<p>I published a poetry book at the age of 10, which was awarded the Israeli (where I lived at the time) National poetry award. The book sold ~3500 copies at a fund raiser event for Autistic children. (My brother is autistic and thus my book focuses on his daily hardships)</p>
<p>Is that a good hook?</p>
<p>Hi,
I am half German and half Iraqian (my mother is Kurdish and from North Iraq) and live in Germany.
could that count as a hook??</p>
<p>the term is Iraqi, not Iraqian.</p>
<p>true, thanks</p>
<p>It worked for one of my D's friends.</p>
<p>Other than being From SD and being lower class, I guess it could be that I can speak 4 languages: Spanish, German, English, and Italian, all (except for English) of which I haven't ever been exposed to. I heard that having a year-round 20-30 hour a week job can also be used as one...</p>
<p>how do colleges know if ur fluent in a language? how would u "prove" to them. does a 700 SAT II Spanish and a 4 AP score count as being "fluent?" thank you.</p>
<p>Because 2 of the 3 foreign languages I'm taking in school, and I plan to test out on SAT II Italian --</p>
<p>hey Maria, might work, just focus on the cultural conflict you experienced, and your thoughts about the Iraq war and how it tore you family apart, even if it didn't That can be your hook!</p>
<p>I've been running a relatively popular web software/entertainment network for the past 2 years (although I only got serious about a year ago).</p>
<p>My network serves several million visitors monthly (upwards for 5 million), has employed over 100 employees (mostly part time/freelance) in multiple countries, includes some 50+ websites with topics ranging from asbestos/mesothelioma cancer to programming/software development.</p>
<p>"I've been running a relatively popular web software/entertainment network for the past 2 years (although I only got serious about a year ago).</p>
<p>My network serves several million visitors monthly (upwards for 5 million), has employed over 100 employees (mostly part time/freelance) in multiple countries, includes some 50+ websites with topics ranging from asbestos/mesothelioma cancer to programming/software development."</p>
<p>That's a great example of a good hook. Very impressive!</p>
<p>Most of the people posting in this thread have no clue about what a "hook" really is. (sentient89's post being one of the obvious exceptions) The "hooks" they mention will help their chances of being accepted into Harvard about as much as ten extra points on the SAT I.</p>
<p>I also feel for the "mialong" poster, an international from Vietnam. No one has informed her that being accepted as an international into Harvard is insanely difficult, close to impossible in fact, and that devoid of something incredible, (publishing an internationally reknowned piece of medical research, for example) her chances are close to none.</p>
<p>Personally, I don't think I had any particular hooks, and neither do most students accepted into the university.</p>
<p>Only the most amazing, brilliant, and talented Harvard students possess(ed) clearly discernable "hooks" that allowed them to be accepted into the university without even taking account their other statistics and achievements. </p>
<p>Four hundred hours of community service is nothing.</p>
<p>I've known individuals with over a thousand hours who have won awards for their efforts, had perfect SATs and GPAs, took AP Calculus in eighth grade, and were all-around brilliant students who were nevertheless rejected from their first choice college. (Be it Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.)</p>
<p>While this part of the message board strives to be positive in assessing candidate chances, one also needs a degree of realism. </p>
<p>Please don't think that an above-average extracurricular will be the magic ticket to any university, be it Harvard or any other school.</p>
<p>I completely agree. Honestly, I don't think any one characteristic or EC will be the magic ticket into Harvard or any other top college (nothing short of placing well at USAMO, admission into RSI, starting the next google, or something incredible). </p>
<p>Anyways, that being said, I hope my EC carries some weight, but I'm not counting on a magic ticket for any top college.</p>
<p>sentient89:</p>
<p>Your hook certainly carries considerable weight if it attracts such heavy traffic in conjunction with a noble medical cause, rest assured on that account.</p>
<p>And unfortunately, I've known many people admitted into RSI with excellent USAMO scores who were turned down by at least one top university. </p>
<p>Harvard is especially fickle in this regard.</p>
<p>Do girls who want to major in math/physics have a better chance of getting in?</p>
<p>You maybe right Havard Alum, but I think every person here is unique in one extraordinary way, and they need to show that on their application.</p>
<p>And just because some elite school does not accept you, it does not say anything about your character or your future success.</p>
<p>Is having a political forum with 10k members in THREE months a hook?</p>
<p>I have done a lot in science: 2-time Intel ISEF finalist and Best of the Microbiology Category winner (1 of 16 winners from an initial worldwide competitor pool of millions), presenter at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (top in the state of VA), MIT naming comet after me, collected thousands of fossils (donating several to a museum where they are now part of the permanent collection), developed computer application for a geneticist at NIST, webmaster of countywide United Way website (helping to raise $400K), school science clubs including science olympiad A Team (won medals at state finals) and Envirothon A Team (won 1st in 1 category and 3rd in another in regional competition), and about 50 smaller math/science awards</p>
<p>Is this a hook too enticing for Harvard to resist?</p>
<p>I am also creating a wicked project for entry into the Intel STS and Siemens Westinghouse (although this has consumed much of my time, leaving little for SAT2 prep).</p>
<p>nah, Harvard is still a super reach for you :)</p>