<p>So I'm starting to look at colleges and into the college admissions process and I'm not entirely sure what "hook" is. Someone want to explain it to me? and... I want to take some classes in political science or government over the summer and I want to know where I should take them. I'm looking at the Yale Summer Sessions program, the UPenn Summer Scholars one, and Yale's Ivy Scholars program. Are any of these really even worth the steep price?</p>
<p>Hooks are aspects about your prolfile that will help you have an advantage in the college application process. being an recruited athletic is one well known help that can get you through the door, another is being an *under-represented minor (URM), *such as Hispanic or Black. These days, Asians and Whites are not under-represented at colleges. Location diversity also helps. If you lived in the immediate area or state, even if the school is not a state college can help. And being from a far away *location *with few applicants can also help. Development: that’s the folks who have wealthy parents who want to donate huge sums of money. All helps. So does legacy. That’s when your parents or grandparents also went to that college (what constitutes ‘legacy’ is different at different schools.) If you are the first in your family to attend college, that’s known as “1st generation”. A good thing (shows you overcame odds to succeed). Other hooks include wheelchair-bound, or that you’re had foster parents. Basically, it’s “what sets you apart”. Then, there’s the *special talents *area: that’s where you have a special talent which the school is looking to fill, like a clarinetist, piano, etc. Sadly, hooks are not “joe average guy” and being smart isn’t “all that special”.</p>
<p>In summary: **recruited athlete, URM, location, development, legacy, 1st gen., special disability, special talent **are hooks that can help open the door for you in this college process. However, most of the time, hooks only get you ‘so far’. You still need decent grades and scores to qualify.</p>
<p>The worth of summer programs at prestigioius schools is that they are well taught and gives you a taste of campus. In terms of will they help you in the application process? Not really. They really just say you’re rich enough to do that sort of thing. Tons of entering Ivy freshmen spend the summer flipping burgers, working at youth camps, babysitting siblings. </p>
<p>If learning is your sole goal, try Yale’s online (free) downloadable classes. Good stuff there.</p>