National Honor Society: Is there a chance?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>Policy: Students who receive who get 3.75+ GPA from Grade 9 to Grade 12 constantly and are ready to take AP course are the members of NHS.</p>

<p>This is what I wrote to my counselor: </p>

<p>Dear Mrs. [Name] ,
I am Karan from 12th grade and I wanted to come and talk to you about something very important to me. Since the school year started, I have wanted to be a part of the national honors society and I feel like this is too big of an opportunity to not even try. Yes, I know that everyone doesn’t always get what he or she want but I also know that if you want something enough you go to great lengths try to achieve it. I have various reasons for wanting to join such a prestigious group and I’m qualified in a unique way. In the past year that I have been at this school there was no motivation for me to try very hard at school because I truly believed I wouldn’t spend my high school life here but plans change and here I am looking at senior year. Yes I know my past doesn’t qualify me a good student but I have worked so hard these last few years and currently I have approximately a GPA of 3.9.</p>

<p>Also, I may not be able to show my true colors at school but since ninth grade I have been making videos on YouTube to educate kids from around the globe on many subjects and it’s a part of my day-to-day life. In the process I have gained more than 1K subscribers internationally and no one from our school participates in such a field to this extent. Yes, I may not have been able to show my talents on paper, in the form of a test for my previous GPA’s but unlike just learning information for a test, I know how to apply it, which is key aspect in growth. I have even helped my peers at school with my videos various times. I uploaded videos on my account almost every day for whoever in my class had trouble understanding the concept - regardless of what the subject was. During that time, not only did I receive a partnership from the YouTube channel but also I was offered a spot in Videoclass as well. With the help of the videos, I collect money but instead of using it I have been donating it to a charity called DonorsChoose that’s helps children in Africa, for many years.</p>

<p>Besides my other out-of -school activities I have also taken online courses from BYU to enhance my learning. My courses included pre-calculus and physics and I completed the course easily, before I even took these courses in school. Additionally, as far as NHS is concerned, I have taken Edx courses, which are recognized by various universities in Americas such as Texas University. My course was about ‘Mathematical Modeling in Everyday life,’ in which I received an honor code. Among my endeavors, I even used my Java Programming skills taught by a NASA scientist to make programs that are available to those who could not afford to buy a Texas instrument. I would be honored if I even got the chance to be a part of NHS because I want to help not only my peers but also people around the world to make the community better.</p>

<p>As far as requirements are concerned, those in NHS are required to do one AP course of their choice, but instead I am ready and willing to do two AP courses in which I will study hard and try my best to get very high scores. If however at any point of time, you think I was not a great choice to be a part in NHS I will walk out of it, whenever you would like me to. As far as GPA and Policies are concerned, I think I deserve a fair chance due to my past activities to be a part of NHS and I believe that my GPA should not be a mere factor determining my strength and ability to perform in NHS. I am ready to abide by any rules and conditions to be in NHS. Thank you for listening to me, I hope you understand my hard work. If you choose not to consider me, then I will still be very happy that you at least took the time to read this email. </p>

<p>Do I have a chance?</p>

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<p>@skieurope‌ Sorry! Not bad intentions… </p>

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<p>Don’t join NHS, you can use your time for better things and colleges don’t weigh it highly. </p>

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<p>What is your problem here? Do you not have high enough of a GPA? Why can’t you join NHS? Or is this something everything at your school goes through to join NHS?</p>

<p>Honestly, NHS is not a big deal in college admissions. At most schools, anyone with a high enough GPA can get it very easily. </p>

5

<p>@Woandering:

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<p>Yeah. My cumulative GPA just came out today and it happened to be 3.16, but this quarter I received 3.9.</p>

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<p>My school has no AP classes nor anything that US school has - literally nothing. NHS came out this year and its the only thing our school possibly has; therefore, I wished to participate. </p>

6

<p>So, if you really want to go for it, definitely send the email. There really isn’t any harm doing so. However, I do want to reiterate that pretty much any other club would be a better use of your time than NHS. Good luck!</p>

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<p>@Woandering‌: I sent it and she said she will talk to the principle and make an exception for me. </p>

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<p>please dont join NHS. it is a waste of time and makes NO impact on college decisions. use ur time for something more productive! :)</p>

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<p>The quality of NHS depends on the school. At my older sister’s school, it was a complete joke and a popularity game. At my school, there is a vigorous application process and required volunteer hours that are then chronicled so our adviser can include them in recommendations and so forth. We run tutoring, toy drives, blanket drives, breast cancer awareness events and more. If the OP wants to apply to NHS, don’t dissuade them, just help them! </p>

