<p>[The</a> National Society of Leadership and Success Paid Internship](<a href=“http://www.internjobs.com/do/details/12578]The”>http://www.internjobs.com/do/details/12578)
Yes, you CAN make money prying cash from fellow students. At least that’s what it appears to be…</p>
<p>Wow, what a bunch of cynics! This is clearly not a place to influence opinions. Once you’re dug in, you don’t retreat. I don’t have a dog in this fight. Just find it fascinating that if you’re a first-time poster, you must be a liar, cheat, thief and scam artist.</p>
<p>I get the warm fuzzies just reading these threads.</p>
<p>Some of us crusty old-timers have seen it too many times. But don’t worry, calstatemom, you already have two posts, so we don’t have to take a shot.</p>
<p>What saddens me about NSLS is that it’s like so many of the other ‘so-called’ honors that come in the mail for reasonably immature students. Be they ‘invitations’ to join some who’s who or go to a show choir national ‘camp’ or join a dubious ‘honor society’, they are all just a way for someone to make money, nothing more. It’s indeed sad when you have to break the news to your child that this is nothing more than a ‘for-profit’ venture and not an honor at all. They come home waving this letter like they’re proud of it and you’re faced with the task of bursting their bubble and trying to bring them back down to Earth.</p>
<p>Personally, I resent the intrusion of these ‘invitations’ and having to deal with the aftermath of them.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m a first time poster, too, but I’m not partaking of the Kool-Aid. This isn’t my first rodeo. Bottom line…honors aren’t for sale, they’re earned.</p>
<p>fyi…NSLS does advertise itself as a “leadership honor society”. And the “one-time lifetime membership registration dues” are now $85. hmmmm…</p>
<p>there’s this new email going out that I got asking for “interns” for nsls to start a new chapter. they would get $1500, go on a retreat, and learn everything on campus, around their class schedule.</p>
<p>after reading the comments, honestly, the debate about whether its a scam or not is less important.
- the deal about it being an honor society: WE HAVE DEANS LIST and TRANSCRIPTS for a reason. i think grad schools/employers will SEE where you are in the class, and what your wonderful honor society worthy grades are. so who needs to pay to join an honor society?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>the deal about it being useless: ncs claims to offer volunteer opportunities and nsls to help you become a more effective leader. unless you are in a huge state university and have a hard time rising to the top of a club/organization, there really is no need to join this to become a leader, or for their volunteering. there are PLENTY of other opportunities that you don’t need to pay for. the career/internship center at my school is great for that and any eboard member of any group on my campus is required to go to a leadership retreat to learn pretty much what these organizations are making you pay for. there should be other organizations aimed towards campus/community involvement. </p></li>
<li><p>the issue of scholarships: why do you need to pay $75/85 to get a CHANCE at scholarships? especially if they’re only a few thousand? (seems like max amounts aren’t even 5k. that’s petty money compared to tuition). </p></li>
</ol>
<p>i joined that national high school scholars thingy or whatever its called and that 45 bucks went to nothing. i never put it on my resume or transcript cause it was pointless… what did i do in it? nothing. what did i learn from it? nothing. when did i ever hear back about a scholarship? never. what kind of events were not during the school year and were close to me that i didn’t have to shell out a considerable amount of money to go there and make time for? none. so now i’ve learned to just ignore these.</p>
<p>mikegreen,
NSCS is a hilarious joke and you know it. This organization isn’t worth the paper the invitations are written on. Anyone can be a member - I was invited and I haven’t attended the sourcing school in a year! This is nothing but a marketing ploy designed to bait people into paying $75 for what they think is a no-commitment resume ornament, but turns out to be a worthless pile of coal.</p>
<p>After getting the invitation and investigating the organization, I notified several people at my school that this is a fake honor society, and that they are devaluing the University by being associated with it. No doubt they are already aware of it, but hopefully making some noise will get results.</p>
<p>By the way, how can I get paid to be a spokesperson for NSCS? What do I have to do…attach my name to a sham POS? Make a few phone calls occasionally? Sounds like fun. Does it pay well?</p>
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<p>I know what you mean - I got the same “valuable experience” by participating in the Noni Juice Leadership Society. It’s the best way to learn how to go out and operate your very own scam! :-D</p>
<p>My Rutgers student got a postcard with a return address of Rutgers U “reminding” my son about his “invitation” to join NSLS. It was signed, “Your truly, Dr. Delia Pitts, Assistant Dean of Students, Society Chapter Advisor”. </p>
<p>I think NSLS is scammy, at best. To get mail signed by a Rutgers faculty member bothers me because it adds to the student’s perception that this society is more than what it actually is.</p>
<p>I tried to word that very carefully, because I think that some students might benefit from the activities offered by NSLS, but not any more than what they could do on their own, for free, given an average level of motivation.</p>
