I was wondering if this would be considered a usable hook for semi-selective universities. Both my parents are cancer survivors. Would this be beneficial to include on an application or would it be detrimental?
I think it goes down as neutral at best.
I’m so sorry to hear that you went through so much. It must have been very difficult for you and you are probably a strong person because of what you’ve been through.
The reason that your “hook” is neutral is because having a tragedy in one’s life is surprisingly common. The nature of the tragedy may not be common, but many kids have had to overcome sincere difficulties. From an adcom POV, with some exceptions of course, they potentially see the essay as lumped together in one large group of Overcoming Tragic Circumstances.
Also, a hook would be something that doesn’t just make you stand out as a candidate, but one that makes you stand out in a category that the college seeks to fill, like an URM–underrpresented minority or a bass flute player in the year that they need a bass flute player in the newly formed marching band. Like: there’s probably one bass flute player applying that year to all of the colleges, your app happens to hit the right college, a super-excited adcom holds it above her head and says: Eureka! And his/her grades are good too!
There’s no stat that universities track/recruit for number of students whose parents are cancer survivors. Therefore, it’s not a hook per se. But it can be a compelling topic for a personal essay, or a mitigating circumstance that you HS guidance counselor can mention in his/her rec.
A hook is something like being a recruited athlete, or child of extremely rich parents who will donate lots of money, or you are famous, or your parents are famous. A hook is something that will make them pull you out of the pile and treat your app differently than other apps. Difficult life circumstances are not a hook.
Not a hook.
Not to diminish what is a horrible experience, but there are so many students who have had tragedies and difficult home lives. It’s not a hook.
Thank you for the responses everyone!