<p>its paradoxical: well rounded+a hook lool</p>
<p>better phrased: what kind of people do you guys think harvard would see and be like "we absolutely have to have this kid" and make them definite admits?</p>
<p>exactly, no hook = thin letter</p>
<p>I hope you realize that even those who are accepted will be getting a thin letter in a week's time, because the thick admissions packet is only sent in April.</p>
<p>In response to LAgal: hopefully me ! I think i have a good shot because i'm well rounded, good grades, rank and stats. I play a varsity sport (water polo which is sort of unusual), but i'm heavily into languages and music. And i have a lot of volunteering involved with german and playing piano (seperately) and i have a job as a pianist. I also have areal passion for learning especially about medicine and i love biology. i was accepted into this really prestigious, highly selective class that meets everyday for two hours at the local hospital. We take a class two days a week on anatomy and pathophysiology, the rest of the week we follow around doctors on clinical rotations. So that shows that i'm actively involved in my area of interest. We'll see next tuesday though, won't we!</p>
<p>are you sure about the thin letter thing. I thought you would get stuff to start paying and signing up for crap now.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure, man. Unless you send you a couple of flyers for visiting Harvard and stuff. But it wont be noticably thicker than the rejection letter I think, because they only send the payment forms etc later on April.</p>
<p>well, i guess that's good in a way...but won't most ppl already know before b/c of the e-mail?</p>
<p>what are some examples of "hooks"? does it mean you have to discover a new method of classifying mushrooms and be a nationally acclaimed concert pianist? or does it mean your parents have to donate millions to the school? or does it mean that you have to be the chief of a cherokee tribe?</p>
<p>i'll give you some examples of my "science" hooks:
-NIH grant
-formulated a new theory
-improved a model of a cell signaling pathway
-heading a project to develop a novel protocol
-RSI Scholar</p>
<p>I think background can be hooks too. Like if you're a URM, a legacy, etc albeit they're not as strong as the academic hooks.</p>
<p>i guess you'd need a combination of the two.</p>
<p>w/those accomplishments, stats, i'd be highly surprised if you didn't get in</p>
<p>the process is unpredictable.
hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
i've been reading Harvard's rejection letter from last year to familiarize myself with the content.</p>
<p>I really don't have a hook, hooks (to me), are ego boosters for people, they are usually things they, and few others have done that they think makes them stand out and are somehow above the crap shoot. Now usually cultivated at an early age, "hooks" can also be activities forced upon unsuspecting youngsters by parents with early ivy visions. Granted, there are some legitimate "hooks" (staicsoliloquy), but you have to remember, about 80% of the people here, in regards to their EC's and apps, are full of a lot of hot air. </p>
<p>Cheers :) Don't worry, be happy, you'll be fine.</p>
<p>what a cynical way to view hooks hunter. In either cases, your intepretation of hooks doesn't apply to me. My parents did not force me into science. I don't think passion can be forced. </p>
<p>sorry, do you mind elaborating "a lot of hot air." I'm not very familiar with American idioms.</p>
<p>I know my interpretation doesn't apply to you, as I mentioned that there are some legitmate hooks/greatness acheived that is appealing to colleges and will definately garner attention: "Granted, there are some legitimate "hooks" (staicsoliloquy)"</p>
<p>By hot air, I mean that a lot of people here overstate their applications, making them sound grander than they really are. </p>
<p>For example, one could say, "I was the leader of a school organization that, though our many school and community related activities, raised awareness of our school in the surrounding areas, energized the student body, and generally added a liveliness and excitement about the school within my entire city." Although they make it sound like they single-handidly uplifted the school, all they really mean/did was "I was president of the booster club." </p>
<p>I would say the vast majority of EA people applying have an equal chance of getting in, with 10% definately rejected and 10% almost definately in. Personally, I think the term "hook" only serves to further scare kids away from various activities, and forces them to pursue only one area of interest, instead of broadening their horizons and pursuing many different activities. There are legitimate passions, but I think for a lot of people, especially new-Ivy hopefuls, the term "hook" causes them to panic and think, "OMG! I haven't accomplished anything," when in reality they're more than qualified. </p>
<p>I do have to disagree with your statement that passion cannot forced. I think we see it all the time in so-called "child prodigies," " 'Select' soccer 'stars' ", and other, little children forced into activities just so they can be the best, rather than for enjoyment (this is more prevelent in atheletics, I believe). Especially with the child prodigies, I think studying, and rapid advancement in school are often pushed upon them by over-zealous parents wanting a "super" child, rather than considering enjoyment of childhood, etc. Anyone remember that girl who graduated college before she was 18? And she also had on her web site that at age 1, she learned to walk, never crawled, and never fell? While most children are fortunate enough to have parents who care more about an enjoyment of life than a college app at 3-years-old, I believe children being force-fed passions does exist (althought it is usually accompanied by a strong reaction against the source of this pressure later in life).</p>
<p>Just my humble opinion, but again, congrats on you accomplishments, you have true dedication, and I would definately place you in the 10% "almost guaranteed admit" category.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I disagree with you, especially with child prodigies. I was once considered a child prodigy in my community, and my parents never forced me into it. I begged and pleaded for piano lessons as a young 4 year old and my parents wanted me to practice, but never demanded or expected me to work as hard as I did. It all came naturally and that's the only way a true prodigy can be formed.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering something - I guess it could apply to all selective schools, and I'm not even thinking of going to Hahvahd but...
