The Power of the Hook : Part 2

The College Hook: Packaging Yourself to Win the College Admissions Game
By Pam Proctor

(Page 2 of 4)

Now, some students might have heard this advice and dismissed it out of hand. Others might have been intrigued by the prospect of doing a portfolio, but when it came down to actually putting one together, they would have shelved the idea until they had "more time." Still others might have begun the project, but then, when the difficulties of the task confronted them, they would have abandoned the effort altogether. Josh's strength - the secret to his ultimate success - was that he jumped right in, started working, and never gave up.

On the advice of his mentor, the professional photographer for whom he had worked the previous summer, he decided to keep the project simple. He came up with a plan to do a series of black-and-white portraits of the members of his class.

Using a camera borrowed from his mentor, Josh set up shop in his living room and rigged up lights and reflective backdrops. Then, every Saturday for the next three months, he scheduled individual portrait sittings for members of his class. Although there were only a small number of students in his graduating class, the project required extensive coordination, as Josh had to juggle schedules for classmates who lived all over New York City. Inevitably, when their Saturday appointment rolled around, kids would call to cancel, and some wouldn't show up at all.

But Josh didn't give up. He kept calling, nudging, and browbeating his friends until they found their way to his doorstep. Working slowly and methodically, he carefully posed each student and gave directions on the facial expression he felt would best set off the student's personality. Some laughed. Some were serious. Some just hinted at a smile. Next Josh positioned the lights, making subtle adjustments to create just the right chiaroscuro effect.

One by one, the portraits started coming together. Stepping into his darkroom to develop the first few shots, Josh watched amazed as portrait after portrait emerged from the chemicals with images so powerful they needed no further explanation. There was Lucy, the bookish Hispanic, looking like she was ready to give a lecture; Phil, the class clown, whose eyes twinkled with some inner joke; Tom, the basketball star, whose lanky frame extended the entire length of the photo.

Josh had caught the personality of each student just as he had intended, and even he was bowled over by his accomplishment. "I knew my photos were good," he said. "I just didn't know how good."

Week by week, as the photography project progressed, Josh's academic life started to come together as well. He started turning in his homework on time. He edited his English and history papers instead of merely handing in a first draft. And he set aside ample time to study for exams. By the end of October, when first-quarter grades were posted, Josh couldn't believe the results: For the first time in his high school career, he had made the honor roll!

The next two months were a whirlwind as Josh completed his photo shoots, kept studying for the SAT, and worked on his applications, taking care to communicate his Hook clearly every chance he could.

Take the essays, for example. Josh made sure that one of the essays for the Common Application focused on his passion for photography. What made this essay a winner wasn't just his personal anecdote about photographing children in China, which brought to life Josh's incredible eye for detail. Also compelling was Josh's intellectual bent, as he wove into the essay esoteric references to photographic icons such as Irving Penn and Vogue's Alexander Liberman. He used his essay adroitly to demonstrate his profound understanding of the history and art of photography.

Josh's message in his essay was clear: "I'm not just out there taking pictures," he seemed to be saying. "I'm an artist from a great tradition of artists."

Next, Josh attacked his activities list, a standard eight-line grid required by the Common Application and most other applications, which offers space for an abbreviated rundown of school and outside activities. Because the application directs students to list their activities in order of importance to them, Josh decided to position his photography Hook first to make it stand out. He realized that although his school leadership positions and community service work were impressive, they weren't unusual enough to deserve top billing.

Although Josh's list included other activities, ranging from Multicultural Club to volunteer custodial work at a synagogue to efforts to organize friends at a homeless shelter, his work as a photographer was the centerpiece. The guiding principle in devising such an activities list is that the list must not look like a "laundry list," but, rather, must highlight the Hook in some fresh way.

Josh used the same approach in listing his "work experience," another standard category on applications. In order to reiterate his Hook, he listed his photography job first:

Photography Intern (Name of Famous New York Photographer), Summer, Grade 11

Day Camp Counselor, Camp Sho-sho-nee, Summer, Grade 10

Running with a Résumé

Next came another vital part of Josh's application: the résumé. Often overlooked by students as a selling tool, the résumé gave Josh a way to highlight his photography and explain his achievements in more depth than he could on a short list of activities.

© 2007 by Pam Proctor

About the Author

Pam Proctor, a former senior editor of Parade, is the author of seven non-fiction books, including: Love, Miracles and Animal Healing, with Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M; Looking Good at Any Age, with dermatologist Amy E. Newburger, M.D; and The Joy of Living, with "Today Show" personality Willard Scott. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and holds a Master's degree in government from Claremont Graduate University. Pam Proctor lives in Vero Beach, Florida.