<p>After perusing this forum for kicks I've come across 'hooks' as being an important part of a student's application process. It fascinates me, so I was wondering what are some of the most common/craziest hooks you all have seen? Just to satisfy my curiosity. </p>
<p>P.S I'm not an applicant, I'm already in college</p>
<p>Common hooks:
under-represented minority
legacy
first generation college student
being abnormally talented in something, as expressed through the supplement
Overcoming extreme adversity
None of which I have… Sad day :(</p>
<p>Ivystriver2 pretty much listed the average hooks. The abnormal ones are pretty much as crazy as you can imagine. I remember kids who have started businesses that have made tens of thousands of dollars (and then writing his/her essays on filing taxes for the first time), someone who figured out a way to carbon-date crocodile teeth to get into MIT, etc.</p>
<p>^^ What would you define as extreme adversity?</p>
<p>Being diagnosed with cancer at age 2, broken childhood household, parents died, etc. Really, it all depends on how well you can weave your subjective experiences into your essays.</p>
<p>There are no uncommon, crazy hooks, real hooks are simply (from most to least weight): recruited athlete, URM, developmebt (rich), legacy.</p>
<p>Some get in because of an extreme EC/talent, but these are not hooks.</p>
<p>^^ Ahhh, I see. I will try my best than.</p>