<p>what exactly is a "hook"?</p>
<p>A hook is something attractive in your application (EC's, accomplishments, etc.) that tells the admissions officers that you deserve to go to their school.</p>
<p>Does that make sense?</p>
<p>yep! </p>
<p>is a hook something that will ensure admission though? because just reading the bulletins thats what it's seeming like. what is a "good" hook?</p>
<p>Having a good hook doesn't neccessarily mean that you will definitely get in, though. An example of a good hook would be, say...you won the national spelling bee.</p>
<p>Hooks are additional advantages that make you attractive to a particular school. Typically, people speak of hooks as being: recruited athlete, URM, alumni connections, a special talent (such as writing, theater, music, art), geographical location, child of a VIP, ability to pay full tuition, or other miscellaneous school needs.</p>
<p>Sometimes you won’t know you have a hook until you interview at the school. For instance, perhaps their lead violin player is graduating this year, and it just happens that you are an award winning violinist. So, at this particular school, you will have a hook that fits their needs.</p>
<p>...and because of that, "hooks" have a better chance to be accepted at boarding schools than the rest of the applying population. </p>
<p>Not all "hooks" are accepted at BS.</p>
<p>but don't all applicants have some kind of special talent or skill of some sport to get them to stand out?</p>
<p>would something like president of student council in middle school, being nominated for and attending a national leaders conference, or starting your own organization in the community be considered a "hook"?</p>
<p>coolgirl... it all really depends on how passionate the school thinks you are about the "hook"or how good at it you are. sometimes though, no matter how great your special talent is, the school just doesnt feel the need for it.</p>
<p>coolgirl, I think many bs applicants participate in the type of leadership/community service activities you describe. True "hooks" are things that someone really excels at; a special talent. Well...in addition to the non-talent oriented hooks, like legacy...which isn't really as big a hook, as say, being a highly recruited athlete.</p>