<p>In what order would you rank these hooks, from biggest and most influential hook to least influential hook? (Based on high, elite colleges,ivy league)</p>
<ol>
<li>Parent works at university</li>
<li>First gen immigrant</li>
<li>Relatives attending university/legacies (brother, sister, cousin)</li>
<li>Special talent (atheletics, music, arts, etc.)</li>
<li>Lucky enough to do research in high school</li>
<li>Low income</li>
<li>Community service projects</li>
<li>Geography (specific locations, ie. Atlanta, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, etc.)</li>
<li>First in family to attend college</li>
<li>Ability to afford full tuition (no financial aid)</li>
</ol>
<p>Some obviously have less value like community service projects, geographic location (unless you live in somewhere so rarely represented like South Dakota) and research in high school (unless you like made it to/won Intel) and others do usually have more value. That being said they are impossible to rank since it varies by school. Some colleges really want to increase their racial or socioeconomic diversity while others value finding amazing athletes for their teams while others highly regard double and triple legacies…</p>
<p>Assuming you’re academically well qualified, being a recruited athlete, offspring of a major donor, or offspring of a prominent national politician are the strongest hooks, followed by academically well qualified URMs and legacies. At some schools, being a faculty brat is a hook too. None of the others on your list are hooks.</p>
<p>Wow, “rank,” “hook,” “elite” and “Ivy League” all in one post! If you count “elite” as a synonym for prestige/prestigious, you’ve hit almost all the College Confidential high notes (well, low notes, really) in fewer than 25 words. </p>
<p>I agree with sherpa’s answer, except that I might expand “offspring of a prominent national politician” to include other kinds of celebrities, too. I think Emma Watson was hooked when she applied to college, for example. And probably the offspring of prominent intellectuals (e.g., George Will or E. J. Dionne) are also hooked if they are academically qualified.</p>