<p>I just wanted to post my “follow up” to a previous blog I submitted over a year ago. I have read all of these posts. It seems to me that a rather good effort of recruiting into this society is focused on undergrads in their first and even second year of college. This organization has asked me to join while I was working on my second grad degree! Reluctantly, I joined and then investigated the organization (not a fully fledged member). Bad move on my part due to my work experience and previous education this NSLS does not help me out at all nor, have any potential companies phoned me because of my membership. To all of those out there thinking of joining, investigate, investigate more and ask questions.</p>
<p>Just got an invite to “parents of babyfrog,” offering me the opportunity to confirm membership on her behalf with my handy-dandy $95 payment enclosed…um…don’t think it mattered much to her, as she hasn’t said anything like “wow, mom – I got this cool invite in the mail.” I read this thread, and am not convinced it’s worth it to “pay” for an “honor”. (Even if it does come with a diploma of membership…kind of like paying to own a copy of the Whos Who books…). </p>
<p>As a high-stats kid, we’ve gotten used to lots of recruitment mail (People to People, Leadership Seminars in DC, honor societies, listings…). Although there may indeed be some merit (or an interesting experience) associated with these, we’re not sold on this one (or many of the others she’s received over the years.) </p>
<p>Out of curiosity, I may contact the chapter reps at her U as listed on the email…but then again, maybe not.</p>
<p>Any other parents receive this opportunity to helicopter their kids into this group (accepting all major credit cards)??</p>
<p>Yup! Gotten several “To the Parents of Musicsonz” : National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Sigma Alpha Lambda, most recently Golden Key. They like to appeal to parents’ vanity and deeper pockets. You feel good for a minute, til you realize it’s just a way to get your $$$</p>
<p>I am a parent who has carefully researched the National Society of Leadership and Success and am very thrilled to have them on my son’s campus. Students are provided with really great seminars that teach skills such as goal setting and they team up with other students so that once they set their goals, they are accountable to each other. I was long out of college before learning many of the techniques this group offers. By the way, students do not have to be paid members to come to these seminars, but if they are members, they qualify for scholarships, internships and more. </p>
<p>As to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, if your student isn’t interested in becoming an active member, involved in community service and other activities, and you don’t want to put the honor on his resume, then don’t join. My son loves what they do and with the scholarship opportunities they provide, I’m glad he’s a member.</p>
<p>Ditto for Phi Theta Kappa.</p>
<p>^ First post is to dig up an old thread to support a questionable organization.</p>
<p>Color me skeptical…</p>
<p>Again, first time poster ^^^^^ scam, stay away!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Shill. This happened on another thread in this forum, too (first time poster saying it’s worth it).</p>
<p>Everybody drink!</p>
<p>Hi everyone, I’m a recruiter for a very large pharmaceutical company. I have been working in Human Resources for over 20 years now and have a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management. I’m not trying to stir the pot here, but a few people have asked me about these honor societies recently and I was curious as to what some other recruiters were thinking about them, when I stumbled upon this site with such a huge ongoing debate. I just wanted to share my perspective, but please feel free to research the opinions of other Human Resources professionals. When I see things like this on a resume, I feel that it means pretty much nothing. I don’t really take any of these “honor societies” seriously. I know that students feel accomplished when they receive these invitations to participate, but from what I can tell, it really is a scam. If nothing else, it really is meaningless in the real world when one is being considered for employment. I have asked a few of my colleagues and they agree with me. I am sorry if this is not what some of you want to hear, but it is true coming from a professional in the field. Likely, you won’t heed this advice though because you are too excited about being offered this opportunity, but as others have suggested, you could always put on your resume that you were invited to join. And for the record, you could put that you are a member as no one is actually going to check on that anyway. Like I said, hiring managers and HR professionals don’t care about that silly stuff. It doesn’t translate to me your ability to do the job that I am trying to hire for. Being willing to pay for a certificate stating that you got good grades, doesn’t indicate that you can do a job. If your GPA is that important to you, just list it on your resume (and I would only do so if it is above 3.5). That says more than this “society” could and it doesn’t make you look naive. Good luck.</p>
<p>I passed these “invitations” along to the grandparents. They got to brag to their friends, and I didn’t have to spend a penny. :D</p>
<p>Any “honor” society that wants your money is usually a scam. There are things that they offer, but aside from feeling good for being recognized, there isn’t much substance. Kids would be better off finding their own groups to join. It’s sad to say it, but beware of any group that unwarrantedly solicits you, especially if there is a price tag at the end. Real honor societies can find the funds they need to operate by trading on the academic strength of their membership, they shouldn’t need your/your son’s/daughter’s money to operate. If they were truly a merit based organization, sponsors, corporate or otherwise would step in for a chance to meet the students in the group. This is why companies pay real money to be part of campus career fairs. Just an insight, take it for what it’s worth.</p>