<p>Science/premedicine are hardly underrepresented tracks at most universities. The hooks are what sinbad did to further his learning in these areas (RSI is an extremely selective and prestigious summer program, for example).</p>
<p>True hooks will differentiate you from the crowd. Half of the apps will be science/math and will be very, very good. Siemens will help as will RSI. URM is a hook, international is not. There are thousands of internationals for a few slots. True hooks are Olympic athletes, recruited athletes, national science winners, celebrities, high stat URMs especially from deprived backgrounds. Under-represented states are a minor hook if you have competitive stats otherwise.</p>
<p>Bandit is right about the true hooks. For example, I know of six students in our suburban/rural county who will attend Harvard as freshmen in the fall. Their hooks are:</p>
<p>Three are Hispanic, valedictorians, first-generation college, with farm-worker immigrant parents, English as a second language, from underperforming public high schools. All three, from different towns, participated in a special program that helps these types of students become future leaders. Hook = ethnicity/family background and income.</p>
<p>Two (twins) are state-ranked cross country runners and valedictorians from an average public high school. Hook = athlete.</p>
<p>One is a double legacy (both of her older sisters attend Harvard) as well as a valedictorian from a private girls school. Hook = legacy.</p>
<p>Another student in our town turned down Harvard (as well as Stanford, Georgetown and many more) for USC. He, too, is Hispanic, first-generation college, valedictorian, but not English as a second language, and is from an average public high school. Did not participate in the future leaders program. Hook = ethnicity/family income, background.</p>
<p>The things that "hook" one in at Harvard seem to have little to do with community service, test scores, grades, coursework, awards, or even geography, although those are a foundation for having a solid application. Harvard has institutional needs that require it to use diversity, athleticism, legacy, long-established ties with certain private high schools, and socio-economic status as trump cards when selecting a class.</p>
<p>The six students will do wonderfully at Harvard and are very deserving of their acceptances.</p>
<p>(disclaimer: S was waitlisted at Harvard this year and later rejected. He did not fit into any of the above categories. National recognition in his area of interest was a mini-hook in that it got him waitlisted, but it was not enough of one to put him ahead of any of the six students above.)</p>
<p>I don't think accomplishments in academics or ECs could be considered a hook. Actually, I dont think ANY trait that you've got and that even 10 other applicants have is considered a hook. A hook is something that makes you unique. If you're from Alabama and let's say 200 people from Alabama apply, then, compared to them, you're not at all special.
However, if you're from Alabama, but you were born in let's say Conneticut and then you moved to Cali when you were 15, then that could be considered a hook. Because it's very unlikely that anyone has had the exact same experience as you.
To bandit_TX, I agree that being an international is not a hook unto itself. But for me, moving a lot is. No one applying to Harvard this fall will have had the same experience as me with regards to diversity. SO, diversity IS a hook while being an international, or from Masachussets, North Carolina or Timbuktu isn't.
Thus, having 2400 or 1600 on your SAT is NOT a hook. It DOES not make you unique (unless you happen to be the only one with 2400 applying to Harvard which is HIGHLY unlikely).
However, if you have a combination of distinguishing qualities that many applicants have (eg. 2400 on SAT + valedictorian + 1000 hrs of community service + first generation college) THEN that IS a hook.
