<p>I went to India for my junior year of high school, and I thought it would be a good college hook. (That's not why I went, though). But some people here told me it wouldn't really help at all. Do that many kids really study abroad in high school? Do colleges really regard is that lowly?</p>
<p>I disagree. I think it's an excellent opportunity. I live in Indiana as well, on a random note.</p>
<p>It really depends on how you play it up. It's an experience that a lot of other students don't have. You're special. Discuss it as a cultural experience, a learning opportunity, maybe mention continuing a semester there, whatever suits you. </p>
<p>It's a really unique thing...good luck with it. Like a lot of other things, it's a college hook if you make it one.</p>
<p>Thanks!
You live in W. Laffayete? Are you in high school or college?</p>
<p>High School. I'd never go to Purdue. It's in my backyard...and decent (but not relatively spectacular) for my major. :) What schools are you looking into?</p>
<p>Gorbachev, Foreign experience -- especially in an underdeveloped country -- IS a plus in college admissions. Colleges are looking for kids with global expereinces who can contribute to classroom discussion. </p>
<p>What you need to do is to communicate through your essays and resume what you gained by studying away and how it will enhance your college experience. Be specific. For example, did you improve your language skills, learn about religious conflict, see poverty and suffering up close?</p>
<p>I know what you mean about Purdue. My dad works at Butler, my mom works for IU. Therefore, I am definitely going out of state.</p>
<p>Yale's my first choice. I'm also looking into Brown, Pomona, Swarthmore, U of Chicago, American, GWU, and Tulane. You?</p>
<p>I think study abroad is pretty common and while good to do, isn't a hook.</p>
<p>momrath - I was in South India so I went down to the coast to do tsunami relief. That was intense. One of my essays is about it. I posted it here a while ago, but it got a lot of negative feedback - "too melodramatic" and "makes me seem like a rich white girl" were the main complaints.
My school was in a pretty rural area, so it was pretty impoverished. And I went to my junior prom with a Bhutanese prince!</p>
<p>Really? I only know four other Americans who have studied abroad. And two are going this year only because I went first.</p>
<p>"I think study abroad is pretty common and while good to do, isn't a hook."</p>
<p>--- USUALLY I DON'T agree with your posts, however, this one, I agree with 100%.... A hook is something that makes you EXTREMELY unique... Many students can say they've studied abroad, but how many can say they're poor, black, and from Wyoming? I know that's like un-godly rare and probably doesn't even exist, but if something like that popped up, that would be considered a "strong hook," if you will. Or like publishing a book that was on the NY Times best seller list and sold like 10 million copies or whatever...</p>
<p>There is a whole huge organization that runs a study abroad program for private and public school kids from all over the country in about 6 countries. At private schools especially, tons of kids go.</p>
<p>I think that the Study Abroad will be a hook if you have the scores and the stats to back it up. </p>
<p>Example: Many people in my school have studied internationally during the summer with classes, rather than during the school year, myself included. But it does nothing for them if it's just one thing they do and they slack off beforehand or afterwards. Assuming you are a great student you should be a good match for many of the schools you've listed, but keep SAT in mind. </p>
<p>It's a hook, but pretend it isn't and have your test scores and grades and ECs prove it first.</p>
<p>Crap. I'm doomed.</p>
<p>Anyway, I would just like to thank everyone here (except Nia and momrath) for crushing my dreams. Especially Harvard2011 who (if his/her screen name is any indication) is actually younger than me and therefore probably knows less about the college admissions process than I do.</p>
<p>Now, if you will excuse me, I am going back to the Princeton Review website, where people are nicer.</p>
<p>Haha....just kidding, I'm totally addicted to this site. I guess I'll just go write that NY Times bestseller.</p>
<p>P.S. Thanks Nia. In all modesty, I think I have the stats to back it up. That was a non-sarcastic thanks, by the way.</p>
<p>Here's the truth, buddy. I know WAY more about admissions than you do... Especially dealing with hooks. MANY rich kids like you study abroad, and therefore, it's not a hook.</p>
<p>I bow to the tiny genius.</p>
<p><giggle> Sorry. Can't resist taunting the underclassmen....</giggle></p>
<p>So what makes you so sure you know more than me?</p>
<p>Tiny? I've never been called that before, considering I'm 6'4"... I've actually e-mailed people on the Harvard admission website and have been told what a "real" hook is. If you use the search function, you can see from users such as NorthStarMom and Byerly, Harvard interviewers, what "real" hooks are.</p>
<p>Oh, don't be so easily offended. You'll never be admitted anywhere without a sense of humor. </p>
<p>And speaking of Harvard admissions officers, let's take a look at this helpful quote:</p>
<p>"When I interview applicants to Harvard, absolutely nothing impresses me as much as international experience. I immediately assume that such students have the mental agility and political awareness that prepare her for study of complex issues. It also suggests that that student can contribute a unique perspective to her classmates, which is something we're always looking for. Put simply, SAGE prepares students to succeed in college."</p>
<pre><code> - Susan Wennemyr,
Ph.D., Harvard University recruiter
</code></pre>
<p>The SAGE program, by the way, is the study abroad program I went on.</p>
<p>Yeah, it looks nice, but it's not a hook. Not EVERYONE has a damn hook. If everyone did, everyone would get in.</p>
<p>Thanks. Now I'm going to go write my bestseller. It will be a 1984-esque dystopia about a school where the kids are so competive, they tattoo their GPA's on their arms like Nazi concentration camp victims. That's all copywrited, by the way, so no stealing. Get your own hook.</p>
<p>It's a good thing to have on your app, none-the-less. Many here think that things such as being a URM is a hook... Certainly it helps, but it doesn't mean that they're a shoe-in... If you're a URM, from South Dakota, poor, have a REALLY bad background, have a part-time year-round job, 4.0 gpa, 2400 sat score, ranked 1 in class, and a few ecs that you're committed to, then that, to me, is a hook.</p>