<p>Gorby, I took a look at your essay. I live in Indonesia and I didn't find it too melodramatic at all. If anything, it underplayed the real horror of the situation. (Could be a bit more personal, though.)</p>
<p>I think your time in India could be extrapolated into an admissions plus. It doesn't matter if you call it a real hook or just an interesting life experience: it qualifies as an attention grabber and a point of differentiation. I would concentrate on how you expect your studies at college to help you answer questions that your experience raised and how what you learned will make you a valuable contributor to the campus community. </p>
<p>Whether or not your experience would push you over the top into the very selective schools on your list would depend on your total profile.</p>
<p>I definitely think your experience studying abroad in India is a hook. I don't know where other posters are from, but in my high school hardly any students go abroad because it's difficult and thus pretty rare. I personally find people who've had traveled abroad more interesting and insightful. And if the experience was meaningful for you, then I think that's golden. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I think it's a definite plus but not a hook (and also that the 2011 guy should perhaps come back in a year:-p.) I spoke with both the dean of admissions and the director of admissions at Harvard about my own summer abroad (in Japan), and they both said it sounded like something very interesting/unique. Anyone can study abroad if they have the money, but if you won a scholarship for going abroad, or have really gained something meaningful from the experience that you can demonstrate in your essay, it's a huge boost.</p>
<p>" (and also that the 2011 guy should perhaps come back in a year:-p.) "
------You people here in this thread are so rude. Most of you are rich brats who have more opportunities than most, so be thankful for that.</p>
<p>"Anyone can study abroad if they have the money, but if you won a scholarship for going abroad...it's a huge boost."</p>
<p>I agree with that... Exactly. I was trying to nicely say that the adcoms might think that "oh, another upper/middle class applicant." Just because usually those who study abroad have parents who have a lot of extra spending money. And like 9/10 of the ppl who apply to ivy leagues, if not more, are of that same class.... ANd since you are, you need to have some way of showing that you got something out of the experience.</p>
<p>That's not true about the spending money thing; there are a lot of scholarships, both merit and need based, for people studying abroad. Of course, nonselective nonscholarship programs are a little different, but yes, it all depends on what you get out of it. </p>
<p>And in response to the prior comment:
"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."
I'm certainly not the first to be rude in this thread, and no one ever said anything about not being thankful for opportunities.</p>
<p>I think these are two different things. Many kids take travel vacations or do summer programs overseas. These are the ones that may be interpreted negatively.</p>
<p>Not too many actually spend a year studying in a foreign country and among those that do not too many go to underdeveloped countries. I'm not saying it's something unknown, but it it still is relatively uncommon and if presented properly can be an admissions positive.</p>
<p>"Not too many actually spend a year studying in a foreign country and among those that do not too many go to underdeveloped countries. I'm not saying it's something unknown, but it it still is relatively uncommon and if presented properly can be an admissions positive."</p>
<p>I'm not saying it isn't rare, but it's not like a shoe-in hook... And if you're poor like me and had to EARN a scholarship, then maybe it'd matter and you'd actually have a life changing experience b/c you haven't traveled much before. That's all I'm saying.</p>
<p>Hold up there, Harvard-boy. Firstly, I DID win a scholarship to go there. Secondly, my family is NOT rich. I hold a crappy job just like every other high schooler, and while I have not had a "difficult" life, it's not like I haven't had to make sacrifices. I've worked very hard throughout my whole high school career, so please don't insinuate that I just laze around all day in the lap of luxury.</p>
<p>Your specific study abroad can be a very good hook. I know tons of people who've done study abroad but mostly in major western europeon countries. Good luck.</p>
<p>I don't think study abroad is common..I don't know anyone who's studied abroad during high school. Maybe it's more common at other other schools.</p>
<p>Yeah. I had never heard of anyone else going in high school.</p>