<h2>I know this would have been great for me when I started applying. If you have anything I don't please post and I'll add it.</h2>
<p>Athletic Talent
Exceptional Grades/Rank
Exceptional Standardized Test Scores
Extreme passion in certain field of study
First Generation College Education
Geographical Diversity
Legacy
Socio-Economic Background</p>
<h2>Under Represented Minority</h2>
<p>Is passion for a particular academic subject a hook? I don't even know what you would call that for simplification's sake..</p>
<p>I know what you mean. Like demonstrating an exceptional passion in a certain area- Like a literature buff who writes and wins various awards for it?</p>
<p>I guess I'd consider that one- maybe "Extreme passion in certain field of study"?</p>
<p>Many of those are at most tip factors, not hooks.</p>
<p>What do you consider hooks, and which are tip factors?</p>
<p>Constructive criticism please :)</p>
<p>Hooks vs. tips: I question even the validity of this discussion. </p>
<p>Either you have them or you don't. Either the file readers will consider their presence or absence or they won't. Analyzing ad nauseum these features is peculiar to me. If Yale (and peer schools) is something one aspires to, research if you're in the ballpark and submit your apps. You're to be applauded. It's a rigorous process for sure. Put your best foot forward and hope for the best. Most likely, you're in store for a fabulous college experience whereever you find yourself in 9 months.</p>
<p>Fame</p>
<p>Either your own or that of a close relative. For example:
Chelsea Clinton went to Stanford. I don't know her stats, and they were probably fine, but I'll bet admitting her was not a hard decision.</p>
<p>Jodie Foster admitted to Yale, already a well-known actress
Brooke Shields, same story at Princeton</p>
<p>and what about the rumors about Emma Watson?</p>
<p>You can bet those Obama girls will be in demand wherever they choose to apply. </p>
<p>entomom is right, your list is mainly tips, not hooks. Top athletes can be hooked, of course. I'll take a stab and say that if you are ranked in the top 20 in the world in something, you also might have a hook. Like chess, for example.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Exceptional Grades/Rank
Exceptional Standardized Test Scores
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you looked at the compiled SCEA stats, perfect and near-perfect GPA's and ceiling and near-ceiling scores, although clearly valued by Yale, are common enough that they hardly seem like "hooks" - which I understand to mean a trait which the admissions committee is actively seeking to include in the class and perhaps is willing to stretch a bit from their usual practices to do so. However, very high academic talent as defined by success in interscholastic competitions might, indeed, be a "hook".</p>
<p>I think only URM/athlete/legacy/fame are hooks</p>
<p>But what about a national/international award. Like ISEF or whatever? That's usually pretty impressive.</p>
<p>There are plenty of perfect GPAs/SATs rejected.</p>
<p>Geographic diversity/1st generation/economic factors are probably more tips?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Athletic Talent
Exceptional Grades/Rank
Exceptional Standardized Test Scores
Extreme passion in certain field of study
First Generation College Education
Geographical Diversity
Legacy
Socio-Economic Background
Under Represented Minority
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Grades/rank/standardized test scores are neither hooks nor tips. They just get an applicant past the first threshold -- with ease if they're outstanding. </p>
<p>A hook is an institutional priority, a quality a college values over and above the qualities it generally looks for in its applicants (i.e., grades, scores, rigorous curriculum, great recs, interesting activities and essays, etc.). The only applicants who have genuine hooks are recruited athletes, promising URMS, developmental admits, and perhaps some children of bona fide celebrities. An applicant with exceptional talent (think a published novelist or an established commercial actress like Emma Watson) might also have a hook. </p>
<p>The other factors you cite are at best tip factors. A candidate who has one might have the edge over another candidate with a relatively equal profile. They’re not hooks, though.</p>
<p>I looked pretty closely at the SCEA admitted info that posters shared with us, and it appears to me that there are certain traits that a lot of them shared. I wouldn't call these "hooks," necessarily, but it was my impression that for most of the admits you could put together a short description with three or four items that summarized the applicant, something like, "National champion ice-skater from Puerto Rico with a 4.0." Many of the admits had some substantial achievement outside of high school, like an award, TASP or another highly prestigious program, etc.</p>
<p>What about passion for a study that a department desperately needs?</p>
<p>Like......you're the ONLY kid the application pool who's saying "I LOOOOVE ANCIENT GREEK, I LOVE LATIN, I LOVE SANSKRIT, I'D LOOOOVE TO STUDY HITTITE!"</p>
<p>And the Classics Department is like "YO! Grab that!"</p>
<p>And the admissions department is like "Step off!"
But the Classics/Linguistics department is like "Biotch, admit this kid!"</p>
<p>Could that happen? Even if that's not what they would say verbatim?</p>
<p>^ That was hilarious! I think that's a tip, but it might be a hook if you're the only student who has those interests.</p>
<p>^^^god I hope so, that would be my case..hahah</p>
<p>I heard that sometimes departments can communicate with the admissions committee if their department is lacking kids/interest</p>
<p>^ That was hilarious! I think that's a tip, but it might be a hook if you're the only student who has those interests.</p>
<p>^^yeahhh that's my situation too. </p>
<p>collegehopefull that was one of the funniest posts I've ever read on CC (probably because that's pretty much the conversation I'm hoping for when schools ready my application.) :) </p>
<p>Good Luck to all us Classics students. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
What do you consider hooks, and which are tip factors?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I consider something that puts you in a separate category that the college is seeking (see wjb's post) a hook, whereas a tip is a factor that given two relatively equivalent applicants might give one the edge.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hooks vs. tips: I question even the validity of this discussion.</p>
<p>Either you have them or you don't. Either the file readers will consider their presence or absence or they won't. Analyzing ad nauseum these features is peculiar to me. If Yale (and peer schools) is something one aspires to, research if you're in the ballpark and submit your apps.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think there is validity in this terminology since these factors are a reality of college admissions. However, I totally agree that discussing and trying to analyze which is more of a hook or how much it will help you, etc. is a useless pursuit; just do your best and hit the submit button.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What about passion for a study that a department desperately needs?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No department at Yale is "desperate" for interested students. Your passion for a particular area of study will help you if it's accompanied by tangible accomplishments/awards/honors.</p>
<p>^^ I agree with wjb. Depts can get all excited about grad school applicants but not about undergrad applicants. Realize that a student could declare an interest in Classics, get admitted, and then decide to major in Chemistry. A grad student in Classics could not do that.</p>
<p>I think departmental needs do influence admission stats. Obviously they are not going to admit just anyone, but come comitee time between two apps I think the one that a department wants would get the nod. At least I am hoping so for engineering. But also you would need to have ECs to back it up.</p>