<p>If both your parents are immigrants from very unknown places (Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan).
Being bilingual?
Having a physically handicapped parent?
First generation in the US. (What if only one parent went to college here?)</p>
<p>I started to think about these "hooks" because i always hear about URM, amazing athlete (National Level), legacy, geography, low income, first generation.</p>
<p>Are there any other hooks that i may be missing?</p>
<p>I was reading the "Those ECs are weak...."- So what's good? thread and started wondering about hooks. Thanks in advance for all your replies :)!</p>
<p>These “hooks” have been used so many times, colleges are starting to become more and more wary of them. Don’t depend on them. Have you already applied? What kind of physical handicap is it? (Hopefully that doesn’t offend)</p>
<p>Nope, i am a freshman ^_~. One of my parents had gotten a benign Meningioma which is Atypical, but very common for his country for some reason (Uzbekistan). He is unable to fully use his legs without the help of a cane. Basically, it is extremely hard for him to walk on uneven surfaces because he has bilatteral foot drop.</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to build a great application. Do. Not. Use. These. </p>
<p>You clearly have a lot more going for you, just because you’re using CC. If you are helping your dad at a constant rate, and its profoundly affected your life, write an essay. Your applications have a space for 1st generation type information. They will notice it there, but the real you, your personality, should shine in the rest of the application, not your background.</p>
<p>Yes, it is. Did your parents go through any hardships to speak of? Are you in a very low income bracket? (aka 45,000 per year or less unless you have a large household)</p>
<p>Define hardships? And no, my hero is actually my dad since he was able to overcome so many obstacles (immigration, handicap etc) to be able to give us a great life. I probably will not need FA.</p>
<p>Wars, getting here illegaly and stuff like that. Or maybe coming here on a boat made of twigs and soap bottles? Those stories are the kind where 1st generation really means something to admissions officers.</p>
<p>Illegally? No. Both my parents left the USSR due to Antisemitism (Which lead to many deaths and people unable to get jobs etc). My dad left in his twenties, which is why he did not graduate from a college in the US, but my mom left as a teenager, which is why she did graduate from here (Got accepted to Columbia, could not go due to $ issues, opted to go to Pace instead). Due to the draft, most of my relatives tried to leave so they would not have to go into Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Good! If you can connect these stories to something in your application, then you have been able to use your mediocre hooks to create amazing ones and a stellar application. Of course, test scores and GPA are important too, but you seem to be the type to have a 4.0 anyhow. :)</p>
<p>Hmm, best get working on thinking that over when i have some spare time. I have around a 96, my school for some reason switched from a 4.0 scale a year ago to numbers. It’s a top 250 school in the nation so i guess that’s alright. Any suggestions on where to use it on my app alex? You have been very helpful ^_^! (Also, is being instate for a ivy school or top 20 another hook ahaha)</p>
<p>Oh woah, I confused 1st generation college with 1st generation U.S…geez, that made me blush.
Well, usually if you the school accepts more people of their home state, and it depends on the school type. I think perhaps its a different system with private schools (in fact I know it, but I’m not sure how it works). That said, the affect of being in the same state as a school would make little to no affect on you, so depending on it would be fruitless.</p>
<p>I would put that in an essay. Also, if you’ve any interest in volunteering abroad, it might be a good connection, especially if you can go to either of your parents’ home countries.</p>
<p>Hmm, never thought of that. I only visited each once, and i might be going back before high school is over for a few days, maybe i could squeeze in 10 hours or so, but with no relatives still living there, i doubt i would be allowed to go for a long period of time.</p>
<p>If both your parents are immigrants from very unknown places (Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan). Yes</p>
<p>Being bilingual?
Helps with your personal/social side (could be useful if you do an interview)</p>
<p>Having a physically handicapped parent?
Not sure; how about “My mother started having heart attacks and I stayed beside her after school everyday” or something in those lines?</p>
<p>First generation in the US. (What if only one parent went to college here?)
Neither of my parents went to college because they didn’t have the opportunities to; father immigrated to the U.S. in late 20s and made a living all on his own; mother had to help parents with laundry shop for rest of family to live off of (2 sisters went to UPenn, 1 brother went to Drexel, 1 sister went to Temple; all of them are college students but my mother). Yes, first generation helps.</p>
<p>“I started to think about these “hooks” because i always hear about URM, amazing athlete (National Level), legacy, geography, low income, first generation.”
I think you need to find something “extraordinary” or unique about yourself. For instance, I was diagnosed with ADD since the 3rd grade. I’m going to say straight off the bat that I am an intelligent person, but I’ve struggled with my condition for all my life. I’ve overcome it in the past years, but I’m still struggling with it. Definitely, I’ll be putting an emphasis on it in interview/essay.</p>
<p>Very interesting Cast. Thanks for the detailed insight! Hopefully i get a interview with a speaks my tounge haha! That happened once at a competition and i got scored very generously despite my project being pretty bad.</p>
<p>I believe so. My passion is 4n6 (Forensics), and i am in the running to be Student Congress Captain next year…</p>
<p>I will compete in Model Congress, Student Congress, and some speech events my soph year onward. This year is just the two Congresses, which i have one award in so far ata tourny at a decent college.</p>