Hey guys, so in making the necessary pre-application evaluations, I am trying to locate a hook. I am not first gen, legacy, URM, or anything of the typical hook pool. However, I do have one thing that will be incorporated into essays and whatnot. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the 6th grade and have had to do all the management of that treatment on my own. I will definitely be focusing on this in my essay, as it does not really get much attention on the app even though I feel it is a major part of my high school life. But my question is would this be considered a hook?
No. It is not a hook. But it might make a decent essay topic.
Hook = URM, recruited athlete, legacy and first generation. That’s it.
Think of a hook as meeting something that the school needs to fill a void (URM, recruited athlete) or because it’s in their best interest (legacy, development cases). Does it fit into this? No, I don’t think so. But it’s a hardship that you have had to manage and preservere.
Recruiting “hooks” does something for the school. How does your diabetes enhance thecschool’s money, reputation, or prestige?
Fair enough, I thought that would probably be the answer, but thank you all for the quick responses.
@curiousapp123 it might be noteworthy and an interesting essay if you could work you “hardship” into something that jump started your passion for something (e.g., research) and how it will motivate your career passions, etc. It mau add an element of genuineness to your essay and legitmize passions.
My son had an accident he wrote about in his challenge essay for the common app. We felt like it helped in one case where an admissions officer mentioned that essay in a personalized letter. We felt like it may have hurt though in another circumstance where a classmate with lower stats was accepted to a school my son was not. They applied to mostly the same schools and my son got in and got merit far beyond the other student. I know others from a moms group I’m in who had one essay they submitted to some schools and another mentioning a medical issue to others and they also found they got some unexpected rejections to the schools they self disclosed to. I totally let my son decide and it was important to him to go somewhere where he felt truly accepted.
It’s pretty curious how in one post people say that first generation is not a hook, such ambivalence is confusing.
[quoteIt’s pretty curious how in one post people say that first generation is not a hook
[/quote]
I don’t see that above in anyone’s post. First Gen is a hook (at many schools).
on the topic of hooks, how would you guys rank the hooks as far as value/desirability in admissions?
Why does it matter? If you are hooked, then you are. If you aren’t, then you aren’t.
The best hook is 250 lb linebacker with 4.0 speed.
As far as ranking hooks is concerned, 1st gen is low on the list because of supply & demand-- there’s lots of them.
Would anyone else agree with the above comment that disclosing this information could have any negative effect whatsoever? I hadn’t even considered that because I hope admissions counselors have morals, but what’s your guys’ opinion?
I wouldn’t think it would be negative. Anxiety or depression might be a negative.
I don’t think it’s a hook, but how you handled it could give insight into what sort of person you are. Unfortunately, many students have endured all kinds of diversity (poverty, accidents, homelessness, abuse, serious illnesses, etc.), so I wouldn’t count on it getting you into a college you’re not otherwise qualified to attend. Your time is better spent compiling a college list that’s a good fit for you and creating a cohesive application. Your essay is valuable real estate, though, so use every inch to your advantage.
Most people, including yourself, do not have hooks.