<p>Good luck, I think your letter is very persuasive. :)</p>

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<p>I was a member of NHS my last two years of HS --I didn’t really care much for it since all of my volunteer work was outside of NHS. If your school’s NHS chapter is quite active, then sure, go for it. Otherwise, don’t waste your time.</p>

11

<p>I don’t understand why there’s so much negativity towards National Honors Society. Who can say, knowingly, that it will be a waste of time for KaranMIT? Every chapter is different. And the great thing about going into a club with the intention to be an active member is that even if it’s disappointing, you have the power to make something of the group. Anyone can take initiative, but not everyone has the motivation and drive. I think it’s great that she wants to join it. </p>

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<p>@awakeningvenus‌: Thanks a lot and you’re quite funny dude. </p>

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<p>I am a boy. I am karan, not karen… geez :p</p>

13

Negating membership in the National Honor Society is somewhat ridiculous. On it’s own, no membership does not guarantee you acceptance to any college. However, if that is ALL your child has to bring to his/her college application, then his/her induction into the Society is, in my opinion, questionable in the first place.

The NHS relies on it’s Chapters for selection of students for induction. Which makes sense as there are 100’s of thousands of students seeking induction each year and feasibly the only way to process selection is at the Chapter level. To assume it’s a popularity contest is probably based on ignorance of the criteria for induction.

A student must meet a combination of requisites.

GPA Factor: At my daughter’s school, the students must have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.8 and continue to maintain the 3.8 GPA. (Because it is an honor’s program and most of these students who are selected for induction are taking a full curriculum of Honors or Honor’s/Advanced Placement classes, they have unweighted GPA’s of 4.5 and higher.) This is no easy feat! It is many hours of study and self discipline. Something a college will certainly be cognizant of in it’s consideration.

Community Involvement Factor: A student must demonstrate consistently (consistently being key) involvement and promotion of a positive campus environment, including membership to school clubs and/or athletic participation.

Community Volunteerism: A student must have a record of, and commitment to continuing, involvement in outside volunteer work on a local, state or national level. Most specifically, assistance and aide to the needy and less fortunate. Our Chapter requires a minimum of 20 hours per year, signed off by the facility or organization for which the volunteer work was performed.

Demonstration of Leadership: A student must in some form demonstrate his/her ability to lead, in not just one area, but in a combination of areas, in the classroom, on the athletic field, in an extracurricular club, positive promotion of school environment or community.

Ability to communicate well orally or in writing, one of the critical reasons for the essay portion of the selection process.

Considering all the of these requisites, no it most certainly is not a popularity contest and while some students may have higher than a 3.8 or 4.5 GPA, they may not be inducted if they do not meet all or most of the criteria. Why is this? A successful, productive individual is not one who is merely self serving. This translates to why colleges also do not just consider GPA or SAT/ACT scores. Colleges want the full package. Success in whatever your life endeavor may be requires you be able to excel at meeting simultaneous challenges at work, at home and in your community.

An Honor Society Member by virtue of being inducted and maintaining that membership throughout high school, because of all that it entails to keep that membership in good standing, certainly brings much more to a college application than merely noting such membership.

I am truly proud that my daughter was inducted her freshman year. I have full confidence that because of her own goals and how hard she worked for this honor and privilege and her great character, she will continue to endeavor to maintain this privilege. I know personally that because of such a membership and what it requires of her, she will have many valuable experiences and achievements to list on her college applications, and most importantly that enrich her soul. I also know how thrilled she was to be included in the company of thousands of luminaries who were and are members of this Society, which include Senators, Congressmen, Presidents, Rhode Scholars, successful corporate business people and entrepreneurs and philanthropists, high achieving professional athletes, etc.

No, pursuing what it takes to be a member, whether you are inducted or not, is not a waste of time. The pursuit itself builds character and will allow you many wonderful achievements for your college application and in life.

14

If you want to be a part of NHS, there’s no harm in asking the counselor to tweak the policy. I completely understand how it feels to be a bad test taker and it’s unfair that a major part of your grade really boils down to how well you can take tests. If I were your counselor, I would be able to see your perseverance and your achievements and allow you to be inducted. However, if is understandable if he/she does not comply. Tweaking the policy for one person gives many others an excuse to ask for entrance when they do not meet the standards. If the counselor let a student with a 3.19 GPA be in NHS, why can’t they make an exception for a student with a 3.70? 3.65?

I say go for it, but don’t get discouraged if he/she says no!