<p>You do realize a hook also classifies as a person who is an URM (under represented minority)?! </p>
<p>IS BEING FROM FLORIDA A HOOK FOR HARVARD YALE DUKE PRINCETON?? ANYBODY KNOW????????????</p>
<p>Geographic area is a factor, though not the most important one, in the admission process. IMHO, it's being a unique and outstanding student that counts far more. </p>
<p>In addition, we may think that students from other places look "attractive" in the admission process, which is not always the case. There's a school in Boston where the top thirty students were all accepted to Harvard.</p>
<p>So, apfreak, the bottom line is that you should continue to do great in school and in your EC's, and don't lean TOO much on geography! :)</p>
<p>Apfreak- Florida is one of the states where a lot of Harvard students are from. Looking through thefacebook.com, 122 students come from Miami alone.</p>
<p>According to northstarmom's posts, a "hook" is something that isn't able to be controlled. Like race, location, income, ect... From what I've heard, you have to be from a REALLY "bad" area of the country to make it a true "geographical" hook. Places like Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, ect... I know many will say I'm only stating this because it applies to me, but I just don't want people to think that because they're from Florida that they have a huge hook. Here in SD, for example, we only have like 4 clubs in my school, 2 ap classes, no honors, no academic competitions, ect.... The only "major" time consuming ecs around here are 20-30 hour a week jobs and sports... Believe it or not, a person from Montana and low income with the same stats and decent ecs of that of am upper/middle class student from MA would have a much better chance of getting in. Go ahead and criticize me, I'm used to it. :P</p>
<p>My spelling and grammar are going to suck because I just got back from work and have to go again tomorrow at 8 am, sorry.</p>
<p>Would conducting research with UCSF and having it in many publications, be considered a hook?</p>
<p>Its biomedical reseach on the fractions and dislocations of the medial epicondyle.</p>
<p>hahahaha . . . </p>
<p>. . . yes. =)</p>
<p>seriously though, someone mentioned something earlier that deserves to be repeated. Hooks are very important, but don't lose sight of the fact that the first thing Harvard looks at are your grades. So keep 'em up. </p>
<p>And try to have some fun!!! This is HIGH SCHOOL. My biggest regret when I graduated a week or so ago was that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.</p>
<p>i was born in Bangladesh and came here when i was only 4...would being from South Asia be a hook? also, english was my fourth language..i can speak hindi, bengali and arabic ...however arabic i can read and write as well since i am muslim...i can only read in bengali .... and now i am taking french and japanese in high school...and i have been to numerous countries including france, greece, UK, canada, morocco, india, pakistan, spain and italy. (lol family is everywhere) would that be a good hook?</p>
<p>I'm not applying to Harvard(Cornell/CMU) but do you think my RESUME counts as hook??</p>
<p>SPECIAL AWARDS
National Congressional Award Bronze Medallist
AP Scholar with Distinction
AIA(Association of Indians in America) Award
Awarded a SEAP grant(stipend)
Presidents Award for Education Excellence
Research and Design Module CO2 Car Winner
Technology Service Achievement Award</p>
<p>WORK/VOLUNTEER/RESEARCH
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Mentorship(Physics related) Awarded a SEAP Position sponsored by ONR. Worked on project relating to hydrodynamics/fluid dynamics/turbulence. Equipment worked with included: 100 gallon water tank, infared imaging camera, digital particle imaging velocimetry, high-intensity lasers, and optical instruments. Strong possibility of co-authoring research paper that will be published in a refereed journal.
INOVA Hospital Volunteer Volunteered at the INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital for over 150 hours. Received special recognition from the director of the program for my hard work and dedication to assisting the hospital.
atarelief.org Setup informative website that helped people donate to the Asian Tsunami Relief Programs. The reported donations were over $800 through the usage of this site. Multiple local radio stations(Z104,BIG100.3) promoted this website.
Celebrate Fairfax! Volunteer Volunteered in the Science/Technology Booth of our County Fair. Helped kids create mini-motors using magnets, batteries, and basic physics concepts. Helped generate interest in the sciences and in technology.
Research Paper presented at Biology Symposium Presented a research paper on the effects of pH level on the health of planaria at a biology simulation.
Designed Flow Meter Worked with a group of students to construct a flow meter that was tested at the U.S. Naval Observatory.</p>
<p>CLUBS
Model United Nations Awarded Outstanding Delegate at the National Ivy League Model UN Conference(Hosted at UPENN). I represented the United States of America in the Economic and Financial Issues Committee. Awarded Honorable Mention Delegate at the National Model UN Conference at William and Mary. I have also won several awards in regional conferences(Best Delegate, Outstanding, Honorable). I was the Director of Technical Operations(Techical Czar) for the club, which is the largest club at our school. I was also a co-organizer for TECHMUN 2005, a regional conference hosted by our schools MUN club(500+ participants).
