How to Trick Colleges into Thinking You're Extraordinary

Summary

Accepted to Princeton, the narrator gives a candid, tactical guide to getting into Ivy League schools without traditional advantages. He explains how ‘hooked’ applicants (athletes, legacy, donors, or certain diversity categories) receive big admissions boosts, then shares his personal approach as an unhooked applicant: specialize deeply and become exceptional or uniquely the only person in a niche. He used a fine-arts portfolio and a focused language track—centered around one painting—as a cohesive narrative. The video emphasizes sacrifice, resourcefulness, creative niche-building (e.g., food science, masonry + academics), avoiding elitist shortcuts, and telling a memorable, unified story.

Takeaways

• 😀 A 'hook' in college admissions gives you a distinct advantage, with two main types: ALDC (connections/money) and diversity (underrepresented minorities, low-income families, etc.).
• 😀 Applicants with hooks have a significantly higher acceptance rate than those without. For example, ALDC applicants make up 6% of applicants but 30% of admits.
• 😀 Even without a hook, you can still get into top schools by being both well-rounded and extraordinary at one thing—your 'pointy' skill or interest.
• 😀 To stand out, aim to be exceptional at something rare, like being a national champion in a niche activity or excelling in a highly specialized academic field.
• 😀 Specializing in a unique niche, like fine arts combined with languages, can set you apart. The key is to stand out in a way that others aren’t doing.
• 😀 Niche specialization works better than being a generalist. For example, being the only person in your area excelling in a rare skill automatically makes you remarkable.
• 😀 Don’t just follow popular high school activities. Instead, focus on something unconventional and niche, like culinary science or ancient languages.
• 😀 Your college application should have a clear, focused theme. Listing random activities without a connecting idea will make your application forgettable.
• 😀 Use your personal story and passions to create a compelling narrative. A well-crafted essay about your niche can make your application unforgettable.
• 😀 Avoid listing family connections or elite experiences. Top schools are critical of applicants who seem to have everything handed to them. Show resourcefulness instead.

Q & A

What is a 'hook' in the college admissions process?

A 'hook' refers to a special advantage or characteristic that an applicant has, which can improve their chances of being accepted into top schools. Hooks can include being a recruited athlete, a child of alumni or donors, or contributing to the diversity of a school (e.g., being from an underrepresented minority or a low-income background).

How much of an advantage do hooks give applicants in the admissions process?

Applicants with hooks generally have much higher acceptance rates than the overall applicant pool. For example, ALDC (athletes, legacy, donors, children of faculty) applicants make up around 6% of the applicant pool but 30% of admits. Similarly, underrepresented minority and low-income applicants also see significantly higher acceptance rates compared to unhooked applicants.

What happens if you don't have a hook?

If you don't have a hook, you need to stand out in other ways. This typically means being exceptional in at least one area, and balancing that with being well-rounded in others. Applicants without hooks often face much lower acceptance rates, but it's still possible to succeed through a creative and strategic approach.

What does it mean to be 'pointy' in the college admissions context?

Being 'pointy' means that an applicant excels in one specific area to an extraordinary degree, on top of being well-rounded. For example, a chess grandmaster or an international Olympiad winner is considered pointy because they stand out as among the best in their field.

How can someone without a traditional hook still stand out in the admissions process?

One way to stand out without a traditional hook is to specialize in something rare or unconventional. For example, focusing on a unique niche or skill, like fine arts or a specific language, can make an applicant memorable and help them gain an edge.

What was the applicant's strategy for standing out in their Princeton application?

The applicant's strategy involved specializing in fine arts and languages, particularly East Asian and Western classical languages. They presented a highly focused application, with a unique fine arts portfolio, specialized language studies, and essays that tied these themes together, showcasing their expertise and interests.

How did the applicant use their painting as part of their college application?

The applicant used a painting as a central piece of their application, even though they considered it technically flawed. The painting was symbolic of their broader interests and showcased their unique niche in fine arts and languages. It was part of their broader theme, showing how different aspects of their identity tied together.

What makes niche specialization an effective strategy for college admissions?

Specializing in a niche makes it easier for admissions officers to remember your application, as it stands out from the typical, more general profiles. By demonstrating expertise in a specific area, applicants create their own 'hook' that helps them become memorable and compelling to schools.

Can you give an example of a niche that could help someone stand out in college admissions?

Yes, one example might be specializing in food science. A high school student could create a gourmet dining club or experiment with molecular gastronomy, combining a passion for biology with an intellectual pursuit. This unique combination would likely catch the attention of admissions officers.

What should applicants avoid in their college applications?

Applicants should avoid relying too heavily on family connections or elite opportunities that may come across as elitist. Admissions officers tend to be critical of anything that suggests privilege unless it’s offset by a strong hook. It's better to show resourcefulness and make the most of available public opportunities.