<p>As adviser to the National Honor Society (the real one that high school students are selected to be a member of) I have had several students ask about solicitations they have received such as the NSHSS, and Who’s Who. The ironic purpose that these solicitations serve is to introduce these types of scams at an early age to oftentimes innocent students. The students are suspicious and become wary. I hope that this experience helps the student to cautiously screen the many solicitations they will receive while in college and beyond. The big questions is, what effect do these “memberships” have on college admissions. Hopefully, the student will not be pegged as gullible for listing such a “membership” on their college application form.</p>
<p>Wow…this thread is FIVE YEARS old! So, all of us are questioning STILL? I found this site/thread today when I googled NSHSS…very dubious as stepson FAILED his frosh year and is barely going to graduate next year. Right now, with CONSTANT work and support, he’s in regular classroom again and his GPA just came above 2.05…so when he was honored by his school (a teacher nominated him) last spring for “Outstanding Student Achievement”, it was an honor because they recognized his change in work ethic and his desire to make something of himself. It was in NO WAY an academic recognition…but a personal one. So I’d hoped the fine print on the NSHSS info would be similar…but NO…they are wanting to recognize his “outstanding academic achievements”>? Good thing he ignored the mailing and I saw it first. It’s a joke, and a slap in his face. He knows he failed the PSAT, that jr college will be the first step, that he won’t make it on grades. He’s a wonderful kid, a good kid, and he’ll capitalize on all his other assets. But his “outstanding academic achievement”:??? No. He doesn’t need false boosts to his resume. He needs to be proud of what he IS great at, and be proud of the REAL honors. He’ll go far on that…this would make him look like a scammer on his real applications. Those that read apps KNOW this.
End of soapbox rant. Thanks for the forum.</p>
<p>My child received a letter from the Organization and after doing some research on the organization, we found that it was indeed a worth while investment.</p>
<p>It should be duly noted, first of all, that it even states in the letter that the money paid contributes to the money that is given to Scholarship Winners and it is NOT a required payment. However, it is appreciated. Though, I don’t think anyone is hurting THAT badly for $45 dollars contributing towards your child’s educational opportunity.</p>
<p>It is also NOT just a willy nilly selection of random students at any given school at any given time. I work in the Guidance Office at the school my son attended as the Secretary and we receive a forward of a list of students for college letters, organizations, and awards via the school’s and the districts release of information policy. We have an attendance of 1473 students I believe, currently at the High School, and out of the roughly 367 students in a class each year the most that have ever received a letter of the sort was 17 and that was actually THIS year. Also, the Director of the Guidance Office has informed me that she thinks it is in some relation to test scores such as the ISTEP (in Indiana), Core-40, and the PSAT.</p>
<p>My child put forth outstanding effort while he was a student in High School, now in college. He had a cumulative GPA of 3.9 and had received numerous rewards prior to this including Student of the Year for the state of Ohio, membership in the National Honor Society, various academic honors awards from the school, and took honors and AP classes all throughout high school without an ounce of difficulty. After his senior year, he listed this among his many awards and honors for college applications and was accepted to all 3 and chose accordingly.</p>
<p>Calling this organization a scam is just as if you were to call the IASC a scam. An organization of any kind cannot be written off as a “scam” if it is A) Charitable, B) Credible, and C) Follows through with its word.</p>
<p>Furthermore, to call this organization a scam would also be turning a very unkind eye on Mr. Claes Nobel, a very well known and respected man in the International Community at large and belonging to one of the most prestigious families in the World. He has contributed to several outstanding causes in his lifetime as did his grandfather, Ludvig and his great uncle Alfred (instituted the Nobel Prizes). The Nobel family has always been an extremely respected family and I personally do not think a member of that family would ever have any part in a scam. Why would he need to? Money? Being that his family (Is who it is and) is associated and even married into several Royal Bloodlines, I do not think it would be logical to assume he is at all hurting for money. Fame? Again, his association with Royalty and the leaders of the world as a whole would prove otherwise.</p>
<p>It’s a scam and an utter joke. Every year around this time, someone new comes to CC and tries to convince it’s members that this is a real honor and something that should be respected and taken seriously. The new poster backing this scam is usually someone with only 1 or a few posts to their name. It’s either someone who likes to brag that their kid received this honor in the mail or it’s someone who has some sort of tie to the organization.</p>
<p>It’s a scam. Save your money. Don’t believe the crap they say about it being an honor.
