<p>So what exactly is a hook? Repetively, I am hearing undefinite responces to this question.</p>
<p>Is being science intern for 20 hours a month a hook?
What about going to the state science fair?
Or getting a Presidetial Award for Comunity Service?</p>
<p>Please help clear this confusion.</p>
<p>Generally, a hook is something you don't control. For example, having a legacy at a certain college or being an underrepresented minority.</p>
<p>So if you are an upper middle class white kid, there's no chance of having a hook?</p>
<p>Are you an athlete?</p>
<p>No, I don't play sports.</p>
<p>Do you live in a state that is under represented?</p>
<p>I live in one of the largest states in the US. San Diego. in a pretty nice neighborhood too. let's just say I'm very off.</p>
<p>From this board, it looks like it's impossible for someone like me to get a hook. You can't intenionally acquire them then?</p>
<p>Oh! Wait! </p>
<p>My parents wereretired from 20 years in the military and neither went to college. I'm the first person in my family to go.</p>
<p>Is this a hook?</p>
<p>Does anyone know?</p>
<p>First generation, and family in the military, that can be a plus, but not really a hook. But i don't know why people have the mentality that they have to scavenge for a hook...</p>
<p>I'm just trying to understand what it is. </p>
<p>I thought it was a great sachievement (ex: publishing a famous book)</p>
<p>good hooks would be something like if you have a patent or are a recruited athlete.</p>
<p>URM
Recruited athlete
Child of high powered politician (senator, president)
Child of big-time financial donor
Legacy</p>
<p>Certain EC's also serve as hooks. Its a tradition that Earth's International Key Club President usually gains automatic acceptance to HYP, unless they have like a 900 SAT or 2.0 GPA or something insane like that, but most of the time they have perfect 4.0 and 2400's too. The current international president, Grant Lin of Illinois, just got a 36 on his ACT!</p>
<p>a hook is something which is going to get you into a school almost completely regardless of what your grades/test scores are. an ec/award/community service/etc. isn't a hook unless you happen to be a recruited athlete. notice how grades don't matter.</p>
<p>hope that helps.</p>
<p>I would say that a hook is something that makes you stand out enough that it counteracts some weakness in other criteria (like grades, scores, and good ECs). Just good--even very good--ECs are not enough, because lots of people have those. Overcoming some significant disability (including poverty) could be an example.</p>
<p>^ agree. Most of the time you cannot control it, such as legacies which really helps out in Harvard (40%+ Admission rate! Same as most state schools! Lucky legacies). But I disagree with some people who say EC's cannot be hooks. a 2100 3.6 GPA Bottom of the top decile but international president of the key club automatically wins over a 2400 4.0 GPA valedictorian.</p>
<p>course there's only like 50 or so presidents of national/international high school organizations total (mabye less), so that criteria is limited to the best of America, since they are almost guranteed sucess later in life because they have already become such major historical and political figures at so young an age.</p>
<p>I undertsand now. Thak You everyone!</p>