I am applying to NHS and my grades are all good and I have maintained a perfect GPA since the start of high school. I’ve also completed hundreds of volunteer hours, however, I admit that I have two warnings for plagiarism from the past that I have nothing but the utmost regret for doing. Will I even be considered for NHS because of those mistakes?
The Four Pillars of National Honor Society
Scholarship: Scholarship is characterized by a commitment to learning. A student is willing to
spend the necessary time to cultivate his/ her mind in the quest for knowledge. This pillar can
only be achieved through diligence and effort. Scholarship means always doing the best work
possible, regardless of impending reward.
Service: The pillar of service can be reached in a variety of ways. The willingness to work for
the benefit of those in need without compensation or recognition of any kind is a quality that is
essential in NHS members. As a service club, the National Honor Society is highly concerned
with giving its all to the school and community at large.
Leadership: Leaders take the initiative to aid others in a wholesome manner throughout their
daily activities. Leaders sacrifice their personal interests in order to yield to the needs of others.
Leaders need wisdom and self-confidence to affect change in all aspects of their lives. Some
examples of leadership can include, but are not limited to, leading group activities in the
classroom and in the community, being an officer in a club, being a primary member of the
band or choir, or being the captain of a sports team.
Character: Character is what distinguishes one individual from another. It is the product of
constant striving to make the right choices day after day. Students with good character
demonstrate respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship in all of
their actions.
- You would have to worry about the Character. You will find out soon enough.
- Colleges are less interested in the "title' of NHS than they are that you have good grades and have done service.
- Make sure you have learned the lesson about plagiarism...over on College Life there is a post by a student who was caught twice with plagiarism and is about to be kicked out of college the quarter before he graduates.
- It is never worth a better grade if you have to cheat/plagiarize to get it. Figure out what caused you to do that: Too many hard courses? Lazy?
it really depends on what your school chapter will do, so I might just ask them
Bottom line here is that National Honors Society is not that big of a deal. You see almost all applicants with it in the bigger and Ivy leagues. For plagiarizing, maybe the committee will not pick you. It depends which teachers are on the committee. If the teacher on the committee remembers that then you may not have access to the membership. Now as for the pillars, it is imperative that you have leadership as the top priority. I didn’t get in because I had only two leadership positions instead of three. Focus on what you can do now, not on what you did/ didn’t do.