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  • 🍦 Today's Scoops: How to write hooks for you essays (Sep 17)

🍦 Today's Scoops: How to write hooks for you essays (Sep 17)

Also, all about the University of Waterloo and this week's Essay of the Week

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Scholar Scoops Admin
September 17, 2024

Good morning folks! We’ve been busy the last two days focusing on our content and reviewing our processes to make sure you’re always getting the best admissions information-related information. Here’s what we have today:

  1. School of the Day: University of Waterloo

  2. Admissions Blueprint: Guide to writing killer essay hooks

  3. Essay of the Week: “Handyman” personal statement

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of Waterloo

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (2 hours from Toronto)
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 35,000
📊 Acceptance Rate: 45% (varies by department)
💸 Tuition: CAD$42,000 to CAD$63,000 per year depending on the program (International)
📅 Admission Options: November 1 (Early Action), January 15 (Regular Decision)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Engineering (24%), Social Sciences (13%), Computer Science (10%) (Scoir)

Some positives

⚙️ Strong Engineering and Computer Science Programs: Waterloo is world-renowned for its engineering and computer science programs. The Faculty of Engineering offers cutting-edge facilities such as the Sedra Student Design Centre, while the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science consistently ranks among the best globally for its innovation and research.

💼 Co-op Program: Waterloo is famous for its co-op program, the largest of its kind in the world. Students alternate between academic terms and paid work placements, gaining valuable industry experience and building connections with employers before they graduate. One possible downside is that the co-op program usually means graduating can take around 5 years due to the many months spent working.

🛠️ Velocity Startup Incubator: Waterloo’s Velocity incubator is one of Canada’s most successful startup ecosystems, offering students and alumni support for launching their ventures, with many companies going on to attract significant funding.

💻 Hack the North: Waterloo hosts Hack the North, one of the largest hackathons in the world. This event draws thousands of students from across the globe and hundreds of representatives from top employers like Capital One, Shopify, and Google. Hackers have the chance to network, collaborate, and showcase their skills in front of potential employers, offering unparalleled opportunities for career growth and innovation.

📚 Research and Innovation: Waterloo has a strong emphasis on research, particularly in fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology. For example, the university is home to the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), a world leader in quantum research.

Some negatives

💸 High Co-op Placement Pressure: Although Waterloo’s co-op program is a major draw, the pressure to secure multiple work placements can be stressful for some students. The competition for top placements is intense, particularly in highly sought-after fields like software engineering.

📚 Heavy Academic Workload: Waterloo’s strong academic programs, particularly in engineering and computer science, come with a notoriously heavy workload, which can lead to a stressful environment for students balancing co-op, classes, and personal time.

🏙️ Campus Location: Waterloo is located in a relatively quiet, suburban area, which may not appeal to students seeking a bustling urban environment. Entertainment and social life options are more limited compared to larger cities.

💰 Tuition for International Students: While tuition for domestic students is competitive, international students face relatively high tuition fees, making affordability a challenge for many.⬤

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Guide to writing hooks for your essays

Your essay’s hook is like the first taste of popcorn in a movie theater: it sets the tone, pulls you in, and makes you want more. But how do you create that irresistible first bite? Here’s how to transform your essay openings from “meh” to memorable:

1. Start with a Question 🤔

Questions spark curiosity. They make readers stop and think, drawing them into your story. Make it thought-provoking, not too obvious. For example, instead of “What is success?” try “How does one measure success when everything seems to fall apart?”

2. Paint a Vivid Picture 🎨

Drop your reader into the action with imagery. Create a scene so vivid they can see it in their mind. Rather than, “I faced a big challenge,” try, “The cold air bit at my fingers as I struggled to keep my balance on the ice.”

3. Use a Surprising Fact or Statistic 📊

Shock value is real! Start your essay with an unexpected fact or stat related to your topic. For example: “By the time you finish reading this sentence, 20,000 plastic bottles have been sold.” That gets the reader thinking and wanting to know more about how it ties into your story.

4. Open with Dialogue 🗣️

Dialogue brings immediacy and realism to your opening. It’s like listening in on a conversation you weren’t invited to—but now you can’t walk away. For example: “You’re crazy if you think you can start a company at 16,” she said. Now, the reader is hooked to know more.

5. Make a Bold Statement 💥

A strong, confident statement can instantly engage your reader. Don’t be afraid to make a claim that demands attention, such as: “Failure is the best teacher I’ve ever had, and no one taught me that better than my worst enemy.” It’s bold, it’s personal, and it begs for explanation.

6. Use a Personal Anecdote 👶

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in writing. An anecdote that ties to your larger point makes the reader feel invested in your journey. Share a personal, yet relatable moment: “In the fourth grade, I failed my first test. I stared at the giant red ‘F’ and wondered if it would follow me forever.”

Quick Tips ⚡

  • Keep it short and snappy: A good hook doesn’t drag; it grabs attention fast.

