Jesus. I get this about my ballet dancer too. She dances 20+ hours a week because she loves it. Maybe she’ll try to join a company. Maybe she’ll got to college. It’s not about the “end game.” She’s not doing it for colleges. She’s doing it for her.

Anonymous wrote:Traditionally, "hook" refers to athletic recruit, URM, legacy, developmental admit. An activity is not a hook - the exception is athletic recruitment, though I'm not aware of colleges giving admission preferences for Irish dance recruits.

Nonetheless, it may make an applicant seem interesting.

+1 and bolded.

Interesting activities make for interesting applications. Interesting applications are more likely to go from WL to A than uninteresting ones.

I know many girls who have competed in Irish Dance competitions for years. I don’t think of it as particularly unique or a hook.

Its an EC to which the kid has shown commitment. That's not a hook, its a serious EC.

What a sad worldview that parents must have an "endgame" for their children's activities.

Traditionally, "hook" refers to athletic recruit, URM, legacy, developmental admit. An activity is not a hook - the exception is athletic recruitment, though I'm not aware of colleges giving admission preferences for Irish dance recruits.

Nonetheless, it may make an applicant seem interesting.

It's just something they love, maybe? If you are good enough to tour with one of the big shows, that's a hook. There are some teens that get asked to tour with Michael Flatley or with Riverdance.

Only at Notre Dame.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In parts of the northeast, doing irish dance is as normal as doing ballet.

Every club or activity doesn't have to have an "end game."

Amen!

There are some very good colleges with Irish dance teams (Villanova, for example), so they COULD have a long-range plan, but they could also be doing it for joy and fun.

Still have my soft shoes!

Anonymous wrote:In parts of the northeast, doing irish dance is as normal as doing ballet.

Every club or activity doesn't have to have an "end game."

Amen!

There are some very good colleges with Irish dance teams (Villanova, for example), so they COULD have a long-range plan, but they could also be doing it for joy and fun.

A sustained commitment to any activity, especially if it results in notable achievement, will help an application.

Not sure it's a "hook" per se. There's nothing the university gets out of versus, say, recruiting an All-American hockey goalie.

It's a hook in that it shows consistent dedication, perseverance, confidence, etc. I was a dancer since the age of 5, world qualifier, routinely placed at nationals (though not top 10 or anything), and I know that it helped get me noticed and then accepted in both undergrad and law school. As a PP had mentioned, I had hand-written notes on my acceptance letters specifically mentioning Irish dance. I also did other sports in high school in which I excelled, but I wasn't going to be an athletic recruit by any means. Irish dance is just another extracurricular activity, but it does provide some fairly unique opportunities - international travel, high-profile performances, fun dance "tricks."

No. It’s a sport….populated mostly by rich white kids. It’s because they love dance and if they dance multiple long practices, it’s because they love competing…and maybe wigs, and sparkles, and dance friends, and trophies and sashes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious because a family I know is heavily into it. Multiple 2-3 hour practices per week. Don’t know them well enough to ask what their endgame is so I thought I’d ask here.

not every activity is chosen just for the college resume

I’m not saying it is. I’m just asking if it’s considered a hook.