The "Hook" for HYPS and Other Schools

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey all -
This is my first post on CC, but I've been obsessively reading these forums for awhile. I've noticed a lot of concern about stats to get into good schools, but I'm wondering more about the elusive "hook" that seems necessary to get into many good schools.</p>

<p>I'm a pretty normal, well-rounded high school student with fairly good stats (34 ACT and 4.0UW GPA, 4 APs and 4 more senior year). I take hard classes, but I'm trying to have a life too. I play a lot of sports and am involved in student gov and all that jazz, but I'm not writing novels or playing obscure sports or any other ridiculous things.</p>

<p>So what makes a good hook?</p>

<p>I guess what really stands out to me for a hook is that I am an elected student liaison to the school board of my district and the president of a committee of the school board that meets with high schoolers, board members, and the superintendent to represent student views in district issues, called Student Senate. I really do care about ensuring that students have a voice in their high schools and their school district. This group was especially useful during all the Wisconsin union and budget protests that took place last March. I helped organize many of the student-led walkouts, slept over the Capitol building a few times, and testified twice at the public hearing. I also helped Student Senate publish an official opinion against the budget. While this is what I truly am passionate about, I feel like it's not interesting enough. I feel like even if a college sees my passion for education and student representation, it won't be enough to help me make the cut. I don't want to get involved in things that "look good" but that I don't like doing.</p>

<p>So, I don't know, advice? Help?</p>

<p>More info about me if you want it:</p>

<p>I'm looking at Princeton, Stanford, UVA, UMD, U-Wisc (safety), U-Wash, Wash U.</p>

<p>Sports: 3 year varsity letter winner in track (I also have done 3 half marathons if that's interesting or cool), 2 years high school swim, 2 years high school basketball, 1 year cross country, ballet (pointe) and jazz year-round my whole life, summer swimming and diving</p>

<p>EC: student gov, student voice (student representation in school affairs), student senate (student representation in entire district affairs), freshman class pres, percussion ensemble (gold medal at state solo ensemble last year)</p>

<p>APs: World in 10th grade (5), english lang in 11th (5), bio in 11th (5), microecon in 11th (4)</p>

<p>Sooooooo yes. Any help is appreciated!</p>

2

<p>A hook is defined as a: recruited athlete, URM, legacy, development case, or child of someone so powerful adcoms just can’t resist. </p>

<p>Your student liaison position will be viewed as a positive EC but not as a hook. Write passionately about your interests and see what happens. Not every acceptee has a hook.</p>

3

<p>Well in that regard, I am positively normal. :P</p>

4

<p>no worries buoyant, most people aren’t hooks so no, it’s not necessary to get into any school.</p>

5

<p>What do you want to study? It is a plus if your ECs reflect your academic interests.</p>

6

<p>Like others have said, you don’t need a “hook” to get into a great school. I suspect that this time next year, you’ll be packing for some great school given your super academic achievements. It would be very surprising that you don’t get several accepts from top schools – they may not include your dream schools, they might. Regardless know that you’ll be well served by the trajectory you’ve already placed yourself. Best of luck to you.</p>

7

<p>Being low income is a powerful hook.</p>

<p>You are not given equal opportunities as other middle-incomed and high incomed students, and have to use whats given. Which honestly, isn’t alot.</p>

<p>So colleges see that.</p>

8

<p>You either have a hook or you don’t. Most people don’t. Almost all hooks, with the notable exception of athletics, are things you’re born into.</p>

<p>What you have is a strong EC that - if spun correctly and turned into an epic essay (which it sounds like you’ll be able to do quite well) - will make your application stick out from the tens of thousands of other strong applications.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>