  • Avoid clichĂŠs: “Once upon a time” or “It was a dark and stormy night” should stay in storybooks.

  • Test it on friends or family: If it makes them want to keep reading, you’re onto something good!

A killer hook sets the tone for the rest of your essay, so make it count! Get creative, show your personality, and reel them in. 🎣

ESSAY OF THE WEEK
“Handyman” personal statement

I’ve been the “handyman” of the house for as long as I can remember. I started out, armed with a roll of duct tape looped around my chubby child arms as I marched about the house, waiting for my mother to call on me. In those days, I didn’t know much about the technical details but knew the phrase “duct tape fixes everything.” My dad would say it as I helped my mother fix tears in folders, boxes, and even a picture frame.

I picked up sewing around third grade, when my younger sister had started to get a bit too rough with her stuffed toys. I had gotten the gist, practicing on scrap fabric, before opening shop to the slew of well-loved but torn stuffed toys me and my sister shared. My stitchwork became so good, my mother would ask that I mend and alter some of her clothes. I remember the feeling of the pin pricking my finger every time I let the needle slip, but I also know the feeling of accomplishment as the mended toys were returned to my sister, and the altered clothes fit my mother like a glove.

Carpentry became my next venture, thanks to our two large dogs, Jake and Elwood. They were lovable oafs that would try to peek through the fence at passersby. However, since they were the size of grown men, they wore down the boards and eventually broke through the fence. My father and I spent the weekend removing worn boards, measuring, obtaining new wood, and skillfully cutting and nailing replacements. The project taught me to handle larger materials. I even challenged myself to build an outdoor table and seat using the remaining boards, taking care to stain the wood and sand sharp edges. I felt a jolt of victory when my dad had sat down and the wood had not collapsed beneath him.

Entering high school, my desire to continue building led me to the school’s robotics team, introducing me to 3D modeling and printers. Proficiency in CAD and the school’s printers fueled my ambition to expand my skills beyond school projects. After extensive research and persuasion, my dad invested in a 3D printer, enabling me to create replacements for furniture, hooks, and even crafting personal items like a sock drawer organizer and a cat toy. Requests from friends, like modeling and printing a vacuum switch replacement, added a new dimension to my handiness.

My handyman journey extended to auto mechanics in sophomore year when I took the reins of the family’s aging 1993 Ford F250. Despite its challenges—poor mileage and years of wear and tear—I refused to let it fail. Not long into driving the truck, the speedometer stopped working, and there was a clunking sound when it drove. After heavy inspection, we found that the speed sensor had come apart and lodged itself in the rear differential. As my father was getting old and not as spry as he used to be, he relied on me to open the differential and grab the piece, before flushing out metal shards and installing a new sensor. A year after the sensor failure, the suspension started to fail, requiring new shocks. The truck was a cycle of things breaking and being fixed, but it also taught me the more common skills of routine oil changes and how to jump start the battery.

In the end, my journey as the household “handyman” has been a continuous evolution. From early days with duct tape to mastering sewing, carpentry, 3D printing, and auto mechanics, each skill acquired has not only enhanced my technical prowess but also cultivated a sense of responsibility and determination. The diverse challenges I’ve tackled have molded my growth, instilling a resilient spirit that thrives on the joy of learning through hands-on experience.

Sarah D., ’28, John Hopkins Admission Department: https://apply.jhu.edu/hopkins-insider/being-the-handyman/

Our Comments

Sarah’s essay showcases how even seemingly ordinary tasks can reflect deeper qualities like adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving. By framing her experiences as her household’s “handyman,” she demonstrates that personal growth and meaningful contributions don’t always come from major achievements—they can stem from everyday challenges. Her resourcefulness and eagerness to learn show how she takes initiative and seeks solutions, qualities that will be valuable in any college environment. This essay also highlights the importance of storytelling; Sarah’s anecdotes bring her personality to life and reveal her sense of community and service without explicitly stating them.

Takeaways for Your Own Essay:

  • Focus on personal growth, even through everyday tasks or small challenges.

  • Highlight qualities like adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving through storytelling.

  • Use specific anecdotes to reveal deeper values rather than directly stating them.

  • Show how your unique skills will contribute to a college community.

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

Every Wednesday, we update the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Wednesdays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Robertson Scholars - This merit-based scholarship by the Julian H. Robertson, Jr. Fund provides around 25 students admitted to Duke or UNC Chapel Hill with full-ride scholarships. Application for high school seniors is open now and is due November 15. The only requirement to apply is that you are applying to either Duke or UNC.

Hemingway App - This app can help you simplify and clarify your writing, ensuring your college essays are clear and impactful. It has a very easy-to-use interface but also has quality feedback.

NACAC’s College Admissions Decoded Podcast (Apple Music, Spotify) - NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, runs this podcast to help break down the facts, myths, and rules of engagement for today’s college landscape.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Important testing dates are coming up!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

September ACT: Saturday, September 14
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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