<p>At an Ivy, or those on par with one, would it be a good hook to use sports, especially if the coach is looking at you? Or would that be too much focus on athletics drawing away from your academics/other interests?</p>
<p>Sports are typical ECs. Not hooks. Hooks are things that make you stand out as an individual among hundreds of applicants.</p>
<p>This may be a really really stupid question.</p>
<p>But does being an URM with stats that are competitive in the regular pool of applicants qualify as a "hook" of sorts? </p>
<p>I don't really know the advantages of being an URM at Ivies...I would assume it helps you but I don't know how much, maybe just a tiny bit, I know obviously that that won't get you admitted. I'm just curious.</p>
<p>Sports are not hooks.</p>
<p>i would say that being recruited is a hook. im pretty sure that was the op's question of sorts. "if the coach is looking at you" its a hook, if its "i got 3rd at the city track meet" then no one gives a fu<k.</p>
<p>Being recruited as a huge hook. Not being recruited is nothing. There's no middle ground.</p>
<p>Being URM is a boost.</p>
<p>would music beconsidered a good hook? the only "accomplishments" i have gotten really are event titles and like township awards for like "helping the community" and excellence. i mean i have a lot of experience in the area but do a lot of people use that?</p>
<p>Have somewhat hard to grasp what's really a hook too, would growing up in a really chaotic environment be one? Meaning my two and only siblings being heavily handicapped, divorced parents, mother who has been long time sick-listed etc.</p>
<p>Being a recruited athlete is one of the biggest hooks. Other true hooks are being a legacy or development (very rich) candidate, being famous, having national or international level honors/awards/activities and other things very few people can claim.</p>