I’m ranked 11 in my class of roughly 400, I have an unweighted 4.0 and meet all of the qualifications to join NHS, and more. I’m going to be a junior next year, and something was messed up in my homeroom and I was never invited to join NHS, but I spoke to my counselor about it and she said I could definitely join this coming year. does it matter which year you join nhs? I’ve been very apprehensive, and anxious about how it may affect my applications.
I saw somewhere on this site that roughly 1 in 15 HS students in the US are in NHS. And at some schools–for example, mine–almost NOTHING gets done.
If you’re going to do NHS, try to be a super active member or hold a leadership position. Otherwise, spend your time doing something meaningful.
Join this upcoming school year - it will be fine. Don’t worry.
@awesomepolyglot I completely understand that, but I know it does look good on college apps, and I don’t know if the year has any importance? i’m in NSHSS, but I’m also trying to start some hispanic organizations at my majority-white school. thanks for the advice!
NSHSS is ridiculously scammy and not worth the money.
I’m saying that NHS will not make you stand out unless you make something awesome out of it.
@awesomepolyglot thats actually really good to know, I got a letter from them today and was looking to join tomorrow, but it is expensive. and the NHS thing is definitely something I’ll keep in mind, thanks! 
Don’t worry…Colleges care more about the GPA/service hours/Character/leadership that you need for NHS than the actual NHS label. However, it is awesome being recognized by your HS and your parents love it!
So fret not, but join this year.
Getting to wear the extra hood, tassel, or sash at graduation is cool and worth it. Otherwise, meh.
I agree that the extra tassel or sash is very, very cool. And it will make your parents very, very proud. However, as far as colleges go, it won’t count for much. NHS is based on GPA, not necessarily rigor of classes. Highly selective colleges want to see the rigor AND the grades.
I’m not sure if this is true everywhere, but a lot of local high schools near me require NHS members to volunteer tutor at the school in addition to other volunteer requirements. Some kids don’t want to do this (it conflicts with their other activities, they are taking a lot of difficult classes and don’t have time, they don’t like to tutor or feel they aren’t good at it, etc.). No harm, no foul. There are plenty of other ways they can demonstrate why they belong in a certain college.
At DD’s junior high this past year, they had about 15 students who were invited to join NJHS and didn’t. Maybe some of them didn’t keep up their grades, but DD said at least several of those didn’t feel they could meet the 30-hour volunteer requirement or weren’t interested in doing so.
Honestly, colleges will probably care about the actual service hours more than anything else. I quit because of the lack of dedication to actual service in my school’s chapter. The 15 “group hours” options mostly consisted of selling concessions at basketball games. Didn’t seem to hurt my college applications too badly. I think it did hurt my local scholarship applications, since almost everyone who got one was a member, so that may be something to consider.
NSHSS is an absolute scam.
They have absolutely NO access to your grades. They get your name off a mailing list.
They call themselves an honor society-- they honor you after you pay your $60, but it has nothing to do with academics. Please, do NOT include them on a college application.
As to NHS, it certainly doesn’t hurt. But if the rest of your app isn’t strong, NHS membership won’t compensate.
NHS viewed by colleges in the same way they view organizations like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Your membership is not what matters - what you do as a member is what counts. As far as what year you join, some schools don’t even invite Sophomores to join. Join when you can, keep up your grades, and get involved in your community. If you do in fact meet the requirements (I know my daughter’s school wants to see leadership positions - elected or appointed - within the school or community, not just engagement) the those accomplishments will speak for themselves on your college applications, even if you don’t join NHS.