National Honor Society - Joke or Baroque

Applying to College
1

<p>Before anyone alerts me that my rhyme doesn't really work (since baroque indicates exaggerated emotional expression), I'll go on to the question.</p>

<p>Does admission into national honor society really mean ANYTHING to colleges? It seems to me that colleges are judging you on similar principles: academics, character, extra currics, community service, and leadership (in fact, the exact same areas) and they don't need the opinions of the nat'l honor society to figure out who you are - your application should reflect that. I will apply nonetheless, but I am extremely curious about the extent of its importance.</p>

2

<p>if it requires no commitment, then go for it.
i was VP of NHS at my highschool and it required community service
if you are lacking in EC's then writing an essay on your service may not be a bad idea. as a simple EC "NHS" is defnitely not a standout. debate team, etc. are much more acknowledged as commitments</p>

3

<p>Oh, I'm definitely not lacking in ECs by any means. Many of the kids applying for NHS at our school don't really need the extra recognition by any means. My class and I class are simply curious about the real importance of it in college admissions. Thanks.</p>

4

<p>I think that NHS is something the very good colleges expect for you to have. If you are not a part of it and it is offered at your school, the admissions people would start to ask questions, which is never a good thing.</p>

5

<p>The NHS is something that all the elite schools expect their elite students to have, as it does entail some sort of a club commitment. Of course being a leader of another club would be most likely worth more weight, being on the NHS will help you.</p>

6

<p>they don't care</p>

7

<p>lol the kid at my school with class rank #1 applied for NHS membership and got rejected because he had no ECs at all just good grades in tough classes</p>

8

<p>It really depends on your school. This year, 140 kids out of the 550 kids in the graduating class made NHS. Many of the top 30 in the class were rejected because of lack of leadership/service and not the academic requirement.</p>

<p>Once in, you have to maintain good standing by accumulating a certain amount of points. As corresponding secretary of my school's chapter, I can say that the officers spend a LOT of their time devoted to this. There are meetings virtually every week after school as well as meetings early in the morning.</p>

9

<p>I think NHS means very little, but since it would be expected at most top colleges, it would be better to be in it than not.</p>

10

<p>I loved the rhyme. :)</p>

<p>I think NHS is by no means a hook, but it's slightly prestigious.</p>

<p>It's just community service, really.</p>

11

<p>Do you want to join NHS? If your reason is for another EC, I suggest you find something you are passionate about and join/start that club.<br>
Of course, NHS will help your resume. If the college sees you doing something you love, it will be a much bigger help. Just make sure you are joining for the right reasons. (At my school, NHS was a joke...I did not join and have no regrets about it.)</p>

12

<p>If you don't spend at least a few hours every week doing it, the EC is generally better to be left out</p>

13

<p>i know some idiots that are in NHS and don't even commit to it and yet are still in it :&lt;/p>

14

<p>The weird thing about NHS at our school is that it seems as though once admitted, you have no post-obligations except for placing it on your resume. I suppose the best advice is just to try to join the thing so colleges don't have to ask why you weren't a part of it.</p>

15

<p>our NHS at our school us stupid....you are in it and thats it lol...u dont have to do anything</p>

16

<p>Meh, you can just have the bare minimum at my school to get into NHS. Our moderator is a psycho! I led a committee one time and she didn't tell me the things that I had to do and just expected to me to do them. She threatens, not suggests.</p>

<p>Our NHS does nothing. I'm not surprised.</p>

17

<p>Despite the lowly requirement of 10 community service hours per year in order to stay a member of NHS once accepted, the people in our school's chapter are very involved.</p>

<p>They ...
- spearhead awareness programs (AIDS, child soldiers in Africa, etc.)
- provide services/entertainment for the elderly
- tutor personally as well as during certain times of the week for at-risk students
- hold orientations for new students and school visitors (most recently delegates from China)
- do much more</p>

<p>Imagine what our school's Art, Chinese, French, Latin, Music, Science, and Spanish Honor Societies do!</p>

<p>And there isn't a 100% acceptance rate. An admissions committee of some sorts chooses the spectacular students to be members. I'd say most people get in (since most people who don't have a chance don't try to get in), but I don't know anyone who doesn't deserve to be a member actually become one.</p>

<p>Maybe that's why colleges still have faith in one being a member..</p>

18

<p>Some colleges offer scholarship money specifically to NHS members. If you choose to forego that, then don't join.</p>

19

<p>Some colleges assign admissions reps to your area, and these reps may be very familiar with your high school. They'd probably also be familiar with your school's branch of NHS. They'll know which ones are selective and active, and which ones aren't. It might make a difference in admissions to those places.</p>

20

<p>our NHS is more to put on apps than anything, but my school takes it super-seriously. if you are on NHS exec board, they make you drop every other leadership position you would have had. my friends and i just go to the meetings, do 10 hours of community service per semester, and make fun of NHS because it is so cult-ish.</p>