier. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yes, I am applying to Pennington. I am thinking of sending in a tape of me playing violin.</p>
<p>You don't NEED a hook, but it does help. I'd say try to mention it but you sound like a regular candidate to me and even if you aren't AMAZING at an activity, it's still good to be at least dabbling.</p>