What makes a strong hook for a college essay?
I've started brainstorming my Common App essay, but I'm really stuck on how to grab the reader's attention from the very first sentence. Everyone keeps saying the 'hook' is super important and can set your whole essay apart, but I'm not really sure what that actually looks like in practice.
Are there certain strategies or types of openings that work better than others? For example, is it better to start with dialogue, a surprising fact, or jump straight into the action? I'd love to hear examples or advice from anyone who's already gone through this process or has tips from teachers/counselors.
I'm worried my essay will sound generic if I get this part wrong, so any suggestions for what makes a hook really stand out would be awesome!
Are there certain strategies or types of openings that work better than others? For example, is it better to start with dialogue, a surprising fact, or jump straight into the action? I'd love to hear examples or advice from anyone who's already gone through this process or has tips from teachers/counselors.
I'm worried my essay will sound generic if I get this part wrong, so any suggestions for what makes a hook really stand out would be awesome!
4 months ago
•
61 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Great question! Getting the hook right can definitely make your essay pop and pull the reader in from the start. A strong hook isn’t just about being flashy—it’s about creating curiosity, emotion, or a vivid scene that makes the admissions reader want to know more about you specifically.
Here are some common strategies for hooks and how you might use them:
1. Start in the middle of the action (in medias res): Plunging your reader directly into a moment can be very engaging. For example, "The smell of burning rubber filled the garage as I frantically twisted the wrench, praying this would start the engine." This immediately raises questions: Why is this person in a garage? What's at stake?
2. Dialogue: Kicking off with a piece of dialogue lets the reader hear your voice right away. For example, "'Sit down—you’re in big trouble,' my coach whispered." Just make sure the dialogue is meaningful and sets up the theme of your essay.
3. A surprising or quirky fact about yourself: This can be fun and memorable if it feels authentic, like, "I’ve memorized the shape of every cloud I saw during my first ten years."
4. Vivid sensory detail: Paint a picture that draws your reader into your world. For example, "The scent of cardamom and cloves filled our kitchen, marking the start of Eid each year." This not only sets a scene, but hints at something personal and unique.
5. Thought-provoking question: Asking a question that you address in your essay can get the reader thinking. For example, "What do you do when both sides of your family want you to be someone different?"
No matter which strategy you use, the key is that the hook has to be authentic to you. It should connect to the main story or insight you plan to share, not just serve as a one-liner to shock or amuse the reader. Avoid generic hooks like dictionary definitions or vague statements ("Ever since I was young, I’ve been passionate about helping others").
A great rule of thumb: If someone else could easily use your opening sentence for their own essay, it’s probably not specific or original enough. Instead, aim for a moment, detail, or question that only you could tell.
Remember, you can always write your main story first and then craft the hook later to fit the tone and theme you’ve set. Sometimes the best hooks come from details already buried in your draft.
Try a few different openings and share them with people you trust. See which grabs their attention and feels most you. Good luck—you’ve got this!
Here are some common strategies for hooks and how you might use them:
1. Start in the middle of the action (in medias res): Plunging your reader directly into a moment can be very engaging. For example, "The smell of burning rubber filled the garage as I frantically twisted the wrench, praying this would start the engine." This immediately raises questions: Why is this person in a garage? What's at stake?
2. Dialogue: Kicking off with a piece of dialogue lets the reader hear your voice right away. For example, "'Sit down—you’re in big trouble,' my coach whispered." Just make sure the dialogue is meaningful and sets up the theme of your essay.
3. A surprising or quirky fact about yourself: This can be fun and memorable if it feels authentic, like, "I’ve memorized the shape of every cloud I saw during my first ten years."
4. Vivid sensory detail: Paint a picture that draws your reader into your world. For example, "The scent of cardamom and cloves filled our kitchen, marking the start of Eid each year." This not only sets a scene, but hints at something personal and unique.
5. Thought-provoking question: Asking a question that you address in your essay can get the reader thinking. For example, "What do you do when both sides of your family want you to be someone different?"
No matter which strategy you use, the key is that the hook has to be authentic to you. It should connect to the main story or insight you plan to share, not just serve as a one-liner to shock or amuse the reader. Avoid generic hooks like dictionary definitions or vague statements ("Ever since I was young, I’ve been passionate about helping others").
A great rule of thumb: If someone else could easily use your opening sentence for their own essay, it’s probably not specific or original enough. Instead, aim for a moment, detail, or question that only you could tell.
Remember, you can always write your main story first and then craft the hook later to fit the tone and theme you’ve set. Sometimes the best hooks come from details already buried in your draft.
Try a few different openings and share them with people you trust. See which grabs their attention and feels most you. Good luck—you’ve got this!
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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