It’s a joke to put it on any resume. Don’t put it on the college application. The college admission office’s concentrate on the rigor of your curriculum, your gpa, and your SAT/ACT scores. These are the real indicators of a student’s academic achievement. Trust me–they are not paying attention to whether “National Society of High School Scholars” is on the resume/application. </p>
<p>To John: you must either work for the organization or you’re a parent who likes to brag about this kind of crap. The type of parent that drives around with the “my kid is on the honor roll” bumper sticker. I will bet money that there are many other kids who received the invitation in the mail. They were smart enough to file the paper where it belongs—in the garbage.</p>
<p>I don’t see how my recent membership has anything to do with the validity of my statements. In fact it really has no relevancy to the issue at hand other than your suspicion of my affiliation with the organization.</p>
<p>I have no ties to the organization other than the events I took part in with my child in which I was fortunate enough to meet a few very esteemed members of the Board of Advisors, many of whom are in fact Nobel Laureates (recipients of the Nobel Prize), in fact 10 of the Advisors are. The rest are composed of Educators and Presidents of beneficial organizations such as the United Negro College Fund and the International AIDS Trust.</p>
<p>As for colleges not looking at your awards, I think that statement has very little factual support to it. Most GOOD Universities, Private Universities especially seek out students who show qualities of leadership, responsibility, and who know the value of diversity. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there with 4.0s, but it also fact that some of the greatest known sociopaths have had record breaking IQs. With Academic Excellence comes awards and they wouldn’t be given if they didn’t have meaning.</p>
<p>However, the topic of discussion has naught to do with my affiliations or my children or the respect I hold them in for their performance in school (which, lets not be crude simply because I don’t believe in false modesty.) The point is the organization is NOT a scam, it DOES offer life membership and it DOES give up to 12 Scholarships a year to students in the program. By providing what it says it will it is therefore not a scam and the term has been used far too loosely.</p>
<p>“As for colleges not looking at your awards…”</p>
<p>^I never said this. I only commented in respect to “National Society of High School Scholars”. </p>
<p>Of course colleges care about awards and recognition. However, “National Society of High School Scholars” does not qualify as one of any importance to them. I’ve known kids with “C” averages in Special Ed. who received these letters. Sorry, but “National Society of High School Scholars” is not an award worth merit.</p>
<p>Put it this way—It is a legitimate organization in that it does exist. However, the “honor” of paying the $45 to say that you are a member of the “National Society of High School Scholars” will not impress anyone other than your grandparents and parents. It’s right up there with Who’s who–pay a fee and get your name on a list–whoopee and what a great honor that is to put on a resume :)</p>
<p>Well, we will certainly agree to disagree. If any family is in the hole so badly that they can’t afford a measly $45 dollars of admissions fee to contribute to the scholarship given, then clearly they made a wrong turn in their career choices. Fortunately for my own family we’ve taken the less “tight” direction and were happy to contribute to give our son a chance at yet another scholarship.</p>
<p>We’ve paid our dues to the National Honor Society, FCCLA, and the Senior Scholarship Program. A great deal more I’ll add than the pocket change we paid to give him an opportunity offered with NSHSS.</p>
<p>Sorry John006a, I for one can’t “agree to disagree”. Facts are facts. If you are legit and not a NSHSS plant (riiiigghht), then I’m sorry you wasted your money. And please don’t have your child embarrass himself by putting the organization on any application or resume.</p>
<p>Paying $45 for an extremely remote chance at a scholarship? Why not just play the lottery? At least the lottery publishes the odds of winning and is required to pay out a certain percentage of what it takes in. And it’s hardly a matter of wealth–no matter how much money I had, I wouldn’t throw any of it away on a scammy outfit like NSHSS. Most of those who sign up for NHSS do not do it because they think they have a good chance for a scholarship; they think it is actually some sort of honor recognized by college admissions offices and employers. It is not. Multiple posters have reported how very undistinguished students have been solicited for this organization. None of the admissions officers who frequent CC have ever stepped up to say that membership means anything. What else do you need to know? As for the big “names” that may be associated with NSHSS, I’m sure they get a nice fee for the use of their identities and have little or no actual roles. The Eisenhowers are associated with People to People, but it means nothing in that case, either.</p>
