<p>When people say hook, are they talking about the hook(bold statement to get attention) in the admissions essay? or is it something diff?</p>
<p>A hook would not usually be a great essay, although a great essay might be the factor that tips your app into the "Admit" pile.</p>
<p>A "hook" is something that you will bring to the campus that the college is looking for, beyond the basics of being highly qualified academically as evidenced by test scores, GPAs or recs.</p>
<p>Hooks: recruitable athlete, extraordinary talent in one of many areas of interest to the school (music, art, drama...), extraordinary achievement in some area (Olympic athlete even though it is not a sport/event active on campus; published research at a very high level,...), passion/achievement in some area that will bring enrichment to the campus, needed skill on campus (their oboeist is graduating and they need one to have an orchestra), URM (under-represented minority), development admit (family is so wealthy that they might endow a chair or donate $$ sufficient to finance a building/program), legacy...</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I have a question about the development admit.</p>
<p>How exactly would you go about doing that? Saying that your family will donate if they <em>cough</em> admit their kid?</p>
<p>I don't think it's something you do in that way usually. Generally, people at this level of financial wherewithal are connected in a variety of ways.</p>
<p>I think, typically, the parent (or "his people") pick up the phone and call a Trustee of the desired school to let it be known that they would be quite grateful if XYZ University admitted their kid, and wouldn't hesitate to show their gratitude in whatever way would benefit the school. </p>
<p>There have been some threads about this on the Parent Forum, which you might search. But that is the gist.</p>
<p>Well crap. My parents don't know anyone, but to put it lightly, I personally have saved up a nice little amount that I'd gladly donate to harvard ;)</p>
<p>Nice try, Yury ;). Join the rest of the human race. Most of us aren't in a position to endow a chair or finance a multi-million dollar building either.</p>
<p>If your nice little amount would do something like that... well, I'm sure there's a way to let them know. You do have to be qualified in the first place, but if you add your megabucks to your qualifications. Well... that's a hook :D.</p>
<p>I run a business that makes hundreds of thousands. Hence the reason I should go to Harvard :)</p>