I'm not really clear on what hooks are...?

Applying to College
1

<p>I've looked through a few topics about hooks and stuff... and from what i've seen, they're basically like things that make you stand out? Like URM/recruited athlete/legacies etc.
and outstanding achievements?</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/763749-would-these-considered-interesting-hooks.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/763749-would-these-considered-interesting-hooks.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>^that thread was really helpful...</p>

<p>but still, I have some unanswered questions... what are these hooks for? As in where do you include this? In your essay?
And MUST you have a hook to get into a decent college? </p>

<p>Just wondering if this would be a good hook:
I was born in China, moved to England when I was 1 and spent 9 years there, moved to America at age 10... ?
If not a hook, would this still be something good to include somewhere? Would that distinguish me from others?</p>

2

<p>It’s a good topic to talk about in your essay.</p>

<p>Hooks include, like you said, URM, developmental candidate, legacies of big donors, and that sort. Not much else are “hooks” but will help your application stand out.</p>

3

<p>Many unhooked students get into decent colleges. Is your definition of a decent college something ranked in the top 20? Because unhooked students get into those, too. But there are many “decent” colleges besides those top schools.</p>

<p>Your early travels would not be considered a hook. If you can weave your experience into an essay, you should, but only if it’s a natural fit and if there is some interesting perspective it has given you. Some schools might feel that your early experience will provide some diversity.</p>

<p>What is a hook?: every college has a strategic plan with institutional goals. For example, the college may want to increase the number of students who are first generation college, or improve its football team, or enlarge its engineering school. If you are first-gen, a football player or an engineer, you are more attractive to that school.</p>

<p>If you can bring diversity to a school, that is a hook. So if you live in NJ, apply to schools in Kansas. If you are male, apply to LACs that are heavily female.</p>

<p>Don’t fret over whether you do or do not have a hook. Work on presenting what you do have as best as possible in your application. Emphasize what you’ve accomplished and why you love doing it.</p>

4

<p>Most people don’t have a hook which is why they are special in terms of helping you get in.</p>