You might disagree, but that's what I think.</p>
<p>I always thought a hook was something unique about you that made you stand out...my "hook" was something very academic, but I believe it worked in my application since I was eventually accepted...I mean, the only non-academic things I had going was culture (first-generation American, but family from India) and large family. And you can't get in just because you gotta lot of siblings. That being said, I was rather surprised that the committee "bit" my hook...I don't want to say what it was, because it's a giveaway...</p>
<p>Can achievement in sports be considered a hook? For example, being nationally ranked in table tennis, perhaps?</p>
<p>policymaker, I'm sure a combination of your achievements, culture and family situation was your hook. Not just the academic thing</p>
<p>But think about other Asian kids who apply - I mean, there are several who I know who had stellar ECs who were rejected outright - I felt terrible telling them I'm going to Harvard when they asked because they were more deserving than I was to an objective observer...most of them aced me on SAT by at least 50 pts to boot. I think it further underscores the idea that you are not in control of your application's future...</p>
<p>The SAT (believe it or not!) plays a minor role compared to WHO YOU ARE (your ECs, essays, etc reveal this).</p>
<p>eh...I've heard so much about what "actually" is the most important part of your application that I don't know what it actually is. Oh well...I will trust that the reader is the only one who actually knows for certain...</p>
<p>well i don't know if I will get in but I intend to apply. I suppose my hook would be irish dance (8 - 10 hours per week) my team is regionally ranked and qualified for nationals but couldn't go because of circumstances. also low income and around 800 service hours. don't know if that helps?</p>
<p>"eh...I've heard so much about what "actually" is the most important part of your application that I don't know what it actually is. Oh well...I will trust that the reader is the only one who actually knows for certain..."</p>
<p>academic record</p>
<p>Um.. Hooks? Not sure if these exactly count... I'm a student from North Dakota! My brother was a really bad farm accident awhile back that made national news (maybe write an essay on how my life has changed because of it?), and well I'm not sure about this but err.. I've taking courses from University of North Dakota that are about what I plan on going in to in college... so that shows that I REALLY want to do this?</p>
<p>Edit// I saw this was Harvard hooks; I'm not planning on applying to harvard =/</p>
<p>CoreyS, what colleges do you plan to apply to? Any IVY or just ones in the area?</p>
<p>
[quote]
CoreyS, what colleges do you plan to apply to? Any IVY or just ones in the area?
[/quote]
Well I have a big list that i have to narrow down, but here's "the list" in no particular order.
Yale
Columbia
Amherst
Brandeis
Hampshire
Williams
Carleton
St. Olaf
Macalester
Vassar
Bowdoin
Middlebury
Grinnell
Bard
Lewis and Clark
UMichigan</p>
<p>So yeah pretty much every LAC with a East European Studies major hah. After my ACT and getting into the swing of school and hopefully taking an east coast college visit trip, I hope to narrow it down to 10; or just rule out the ones that I don't like anymore... I don't want to apply to 16 schools haha! You're from South Dakota, no? Isn't USD pretty good? Allen Neuharth(sp?), Tom Brokaw?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, yes, I'm from SD. I don't know anything about USD, nor do I want to. I come from a really "unsuportive" family who think that I'll never get into Harvard or any other ivy for that matter. They say things like this:
You may be smart, but, you know, you probably won't get into Harvard.
Even if you were to get in by a miracle, how would you pay for it? </p>
<h2>They have no idea that my grades, test scores, and everything else is up to par with the rest of the applicants and that being poor and from South Dakota is a hook. </h2>
<p>In the midwest, being middle class is anywhere from an average sallery of 30,000-60,000--- poor, according to Harvard. Therefore, if I were to go to USD or any local school I would have to pay for most of it.. However, if I were to go to Harvard, I would be considered lower class and probably not have to pay for more than a few thousand dollars a year... My parents make like 40 thousand a year combined and don't have a penny to help me with college. I never travel but I search out for new friends that have been all over the world and can share their experiences. My father is a drug and alcohol counselor, and he is an alcoholic... my parents were divorced, but they got re-married, unfortunately... I probably shouldn't even be posting this, but it's almost 3 AM and I'm sure I'll regret it all tomorrow. whatever</p>
<p>WE believe in you, Harvard2011! You're very brave... that's what I can conclude from your previous post. Besides, you don't need other people to believe in you if you believe in yourself.... and the adcoms will respect this self-confidence (which they will see in your app) on your part.
My mom (she's a single mom + I'm an only child) believes in me. However, just about everyone else that I've told about wanting to attend Harvard has just raised their eyebrows in doubt and usually said nothing supportive, if not exclusively detrimental (predominantly because I don't boast about my grades or accomplishments).
All I can say is: frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.</p>
<p>Being from North or South Dakota, and having real, competitive stats, is a hook. There just aren't more than a handful of people in any given year with that combination. Being unique, and qualified, is a hook (large or small depending on circumstance). Just being unique isn't.</p>
<p>No, being unique is a hook. BUT, you have to be unique and qualified (in most cases) to get offered admission.</p>
<p>I'm an accepted student.</p>
<p>My hook was a meathook. You can see it in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the 1983 version).</p>