Am I wrong to decline an application to the National Honor Society?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>This is my eleventh year in the United States (cyber) education system, and I'm looking to apply to Cambridge University (UK). </p>

<p>Recently, I was given the chance to apply for National Honor Society. Membership seemed valuable and beneficial. After further research? No, thank you. I don’t agree with the ideals and principles that motivate the group, nor does it require student commitment prior to acceptance. It's a bit aimless. My academic qualifications are beyond requirements, and I’m extremely passionate about the English course I’d like to study. Problem is–and please, regard this as anything but ignorance–I’ve dedicated more time to reading; writing; research projects; academics, rather than volunteering. </p>

<p>Essentially, I’ve given higher priority to school rather than community service. Although I’ve participated in bucket loads of extracurricular activities, they don’t emulate leadership. I’m confident that this is not what National Honor Society is looking for. To be honest, though, I’m also confident in my character – confident enough that I don’t require validation from five anonymous teachers, or words on a college application that prove such. </p>

<p>No matter what, a university application will spotlight my academic and extracurricular record. Really, I believe that demonstrating independent thought and logically composing an argument against NHS will fare better in the interview process. </p>

<p>Do you agree, or should I still apply to NHS?
Thank you so much for your time! Happiest of New Year's wishes. x</p>

2

<p>I think you can find many better things to do with your time than NHS. I would be shocked if someone questioned the absence of this from your r</p>

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<p>NHS is not what I expected it to be when my D joined. I expected more commitment and dedication then what is demanded from each student. I find that 10 hours of volunteer work is too easy and if they want to make it a prestigious thing…they should up the qualifications and require more of the members. We have kept our D in because it does look good on her resume and she already took senior pics in her gold gown. LOL!! :smiley: But on a serious note…if you don’t want to join and it doesn’t matter to you then don’t. But in the end it does look good on the resume…………………IMO By the way my D has little time for volunteer work but because of NHS she had to make time and she ended up loving spending time with a volunteer dog adoption…………</p>

4

<p>Serious… Why not just sign up and not do anything for it… I have no idea why you’re so against it. No offense but if I was reading about you arguing against NHS and why you didn’t join, I would think that you’re just some stuck up nerd that is trying to prove his dominance by not joining. Anyways its not a big deal if you’re not in it, and don’t make it a big deal by writing about it.</p>

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<p>At top schools, pretty much everyone admitted is eligible for NHS, so it doesn’t make an applicant at that level distinctive. If you decide not to join, you should not spend time in any interview talking about that. You should use interviews to talk about the things you accomplished and what motivates you, not the opportunities you passed on regardless of how well founded your reasoning.</p>

6

<p>Forgot to clarify that I would only discuss NHS if the interviewer mentioned it. Wouldn’t dream of initiating that kind of discussion from out of the blue. :slight_smile: Sorry about that!</p>

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<p>Just to clarify, I’m not against it. I don’t think it is meaningless as an honor, just that if you strongly believe your time and energy are better spent elsewhere, then go for it. But I still can’t imagine an interviewer raising the subject.</p>