What would be considered a "Hook"?

Mere2033

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I know that most of the academy's can only take half of the most qualified applicants and they all have amazing resumes. What makes one stand out over another? What applies as that"Hook" I hear mentioned?
 
Look in the mirror and ask.

Do I want to be an Officer in the United States Army?

Do I have the moral foundation to lead?

Will I uphold the Constitution of the United States?

Its the way you carry yourself and how you interact with others.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
It's interesting that you say this because I have a high school student in my class that is an absolute "monster." Behavior issues through the roof. He shows up in my class every Wednesday in his ROTC uniform and I shake my head in disappointment. I finally couldn't stand it anymore, went to his commanding officer and reported this students behavior and told him this student is representing the whole military institution while wearing his uniform and he's a disgrace. They cut him from the program! I feel really good. He's had many chances to correct his behavior, by the way.
 
I believe the OP is a mom of a USMA candidate DD. The OP is also is a professional educator.
 
My answers are based on the information asked. I did't know any more or any less. The more detailed information given the more correct an answer can be given. If I offended, I apologize.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
It's interesting that you say this because I have a high school student in my class that is an absolute "monster." Behavior issues through the roof. He shows up in my class every Wednesday in his ROTC uniform and I shake my head in disappointment. I finally couldn't stand it anymore, went to his commanding officer and reported this students behavior and told him this student is representing the whole military institution while wearing his uniform and he's a disgrace. They cut him from the program! I feel really good. He's had many chances to correct his behavior, by the way.

Your student may want to consider enlisting in Marine Corp. Or you can encourage him to look into it. There are a number of youtube videos that could get him excited about the idea. However, the Marines are picky, but let them decide that.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
I apologize for not being clear. Yes, My DD is applying and for my own curiosity I like know what makes an applicant stand out. I see so much of the high GPA and test scores along with sports, etc... I just though what else makes an applicant really stand out?
Thanks!
 
What applies as that"Hook" I hear mentioned?
What the academies are looking for is well known - excellent grades and test scores, outstanding leadership/character, and strong athletics. Every cadet will have these in varying degrees and some cadets will be admitted because they are superior in one category, even if they are borderline in the others. For example, USMA targets the class composition to consist of a desired percentage of scholars (academic score above a specified number) and leaders (leadership score above a specified number). These are not hooks; they are based on superior ability in a measured criterion.

"Hook" is a slang term used by some in the college admissions process. It refers to an attribute, outside of the merit-based criteria making up the WCS, that gives an applicant an advantage in admissions. Hooks at USMA can be identified by the categories for which USMA tracks the number of admitted cadets with WCS scores below a designated score. These are recruited athletes, enlisted soldiers/USMAPS, minorities, and women.
 
A "Hook" in my mind is also something that makes your candidate different. Sometimes it can be an adversity that was overcome. IE: one young man that we were helping was home schooled. One morning during his senior year his Mother dropped dead in front of him, with a heart attack. He went and got a Job and helped support his family while Dad was in a bad way. Later he got himself enrolled in a private school, having earned his own tuition and re-did Junior and Senior Year. . . . played Football etc... So a great story, that drew people in.

We live Rural, so a great lack of AP courses, limited clubs and activities, poor academics, etc...My Son wrote his essay about working Cattle and how staring down an angry Bull gave him courage to be a soldier, also how he felt like the "Service Academies" were for those other types of Kids, until he began his quest and realized that he could be that kind of leader that was needed. I believe that his quiet humility and dignity, together with Letters that stressed his compassion and caring for fellow students (He leads from the middle) caught their interest.

So a "Hook" while it may sound callous, is a marketing angle. What makes "YOU" Different, from all those others.

High grades and test scores are a big yawn to these folks, they see them all day long.

I want to believe that they are also looking for that Kid who slows down, paces, and encourages that lagging exhausted Plebe, VS that natural athlete who races ahead finishes first and then stands there looking smug while everyone else drags in. Probably just kidding myself there.
 
That is what I imagined. I know the grades and tests scores are there. That's how these kids made it so far. Now there must be something that sets them apart.
Thanks for the feed back.
 
Oh another one that always comes to mind, if someone could help me with the link. A young lady wrote her essay in first Person about running and training. It was SO good you could just feel her sweat and were right there with her! I am thinking Mom is still on forum?
 
A "Hook" in my mind is also something that makes your candidate different.
Good point. It's a question of semantics. I was referring to what many admissions counselors and writers on the subject refer to as "hooked" applicants - applicants that are admitted with lower objective scores than other applicants; some estimate that at a typical competitive college over 40% of the spaces in an incoming class are accounted for by applicants in "hooked" categories - legacies, development cases (big donors), recruited athletes, minorities, and any other category a college decides to treat preferentially.

Every candidate should find a hook in terms of what sales people refer to as a "unique selling proposition" and highlight that aspect of their application. But that in some way converts to WCS points through activities, evaluations, leadership scores, etc. USMA doesn't offer a candidate with a lower WCS an appointment over one with a higher WCS until they get past the first 150 on the NWL - then spaces are very limited and the "hooks" mentioned previously become a dominant factor. (of course they have to work within the confines of MOC districts, principal nominees, etc).
 
I think my DD's hook might be her time spent at a Paramilitary Academy. She left mid sophomore year when they decided to experiment with the curriculum and try something unique but DD was not in the position to be a guinea pig since she had two years left of high school. Luckily, there was one spot available in a little college prep high school and she snagged it. I think she cried herself to sleep for a month when she left the Academy as that was where she made the decision to enter the Military world. She still addresses adults "Ma'am, yes Ma'am, Sir, no sir." It was an amazing experience and the discipline gained was invaluable.
 
What applies as that"Hook" I hear mentioned?

Curious where you heard that? One thing you will find about applying to SA's is there are no lack of opinions/hunches/rumors about the application process from people who probably have no idea what they are talking about. There is no one magical sport/ECA/activity that will get you an appointment. The WCS is designed to look at the sum total of things the applicant has accomplished during h.s. Each candidate is different and just because someone who got an appointment did X doesn't mean everyone else should.
 
USMA doesn't offer a candidate with a lower WCS an appointment over one with a higher WCS until they get past the first 150 on the NWL - then spaces are very limited and the "hooks" mentioned previously become a dominant factor. (of course they have to work within the confines of MOC districts, principal nominees, etc).

A little off topic for this thread, but what determines "the first 150 on the NWL"? Is it the principal nominee from each of the nominating sources for a state? 3 x 50 = 150?
 
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