What strikes you as my hook/central theme?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

I want to see what the peeps of CC think would be a good hook/theme for my college app. My problem comes from the fact that I do have diverse interests and so I went through ECs in phases, only really concentrating on them by junior year.

Here’s me as an applicant:

  • Loves school and learning for the sake of learning; particularly likes humanities and social studies
  • Straight-A student, unweighted, full IB program and APs
  • 5s on all APs (3 history/geography, 2 STEM), 1530 SAT (790 on English), 6 on IB Art SL
  • Plans to take SAT II Lit and US History
  • ECs: Future Problem Solvers (9), Assemblies Officer Student Gov (9), President Model UN (10-12), Creative Writing Club
    (10-12), NHS President (11-12), News Editor School Paper (11-12), Photography and graphic design (lifelong, self-taught),
    Pride Club (11-12)
  • Awards/honors: American Legion School Medal, FPS State Champion and 2nd Prize Scenario Writing, MUN Superior
    Delegate and Position Paper Awards, 1st and 2nd place awards at state French Fair in trivia comp, poetry and reading
    comprehension, NHS membership, 8 awards at 9th grade graduation, AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Volunteering includes tutoring at local elementary (10), NHS tutoring (12), soup kitchen dinner prep and services (10-12),
    summer internship teaching creative writing to kids (12)
  • Letters of rec from history and English teachers, 3rd from art teacher also
  • Interested in major in history/polisci/international relations, potentially paired as double major with visual art/design
  • Aggressive reader of Google News, interspersed with Netflix (am a sucker for mid-2000s sitcoms like Arrested Dev, 30
    Rock, and Curb Your Enthusiasm)
  • In addition to extracurriculars, small hobbies I have include running a virtual country (on NationStates) and writing alternate history on a forum (Alternate History.com)
  • LGBT and LDS in the Beehive State, so personal struggle/self-loathing was a reality for me
  • White male, but quasi-legacy at several schools (uncles went to Stanford, UChicago)
2

You seem well rounded. Not everyone has a hook, and that’s ok. Students get into good colleges without them. focus on creating a balanced list of safeties, matches, and reaches.

BTW, leave off the aggressive reader/netflix stuff off your college apps. Not pertinent.

3

I don’t think I should be chancing considering my current position here

But just wanted to say I’m really active on NS too! Nation name?
Also agreeing with the guy above me :smiley:

4

A hook is a specific term in college admissions (for URM, athlete, legacy – generally not uncles). You are not hooked.

You don’t seem super “pointy”, but seem like a strong applicant with some interesting ECs. I like the Nationstates especially. I would leave out the Netflix, too, and the self loathing. You might be tempted to go down the LGBT LDS path for your essays, but I’d strongly advise you to avoid it. You seem kind of quirky & honestly intellectual – assuming your recs will also support this, that is the angle I’d consistently take. One of my kids got in everyplace she applied with exactly that approach. Own it. :slight_smile:

5

Agree that you have no hook. But there is nothing at all wrong with having diverse interests I’ve heard college admissions officers say that they look to create a well rounded class – and that class will include some well rounded individuals and some individuals with particular interests/talents. So like others who posted above I suggest you own your well-rounded profile and create a list of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend.