ZombieDante

I'm trying to prepare application season, and one of the steps is to take is to figure out my hook(s).

I am a black male who is currently the Design Editor of the school newspaper staff, I've won several state level awards for my writing, and I recently received 1st place for one of my feature stories. During my freshman summer I attended a journalism conference/workshop (though it was only meant for seniors and juniors), which also got me published in The Red Dirt Journal (an annual national paper). Another journalism award I received was during junior year in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards (state level). Also during my junior year I received "honorable mention" in the National Peace Essay contest.

So to summarize is having good writing skills a hook?

P.S. sorry for my horrible transition words, I'm really bad a making a list in paragraph form without getting repetitive.

experientiadocet

It's not what one would consider a hook, really, but rather a demonstrated area of interest and passion. When people refer to "hooks," they're talking URM, recruited athlete, stuff like that, not really EC-related things. Your awards are commendable and will be looked highly upon, but they don't fall under the conventional CC definition of a hook.

On the bright side, you do a have a hook: you're black.

Murphy600

Don't make a big deal about of being younger at workshop. They took several younger even an 8th grader and 6 sophomores, one freshman. Everybody gets in Red Dirt. Still writing is great! You have the URM hook and a talent

ZombieDante

I didn't think people knew about Red Dirt, but okay will do thanks you two

Is being chosen as a "Super Teen" in nextSTEP magazine, which meant I got a picture on the cover and a short bio about me in the magazine worth mentioning?

akebias

Yes, being a writer can be a hook - D1 got a targeted letter from Amherst because she won some national level writing prize - I would guess that most of the winners got a letter. However, like other mysteries in the college application process - you don't generally know which school makes it a high priority. You have to hope that the school you desire - desires your particular ability. Good luck!

moonchild

I think your passion and accomplishment in writing will be looked upon very favorably at a lot of colleges, especially those known for their humanities and arts strength, such as Amherst, Yale, Middlebury, and Williams. You might look into which schools might offer merit awards for those with your ability, such as Grinnell or Kenyon.

Even if being a writer isn't considered a "hook," writers are generally considered thoughtful young people who care about the world. After all, you write because you have something to say that you feel will make a difference.

Being from Oklahoma is also helpful! So many students are from the coasts- colleges always are looking for interesting kids from the heartland.

fauve

URM is a solid hook, and Oklahoma could be a nice "tip" of the scales. Now be sure to have top Critical Reading SAT scores, and if you need SAT IIs, include English Lit. Best of luck.

What schools are you considering?

ZombieDante

^Yeah I'm studying my butt off so that I can get a good score on the SAT.
I'm applying to Johns Hopkins, U Chicago, Case Western, Emory Oxford, Washington University in St. Loius, George Washington, and two safety schools.

RedSeven

URM is a hook. Writing is an EC, not a hook. In your case, it sounds like a strong EC.

The only way writing could start to cross over into a hook is if you've had a book professionally published.

fauve

Good luck on your tests, Zombie. If your scores reach some 700s, you might want to toss in an Ivy or two if they appeal to you. Fantastic financial aid is available for HYP admittees with demonstrated need.

ZombieDante

^Are these awards even that good though?