<p>That's pretty impressive annandale. Well, NOTHING guarentees admission. But, I'd say that those would catch the eyes of AdComs.</p>
<p>Is anybody else on this site applying to Harvard in JROTC, or am I the only one?</p>
<p>As far as hooks are concerned, Im betting a LOT on my unique circumstances. My mother supports my brother and myself as a waitress on $19,500 (poverty level) and my father is a three time ex-convict. My grades are just so-so, top 3% of class, I have taken more AP's than anyone in my class, and I have raised money to go on mission trips to third-world countries as well as extensive comunity service at home, BUT my SAT's are a mere 2000 (I am retaking them, but I don't know how much they will go up). Will my hook really help me overcome my poor test scores?</p>
<p>You won't know unless you apply :)</p>
<p>Yea, I'm giving it a shot, but waiting in limbo is doing a number on me</p>
<p>Would doing research in a university labrotory be considered a hook? </p>
<p>What about being in a rock band?</p>
<p>A hook is something inherent, something you can't control. It's unfair in itself because of this. Examples would be minority status, low income (ever heard of "Homeless to Harvard"?), or legacy. Working in a lab isn't an unfair advantage (btw many science students have, don't count on it too much) nor is being in a rock band. These things will make you stand out, but they aren't hooks.</p>
<p>Hmm....how about this: I was born in a practically unknown country called Albania, and I moved here when I was 10. My family and I have gone through many things to be where we are today. On top of that, I've moved to three different high schools, which hasn't been fun.</p>
<p>I'm hoping that the fact that I'm from Albania will help me, especially since it's one of the countries I never see on the lists of student's nationalities at a college.</p>
<p>Fingers crossed........</p>
<p>But.......I'm applying to Penn ED, not Harvard. Please don't hate me;)</p>
<p>Would medical situations count as hooks? Or not even necessarily hooks, but are lower grades because of extensive time missed for sickness considered? (That was phrased strangely, I'm tired).</p>
<p>I know where Albania is :p</p>
<p>Thanks for adding to the already trite pool of: "<em>tear</em> my family came from <em>insert war-torn country</em> as poor refugees. Now pity this and let me in"</p>
<p>Sry if i'm being a bit sarcastic, just trying to get the point across</p>
<p>hey is knowing seven langs a hook? and wat abt being a finalist in a pageant?is that a hook too? and being an indian too?lol</p>
<p>Nah. Knowing 8 would be a hook. So is winning a pagent.... Just joking. 7 langs is real is just insane. Like fluent in 7 or what? unless they're just 7 different dialects spoken in India lol!</p>
<p>well these are seven langs-ot of which french,german,japanese and 3 separate indian langs and of course english lol
but does being indian help at all???</p>
<p>Talk about being trite, PrxymaFOrever. Last I checked, this was a site for listing hooks, and yes, starting your life over, whatever you may seem to think, is indeed harder than anything you've probably experienced.</p>
<p>Maybe you'll have better luck at Harvard if you stop being an arrogant jerk. </p>
<p>Sorry, if I'm being mean, I'm just trying to get the point across</p>
<p>Yes, difficult family situation is certainly a hook, however impactful it is on admissions is a mystery to all of us. Saying that this is the same old usual story is stupidity, there are obviously a huge minority of students from impoverished or refugee status backgrounds. I'm not being biased just because I fall into this category, but really how many refugees or penniless kids are you friends with Prxyma? Now how many are applying to Harvard?</p>
<p>
[quote]
A hook is something inherent, something you can't control. It's unfair in itself because of this. Examples would be minority status, low income (ever heard of "Homeless to Harvard"?), or legacy. Working in a lab isn't an unfair advantage (btw many science students have, don't count on it too much) nor is being in a rock band. These things will make you stand out, but they aren't hooks.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is a not hook. </p>
<p>A hook is something that virtually guarantees admission for you. A hook would be something like discovering an effective and viable cure for cancer, starting up the next Google, or being related to Bill Gates. Being a minority, legacy, or low-income certainly will not guarantee you admission (It may help, but it's no where near a magic ticket in).</p>
<p>Helix14788- my friend's roommate here at Harvard is from Albania.</p>
<p>is this a hook: Im from costa rica, parents moved to US to get a masters in oncology (I went along too). I lived in the US, in chicago for 1 year, and then 2 in miami, we lived in serious economically deprived conditions (my parents went on a scholarship, and already had 3 kids), we had to use second hand clothes and furniture. I learned english throught this experience. People at my school in the US initially thought I was a mute because I didnt talk, but it was actually that I didnt know english. Later moved back to Costa Rica ( doesnt that count as diversity? lol, i hope so)</p>
<p>infectedmushroom: Being an IMO medalist is a hook and it is definitely not inherent. It is passion and hard work.</p>