<p>Here's some basic information about me:
I'm a Junior, 3.97 unweighted GPA (I had an A- in IB Math 1 last year), IB Diploma Candidate, no SAT score yet (taking it in December) - but I got around 2000 when I took the practice SAT, I'm hoping I can improve my SAT score to 2200 or above</p>
<p>From what I've heard, NHS is different from school to school. Sometimes it means a lot, but other times it means nothing at all. I am currently a member of NHS at my high school, but I think I will have to leave because of the restrictive ways they require hours to me completed. I already do service on my own time, but NHS requires us to tutor at specific times afterschool, which I know I will be unable to attend. They also make us do campus clean up, but those are also after school at specific times which I also cannot make due to other extra curricular activities. They do hours by semester, but I can't go to any of their tutoring or clean up sessions for 1st semester because I'm stage managing the winter play and I have to be at rehearsal everyday after school until 7.</p>
<p>I guess what I'm asking is how important NHS is when it comes to college admissions? All it really is at this point is another title for my application that doesn't mean I've done anything extra (I already have plenty of hours from IB Diploma, theater, and being president of rocketry club, managing a TARC Team). Will it really matter when applying to Columbia (my dream school) that I don't have NHS on my application? I am extremely involved in other EC activities as I mentioned before. I've tried to focus on quality, not quantity, for ECs. I also volunteer for the Pacific Science Center in the summer, and I'm applying for several internship and volunteering opportunities this summer that are also related to science (I want to major in Biology). I'm also really into the local Seattle music and art scene. I've also taken art classes since I was in Kindergarten. </p>
<p>What do you think about my situation? Should I leave NHS? Is there anything I can work on to improve my chances of getting accepted to Columbia (I think I will do early action if that makes a difference)?</p>
<p>Although the activities vary school to school the selection process is standardized and, according to what I’ve read, involves a secret panel of three teachers who approve membership. The NHS teacher sponsor is not a member of the panel. Having said that, your selection is meaningful and not just due to your GPA - it reflects well on you character. If you stop participating, you can always list NHS with the explanation that you “withdrew as a member due to conflicting commitments”.</p>
<p>As an NHS member, I know for a fact that it means next to nothing. Test scores or GPA are infinitely more superior. That being said, it won’t make a difference ESPECIALLY for Columbia (a place where a URM athlete with perfect SAT scores and weekly volunteering can be neatly rejected) so I would focus on ECs and making yourself standout. NHS is more of a parent’s bragging rights than anything nowadays. </p>
<p>NHS has no bearing on college admissions. However, being active in your school and community, as well as reaching a certain level of excellence in your chosen field, is very important.
You may want to read <em>How to be a high school superstar</em> by Cal Newport.</p>
<p>I already got accepted to NHS, and my school does admissions a little differently than what Keesh17 is saying. It’s basically GPA that gets you invited to join, and then there are some short answer questions for acceptance. Anyone who applies gets in, so it’s not a big deal at my school at all. There are about 120 kids in NHS, most of which are from my class. NHS doesn’t do anything for the school or community either. They do tutoring, but no one actually goes to the tutoring sessions. I think it makes more sense for me to focus on ECs that I actually enjoy and make a difference in my school and community. It’s not like I don’t volunteer or tutor, NHS just has a weird system set up that makes it impossible for me to get hours that they will count. </p>
<p>So, you don’t think it will hurt my college prospects to leave NHS? I can still say I was accepted but had to withdraw due to schedule complications like Keesh17 said. </p>
<p>nhs is not gonna stand out as much as some your other ec’s will. withdrawing from it isn’t gonna kill your application, primarily because being in it isn’t bolstering your application</p>