<p>1600+2400+val+leadership = Hook</p>
<p>Nice try J<em>F</em>M :)</p>
<p>Would a non-life-threatening medical disability or disorder be a "hook"? If it prevented you from doing sports, could it be considered a disadvantage? Thanks!</p>
<p>Main:
Being well rounded and qualified
Attendance at an international youth leadership seminar
"most outstanding grade 11 student" at the #1 public school (#3 overall) in the province </p>
<p>Other:
French Immersion IB diploma (with a good score too!)
Model UN (attended Harvard's HMCE and won a "Harvard Award of Excellence")
Passion for travel, music (10+ hours/week w/o practice), etc.</p>
<p>"1600+2400+val+leadership = Hook"
Ouch ouch, I have a bad feeling they'll kick that guy out for being too smart, or too formulaic. H. admission officers are a cruel race.
Back to uniqueness, that unique thing has to be good for you. I'm never telling anyone there that I finished all the five acts in Diablo II Expansion in two days:D</p>
<p>1) Is being a puerto Rican (URM) from Florida a hook? </p>
<p>2) Is it any better being from florida and any southern region?</p>
<p>3) Is it a decent hook that I was born in inner city NYC (not the best academics) but then did a DRASTIC(!!) life improvement moving to Florida and eventually becoming Valedictorian in a state where there is quite a bit of tension AGAINST hispanics? Would this count because it is like academics with adversity having no affect on my grades? OVERCOMING ADVERSITY! Would this work??</p>
<p>I wouldn't rely on things that are beyond your control--ie race, location, where you were born--as hooks. A deep intellectual/athletic/artistic interest is a much better bet.</p>
<p>Major Hook: Science/Medicine Proficiency/Leadership:
-National Finalist on infectious diseases project freshman year
-Founder of Healtcare Society; community service and national campaigns culminating in letters to white house/congress
-Selected for Policy summits; author and co-negotiator of policy to be distributed to white house and numerous govt agencies
-Multiple state and SE US championships in science/math
-Mentor/leader for numerous competitions
-I won't put this down on app but JUST FOR FUN: Experimented on myself; found that manipulation of alcoholic content of mouthwash can mitigate Mononucleosis sickness </p>
<p>Weaker HOOK: Philosophy/Debate
-Stanford National Forensic Institute last summer for LD
-Speaker for UN-Sponsored People Speak Project locally on use of Pre-emptive force by US
-Author of philosophical articles in a newsletter I founded for a local cultural club
-Debate qualifications to state varsity and lots of NFL pts but not many awards..
-I love reading philosophy (not a thing to go as an activity but oh well)</p>
<p>Weaker hook: MUSIC:Violin
-play for mayor; at rehab centers, many concerts
-violin for 5 yrs</p>
<p>i guess that's it...</p>
<p>What The Heck ??? Lol</p>
<p>inside joke :)</p>
<p>Does being Middle Eastern, or, more specifically, Iranian, qualify as being a minority?</p>
<p>AP freak- Harvard does admit many students from Florida and Hispanic students. My year, there were 5 students admitted from Hiahleah which had never had any students attend Harvard ever before. I encourage you to apply, but don't consider your race or geography something extra special that will distinguish you. People aren't admitted for being Puerto Rican, they're admitted because they are excellent qualified Puerto Ricans.</p>
<p>Pea_sea, it depends on how many Iranians are applying the same year. If there are, say, 20, you've lost a hook:(</p>
<p>I'm a nice person, that should be a hook :p</p>
<p>haha, wouldn't it be great if harvard admitted people solely on the basis of their good character traits?</p>
<p>Then you'll have to wait till their freshmen class expands to accommodate 20,000 dude:D</p>
<p>Hurry up!!! cmill216</p>
<p>i also know the theme song from that show The Nanny (starring fran drescher) by heart!</p>
<p>The whole thing about hooks is really sad and I hope colleges don't look at things like that and judge people by them. Just because you've helped people at a cancer center shouldn't mask the fact that you're SAT scores aren't that great.</p>
<p>Careful....here great SAT scores are defined as 1500 and up!!!</p>
<p>But who cares about Hooks anyway? If you focus more on playing up your hook you'll forget that you still have to do well in classes and get Great SAT or ACT scores. You can be from New Mexico, Florida, New York, doesn't matter. A good student is a good student to these people no matter where you're from</p>