<p>fauve listed the full list of hooks on post #2. Everything else (where you were born, what difficulties you overcame, 1st generation, state of residency, etc.) is not a hook. They are applicant characteristics.</p>
<p>“hooks” are institutionally desired features. Don’t confuse the two. Very few people have hooks. Attempts to shoe-horn your unique features into one of these is just trying to pacify oneself.</p>
<p>(and for those who wish to argue with me about “1st generation” or “regional diversity”, I’ll say again, these are *extreme *secondary or tertiary evaluative concerns to Harvard)</p>