<p>Hey CCers! I'm currently a high school junior, and Harvard has been one of my dream schools for a long time, like a bunch of other people I'm sure. I know Harvard's applicant is full of exceptionally qualified students, so having stellar grades or test scores doesn't really make one unique. I'm taking the most rigorous curriculum available at my high school, have had a 4.0 GPA all along, got a 5 on the AP World History exam last year and I'm taking 3 AP classes this year and 4 next year. I haven't taken the SAT since 8th grade but I'm thinking I'll get at least 2100, but that's a guess. I've held a leadership position in leadership every year so far, with freshman class rep, soph class president, and ASB treasurer this year and I'll run again for next year. I'm also in a couple of clubs, but other than, I don't have a super long list of crazy extracurriculars that so many people on here seem to have. I am, however, totally deaf, but I hear with a cochlear implant. I've had it since I was 2 and have been in mainstream schools all my life, so would Harvard see this as a unique hook? Thanks for any feedback! (:</p>
<p>A “hook” is considered to be a recruited athlete, an under represented minority (URM), a legacy, or if your family has donated millions to the university. You have a disability, not a hook (sorry).</p>
<p>Rundancelove, I suggest you read this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1347383-would-hiv-diagnosis-hook.html?highlight=sikorsky+hook[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1347383-would-hiv-diagnosis-hook.html?highlight=sikorsky+hook</a>.</p>
<p>Colleges appreciate an ability to overcome obstacles. I believe that might even be the first in the list of criteria for Harvard.</p>
<p>^^ yeah, but it’s not a “hook” in the strict sense. It does make this applicant’s record more interesting for sure; however, no one can say that kids with cochlear implants, retinal transplants, artificial limbs or bone marrow transplants get accepted at a far higher rate than the rest of the applicant pool as they can for URMs, recruited athletes, legacies and development cases.</p>
<p>A “hook” means that you are a URM (hispanic, black, native american), have legacy, or are a superhuman at sports. Your list of activities and grades are impressive, but compared to the Harvard applicant pool, will be run of the mill.</p>
<p>oh, and good luck on your endeavors! It’s good to be ambitious :)</p>
<p>I now realize using the term “hook” wasn’t correct, I guess I just meant something that will set me apart a little bit or make the admission’s officers take a second glance. Thank you for all the replies!</p>