How much does personality count? One of my friends wants to apply to Harvard because of their history programs and such. He is incredibly interesting and fun to talk to. He has a wonderful personality and lights up a room.
Then there's this other Harvard-wannabe I know. He is dry and boring as hell. But of course, he is an academic success.
Would an Ivy reject you if you showed lack of personality and seemed extremely dry and boring?</p>
<p>definitely</p>
<p>I've been following this board for a while now, and I am compelled to respond to the comment from Hunter1985 that some people really inflate what they do/have done on their applications. I couldn't agree more, and the example he gives is a great one. I also have to question staticsoliloquy's listing of his science "hooks." While I have no doubt you (staticsoliloquy) are obviously brilliant and quite capable and will, no doubt, end up doing very well at Harvard or some equally fine university...how your list your science accomplishments fits in nicely with Hunter's comments. You write...</p>
<p>"I'll give you some examples of my "science" hooks:
-NIH grant
-formulated a new theory
-improved a model of a cell signaling pathway
-heading a project to develop a novel protocol
-RSI Scholar"</p>
<p>I don't know how you actually detailed this on your application, obviously, but here you simply say "NIH Grant." Now I am 99% sure that a high school student is not awarded an NIH Grant; most likely, you worked with a local University professor(s) who was awarded a grant. In that grant, they were allowed to bring in some h.s. students to help work on aspects of the grant--pehraps work as a h.s. intern?. I also highly doubt that you "formulated a new theory." In reality, I suspect that the principal investigator of the grant, or some other named investigators on the grant, or maybe even some Ph.D. students, formulated this new theory. You happened to be the h.s. student who was on their team. Same with the rest of it (though I'm sure you are an RSI scholar--as those are awarded to h.s. students). If I am incorrect in my thinking, do clarify.</p>
<p>Again, this is not to lessen in any way your fine accomplishments. I just think that the way you list these science "hooks" here is ambiguous. Perhaps I missed an earlier part of this thread, though, and you were merely pointing out how one might list "hooks" to make them sound somehow more important. I also believe that folks on admissions committees are very very smart, and they've seen and read everything. I personally feel students are better off detailing their accomplishments in an honest way. At any rate, if you did, indeed, win an NIH Grant as a h.s. student, "formulate a new theory," etc., then I'm not sure you even need an undergraduate degree. Just my thought</p>
<p>i love it when people doubt my credentials. Is it that hard to believe?</p>
<p>well 1. the NIH grant was mine, and mine alone. There were no other recipient attached to the award. If you want, you can call NIH to check. I'll give you my grant number and name</p>
<p>Funding Agency: National Instite of Health: National Heart Ling Blood Institute</p>
<p>Title of Grant: Northern California Comprehensive Sickle Cell Centers, Summer for Sickle Cell Science Program</p>
<p>Grant number: 1 U54 HL70583</p>
<p>why would I lie on a board? I'm not that sad...</p>
<ol>
<li>my hypothesis on the genetic expression of zeta-globin chain in deletional alpha thalassemia was also mine. I did a lit review, and I designed my experiment. My mentor actually doubted my data because she didn't even know what was going on. I was the only one working on this project.</li>
</ol>
<p>the thing is you're right, no high school student should get a grant. heck, honestly, no undergraduate should get grants. you're completely right. only PhDs and PI are even capable of writing a grant proposal and have the credentials to get through NIH reviews.</p>
<p>If you want to know the process of how a grant approval works, send me a message at my email. Just last month, 11/1, i postmarked my 2nd NIH grant. This one was a collaboration between my PI and me. I did half of the preliminary studies and wrote one specific aims out of three on there. Anyway, even with this, I didn't get into Harvard. so...trust me, it's not that impressive.</p>