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I've been reading around and it seems like once you've acquired a high SAT score... 1450+ I guess and a high GPA and all that stuff you're just like thousands of other applicants trying to get into top schools. But, a "hook," as some people call it, is what makes you stand out, right? I'm guessing this is a talent, or an extraordinary award or honor. My question is, what would you consider "outstanding"? Could I use such things as being selected to Region, All State, All Eastern, and All National Choirs as this type of talent? I'm also a male Indian Classical dancer, one of very few in the U.S. Is this, too, a "hook"? I'm sort of confused...

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 09:40 am: Edit

national fame: u.s. math team (like 12 people), westinghouse/intel finalist. things like that.

By Midnightdanzer (Midnightdanzer) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 11:16 pm: Edit

winner of national geography bee or something

By Yz16 (Yz16) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 01:36 am: Edit

in other words most of us are screwed ; ).

joking.

indian male dancer is definitely unique. Was surfing around on an ivy-league uni site, and there was a paragraph boasting about its diversity. One element of the list was a 'female indian traditional dancer'...you would know better than I but i think male would be even more remarkable.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 03:49 am: Edit

One of the schools in the Five College consortium--I think it's Amherst--has a dance instructor in kalikatha (sp.?) dance.

Fwiw.

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 06:18 pm: Edit

Oh, you mean kathakali, hehe I see. That's awesome. Well I'm hoping these things add a little to my application.

By Jimjunior (Jimjunior) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 10:14 pm: Edit

it's bogus if you only call outstanding acheivements a national award. Saying a mathlete has to be a IMO participant is dumb when usamo qualification is an amazing achievement

By Musictoad (Musictoad) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 10:06 am: Edit

what about a scholarship from a major opera company? would that be considered an outstanding achievement?

By Beenthereil (Beenthereil) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Agree Jim.

Certainly, music.

Chess, soccer and band aren't the only quality EC's.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Outstanding can mean deep pursuit of a passion you have for a subject or extracurricular activity. I'm sure you've heard about this already. But if you're interested in science, for instance, join Intel competitions, relate community service with science, take science courses at a university, write a scientific book or an article for a journal, and so forth. Then, that will be unique and the schools will characterize you as having unusual interest/aptitude/talent for/in science.

By Crnchycereal (Crnchycereal) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 06:37 pm: Edit

Spiffy, being selected to Regional choir is commendable in and of itself, but getting into All-State, All-Easter, and All-NATIONAL is incredibly impressive. You must be one amazing singer. Haha, the farthest anyone got from our school was this kid who made 3rd tenor in All-State. But, anyway, making it into those incredibly competitive choirs is sure to impress admissions officers. You should really concentrate on the choir and dance in your essay and application.

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 11:55 pm: Edit

Thanks Crnchycereal! Hehe, I do ok. Yes, I was thinking of incorporating these things into my essay.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:37 pm: Edit

I read a profile of a person that belongs to the All-American Team and he/she was an Indian classical dancer.