<p>@zenkoan It seems to me that the definition of a hook has changed since applied, or the forum has adopted a very specific definition of the term. When I was applying to colleges, a hook was anything that made you stand out from the field. It could be something truly outstanding in and of itself (summiting the world’s seven highest peaks before your 18th birthday O.O) or something that defines you that may not be really unique but that you could spin in a way that will grab the committee’s attention. By that definition, I think the OP could possibly make his interest into a compelling hook if he spins it the right way. </p>
<p>I think that when you’re considering a school’s institutional goals, you need to think about how the school identifies itself. An important part of Stanford’s identity is the Renaissance man/woman. They love their well-rounded students and place a high premium on interdisciplinary thinking, which is embodied by the Silicon Valley gurus who combine technical know-how with social awareness and business smarts. I think you could argue then that this is an institutional goal for Stanford, and with more work and the right spin the OP could, by your definition, have a hook.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to offer the OP encouragement that will inflate his expectations to unrealistic levels, but I do think that he can improve his chances using what he has, whether it’s a hook or something that just makes him memorable. At the very least I hope we can agree that it’s better to be memorable without a hook than to be unmemorable and hookless :)</p>