<p>i’m a thug</p>
<p>^^this is a good hook. That photographer guy/girl from the first page should take heed.</p>
<p>Hooks are things that adcoms specifically look for. At most schools, there are three major hooks: URM, recruited athlete, and legacy. Celebrity status is also a hook. Some schools may be trying to attract other types of students; for example, at Vassar, being a male may very well be promising enough to be considered a hook.</p>
<p>“A hook is something so strong that it will often compensate for an applicant’s less-than-average scores and enable them to gain admission at a nearly guaranteed rate …”</p>
<p>Just one such individual from DD’s rather mediocre HS: decent student, plus #2 nationally ranked softball pitcher. Now attending UPenn (and winning lots of games).</p>
<p>I’m black.</p>
<p>@ NewHope</p>
<h1>2 nationally ranked softball pitcher. . . in HS? I play pretty hardcore select softball, and I don’t know of any ranking systems for pitchers. Just sayin’. . .</h1>
<p>I hand-crafted my hook. It’s stainless steel and I modeled it off the classic pirate hooks found in pirate movies and adorned by Captain Hook.</p>
<p>I’m asian, but I don’t like math! :D</p>
<p>LOL, protagonizer!</p>
<p>lol penguinboy, that may not be a hook, but it will certainly make you stand out!</p>
<p>Other hooks: Daddy gave a million bucks to the university, or Daddy plays golf with your U.S. Senator.</p>
<p>Here are the definitions as I understand them:</p>
<p>“Hooks” are things you have little or no control over, but which will give you an excellent chance of being admitted to a school that otherwise wouldn’t consider you: URM, legacy, recruited athlete, major donor, business/political connections, or A-list celebrity.</p>
<p>“Tips” are things which you do have control over, which if presented well, might give you that little edge over similarly-qualified students. Essays, ECs, service, published works, original research, reccs, stuff like that. </p>
<p>So, OP, writing a dynamite essay about how you overcame your medical difficulties might be in the “tip” category. But it needs to show how you have triumphed or grown or helped others. Don’t write anything that is even slightly self-pitying, or gives a sense that “I’m managing to muddle through.”</p>
<p>kiterunner - Six foot four inch girl from CT. Kinda hard to miss.</p>
<p>Yeah, but I didn’t think there was a ranking system. However, that is exceptionally tall. I’m six feet even, and I thought I was a giant.</p>