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<p>I am curious about this “reward”. I’ve never heard of it.</p>
<p>i joined it last year, it was a complete sacm. they dont do jack, and just spam you with ads and clothing offers. A COMPLETE SCAM!!</p>
<p>Our child received an invite for membership and the membership fee is $60.00. I was very skeptical about filling this out and sending money, so I thank you all for your comments. I’d like to know is there a GPA requirement?</p>
<p>We received the “offer” of membership and being rather skeptical, I tossed it aside. As I was sorting through numerous college mailings I ran across the letter again and noticed that on the bottom one of the teachers in our son’s high school was listed as being recently being honored with a “Educator of Distinction” award.</p>
<p>Based on that reference I begain my due diligence including an email to the named teacher. I got a response the next day indicating that I was about the fifth parent to contact her and if she had ever received an award, she was the last to know about it! She indicated that her name was being used without her knowledge and she knew nothing about the organization but strongly suggested staying away and informing the Guidance Department so that other inquiries could be properly adressed.</p>
<p>It’s not legally a scam as you are joining and getting a membership but in the end its a good way to waste the $60 membership fee which could pay for one college application fee. In my book its still a scam.</p>
<p>Be warned and be cautious.</p>
<p>Their acronym is very similar to NHS so a lot of my friends got tricked.</p>
<p>You pay money to get a membership and receive occasional emails about scholarships, meetings, and whatnot. None of which are really beneficial. I assume that their recruiting technique is similar to People to People.</p>
<p>My S bought the membership for one reason. He was planning on doing a NOLS trip and membership waived the app fee and gave a $150 discount. So for $45 up front, I gleaned a $150 discount for something he was going to do anyway. We have always trashed the invites to other organizations, but this one came in handy. He didn’t take advantage of anything else they offered, so I have no other knowledge about their programs. My D won’t be joining.</p>
<p>okay, so here’s the thing. I applied to this last year, and i think its more of just saying you’re in it. I didn’t have to pay because my parents have a very low income. I mean, if your kid really wants to join, let them; they have nice discounts for Princeton Review that can go over for graduate tests (LSATS, MCATS, GRE, etc…). They also have events you can go to (which I have not been able to go because its all over USA and we don’t have a whole bunch of money) and meet Claes Nobel. It’s understandable that most people can’t reach him since he may be busy. There is always that risk that it may be a “scam” but so far I see nothing scam-like, and maybe it’s because I didn’t have to pay the entrance fee, but if some of you really can’t spare 45 or 60 dollars (idk the price) because you have a low-income then do the fee waiver.</p>
<p>My d got two of these letters. They didn’t get her name from a school since I homeschool her and I never gave them her name. They got it from her PSAT. But the hilarious thing is that she did badly on the PSAT as she had a migraine that day. She certainly shouldn’t have been nominated from that. SHe is a member of a legitimate honor society which requires a recommendation letter, an essay, certain test scores and a very nominal dues of ten dollars which they used the leftover (everything but the chapter dues for the national organization which were minimal also) to give to a local foodbank. Her honor society led several service projects. It is a non profit organization as is the National Honor Society. I think any honor society that is for profit is not legitimate.</p>
<p>these letters are coming out again and i really appreciate the answers i got from this thread!</p>
<p>Just want to bump this thread. My S got an invitation today to join this society, and the discussion on CC is very informative.</p>
<p>Yeah I got one today too. I read through the previous posts and it seems like a “semi-scam” of sorts. I don’t think im sending in my 60$.</p>
<p>I got one a few days ago… the wikipedia page makes it seem like it’s not a scam, but it was probably written by their cronies. No place worth belonging to will offer you merchandise before you’ve even joined. *** is that?.. and early on in the thread, someone said NHS is also a scam, but I disagree. NHS in most schools is run by two school sponsors and the process at my school is very selective.</p>