Future Business Leaders of America Awarded Varsity Letter. I was also the webmaster for the club.
Varsity Math Team Scored 99.5 on the American Math Competition 12(Top 5 percent).
Varsity Computer Team I competed in the USACO Bronze Division. I also entered programming challenges on TopCoder and placed well among other competitors, mostly college students.
Future Problem Solvers Invited to States to compete in the Individual Competition.
National Honor Society
Namaste Webmaster of the Indian Club at our school. Helped organize the Namaste sponsored TJ International Night, a programme filled with cultural events and foods.
CULTURE
Youtsav of NoVa Co-Founder Cofounder of a youth group promoting Indian culture in Northern Virginia. Initiatives included: fundraising concert for tsunami relief, co-sponsorship of annual cultural program, and charity events.
Host/MC of UTSAV Diwali 2003 Host of a large cultural event(500+ people).
Dance I have danced with a group in several cultural events including Image-n-Nation. We were featured on a local area TV channel.</p>
<p>SPORTS
Soccer I played soccer continuously for 10 years. Freshman year, I continued to play on a travel soccer team in the ODSL Division 1 League. That year I received the Randy Rawls Sportsmanship Award. Our team received 2nd place in the league. Sophomore year, I played club soccer. I was captain, voted MVP of team, had most goals&assists, and helped lead my team to a first place season. I went on to score the winning goal at the all-star game.
Tae-kwon-do Gold Belt.
Crew 1st place in Novice 8 division at Occaquan Classic.</p>
<p>Confidential-That is the most off topic post I've ever seen. I really hope no one replies until you post somewhere more appropriate.</p>
<p>Lol sorry.. im tired. umm is this something what you people would call a 'hook'?? I want to go to Cornell/CMU engineering btw.</p>
<p>Here are two activities that I think are somewhat unique?</p>
<p> U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Mentorship(Physics related) Awarded a SEAP Position sponsored by ONR. Worked on project relating to hydrodynamics/fluid dynamics/turbulence. Equipment worked with included: 100 gallon water tank, infared imaging camera, digital particle imaging velocimetry, high-intensity lasers, and optical instruments. Strong possibility of co-authoring research paper that will be published in a refereed journal.
Model United Nations Awarded Outstanding Delegate at the National Ivy League Model UN Conference(Hosted at UPENN). I represented the United States of America in the Economic and Financial Issues Committee. Awarded Honorable Mention Delegate at the National Model UN Conference at William and Mary. I have also won several awards in regional conferences(Best Delegate, Outstanding, Honorable). I was the Director of Technical Operations(Techical Czar) for the club, which is the largest club at our school. I was also a co-organizer for TECHMUN 2005, a regional conference hosted by our schools MUN club(500+ participants).</p>
<p>I think people are getting confused what a hook is. A hook is not a resume, lots of community service, or anything like that. A hook is something very few people have done. Being a published author is a hook. Having a record contract is a hook. Doing RSI or USAMO is a hook. Being an Intel finalist is a hook.
Some hooks are out of your control. Being Hispanic is a hook, as is being from South Dakota (albeit a minor one). Other noncontrollable hooks include being a first generation college student and being from a low income family.</p>
<p>So working at U.S. Naval Research Lab over the summer using equipment thats worth $2 million and co-authoring a paper that will be in a refereed journal with two docs on new experiments that have never been done before on turbulence/fluid dynamics is not considered a semi-hook?</p>
<p>I'm also trying to author my own paper .</p>
<p>Could be.</p>
<p>You won't know until December/April.</p>
<p>Is founding an organization a hook?</p>
<p>Could be.</p>
<p>Could be could be could be. That's what could be said for so many of the hooks you guys and girls are mentioning.</p>
<p>It really depends on how many other people in the applicant pool founded organizations, and what else you have to bring to the table.</p>
<p>Just do what you love. The admissions game is too unpredictable to give you a straightforward answer on such an issue.</p>
<p>I honestly dont think there is anything such as a "hook" when it comes to Harvard. Harvard adcoms have seen the best, and rejected many people who supposedly had "hooks." </p>
<p>btw, nice credentials confidential. If I have any supposedly "hooks," they will no doubt be my ecs.</p>
<p>It's true that many people with hooks don't get accepted; but, for lack of a better way of putting it, there just ain't enough room for everyone. </p>
<p>You're better off with a hook than without one.</p>
<p>Where would you mention your hooks?</p>
<p>It depends what your hook is. If its an EC, then you mention it in your ECs. If it's your location then you put it where it asks for your location. But I'd suggest writing the essay on your hook and how it impacted your life.</p>
<p>Especially if it's an activity or area of interest.</p>