<p>Most people have mentioned that a hook is necessary to pull you through the college applications, but do you have some examples of a hook that would make other weaknesses not matter as much, such as ECs and leadership positions?</p>
<p>Can anyone give their input?</p>
<p>yeah, i'm wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>The typical hooks are athletics/legacy/URM status. Other than that, 'hooks' generally come in ECs and honors/awards. Some would say an extremely high SAT score is close to a hook, and that a 2400 is a hook.</p>
<p>Also, a hook is not necessary. Many hooked applicants do get in, but plenty don't, and plenty of unhooked applicants do get in (to very tippy top colleges, that is).</p>
<p>Depends, on where you are applying if you need a hook or not. UC's and Private- Definitely you need a hook to get in. Cal States - No hook, just good grades and SAT scores. A hook could be: starting your own business, if your parents are alumni of the university your applying, maybe you lived and went to school somewhere in Europe. Something unique about you that stands out above all others.</p>
<p>how about spending a year abroad in Pakistan and going to school there where learning to write and read the language was necessary for class?</p>
<p>any other ideas?</p>
<p>you don't need a 'hook' to get into anywhere.
You just need a very well defined application.</p>
<p>Would appearing on the cover of a regional magazine be a hook?</p>
<p>(sorry) </p>
<p>** If there was also a 7 page article about you in same magazine?</p>
<p>Yes it would. But to clarify, what is the article about? The subject?</p>
<p>I think the hook is, as someone referred to above, something that just makes you unique and different from the thousands of other applicants. It's that thing that'll make you stand out, and probably the best place to "sell" your hook would be in your personal statement/essay and really make it the focus of your essay.</p>
<p>If you were on the cover of the magazine, that's nice but now you have to tell the admissions people exactly why that's so important. To the person who went to Pakistan, expand on it and why it was an important experience. A hook is nice, but you really have to drive it into the admissions people so that it sticks with them.</p>
<p>A hook is something that makes the adcoms remember you from that pile of apps that stands out everyday. Math whiz who plays the trombone? If you can write an essay (that's what you use to market your individuality) that conveys how you love math yet are crazy mad about the trombone, that can be called a hook. My opinion.</p>
<p>Appearing on the cover of Playboy would definitely be a "hook". But not regional magazines. </p>
<p>You should understand that hooks are usually something born with. Such as race, old money, or a remarkable innate talent. It's not something you just go after one day.</p>
<p>appearing on the cover of a magazine is not a hook.
It's the context of being on the cover.
Considering that the magazine it regional, it is most likely far from a hook.
Probably immaterial that can be shown in other places on the app.</p>
<p>Contrary to what I said, if you appear on the cover of TIME or something, that = major hook.</p>