Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having a special talent isn’t a hook. It’s legacy, large donor, athletic recruit, urm, first Gen, and pell eligible

Winning a contest could be considered a hook depending on which contest and the school. Even academic contests count more to some schools than others.

Having a parent who is a celebrity or a top executive at a company of interest to a school could also count. Celebrities are like free advertising and are potential large donors (as opposed to a current large donor.) Senior execs at certain companies are also potential large donors, and also potential employers of students.

Yes if it’s a savvy school where career services and admissions are actually coordinated.

Traditionally, in admissions world, hook refers to recruited athlete, URM, legacy, development case. Hook does not refer to interest.

OP, what you are referring to is sometimes referred to as a "spike" though there may be other terms as well.

What about having an uncommon interest for a 17-year-old kid that has manifested itself in multiple different entrepreneurial endeavors?

No school EC for this interest tho.

Anonymous wrote:Having a special talent isn’t a hook. It’s legacy, large donor, athletic recruit, urm, first Gen, and pell eligible

Winning a contest could be considered a hook depending on which contest and the school. Even academic contests count more to some schools than others.

Having a parent who is a celebrity or a top executive at a company of interest to a school could also count. Celebrities are like free advertising and are potential large donors (as opposed to a current large donor.) Senior execs at certain companies are also potential large donors, and also potential employers of students.

Be forewarned that you have about 6 hours before your thread turns into a gripe fest.

Anything that is seen as both uncommon and generally beneficial could be a hook. So being a great chess player is good but being a famous chess YouTube vlogger is probably better.

Anonymous wrote:If you are #1 in the country in an obscure activity (e.g. rubiks cube solving, disc golf, ping pong) would that be a hook?

Do they have it on campus? Do they need more members? Maybe…

Anonymous wrote:Having a special talent isn’t a hook. It’s legacy, large donor, athletic recruit, urm, first Gen, and pell eligible

What about faculty kids?

Anonymous wrote:Having a special talent isn’t a hook. It’s legacy, large donor, athletic recruit, urm, first Gen, and pell eligible

I dont agree.
Unique interests which kid has been involved with over a long period of time used to be considered a hook.

Good luck with your thread, OP.

I think if the hook is something that can/will contribute to the campus experience. So something like World Champion Solitaire player might not be a strong hook. But world champion poker player might?

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to get a better picture of what some real niche or bespoke “hooks” actually look like?

Subject matters, interests or area of focus that are Not recruited athlete/ legacy/ donor/ child of faculty (or obv URM or FG).

Any examples this crowd can share?

My understanding is that none of these are classified as hooks.

Anonymous wrote:If you are #1 in the country in an obscure activity (e.g. rubiks cube solving, disc golf, ping pong) would that be a hook?

No

Having a special talent isn’t a hook. It’s legacy, large donor, athletic recruit, urm, first Gen, and pell eligible

If you are #1 in the country in an obscure activity (e.g. rubiks cube solving, disc golf, ping pong) would that be a hook?

Youth Poet Laureate for a state

Hoping to get a better picture of what some real niche or bespoke “hooks” actually look like?

Subject matters, interests or area of focus that are Not recruited athlete/ legacy/ donor/ child of faculty (or obv URM or FG).

Any examples this crowd can share?