<p>Hi, I have searched the forums and seen positive and negative feedback about whether or not this is a legitimate honors society. Some people have benefited from scholarships etc. They are affiliated with many known nobel laureates as well as corporate partners (notably Abercrombie and Fitch, which funds some of their scholarships). But others say that any organization that asks you to pay (like Who's Who) is just a vanity organization and isn't legitimate. </p>
<p>My son received his invitation yesterday (interestingly, the letter stated that one of his teachers was just named one of their "Educators of Distinction"). After reading the threads, i tend to believe it is a legitimate organization, especially since they will waive the application fee if you request it.</p>
<p>The real question i have is whether or not admissions gives any weight whatsoever to it? S's guidance counselor was somewhat vague about it, I don't think she was familiar with it. Would it be inappropriate to ask one of the college admissions counselors we have a relationship with about it or is that putting them in a difficult spot? It might not hurt, but I know that when I review resumes in the hiring process, I typically look down on anyone who has a "Who's Who In American whatever" on their resume. I don't want my son to look like a sucker!</p>
<p>Hi, I have been a member of the society since the 10th grade. I can tell you that it is legit. I recieved a package from them that contains bumber stickers, and honors cord, a certificate, etc when I first joined. Personally, I have not recieved any scholarships yet. However, the NSHSS held an event in Georgia at the Jimmy Carter building. There students were able to speak with representatives from colleges such as Yale, Princeton, Emory, and a few colleges from overseas. Also you were able to talk a picture with Mr. Nobel. I went to that :)</p>
<p>Once you are a member, you will recieve emails about NSHSS events and scholarship opportunintes. You can also talk to other members through forums. </p>
<p>However, do I think it gives any weight in admissions? I can’t honestly answer that yet because I haven’t recieved any admission decisions. I mean it could give just a little push, but not a lot compared to the National Honor Society or The National Math Honor Society. (or other societies like that). I think the NSHSS is easier to get into, so that’s why.</p>
<p>It’s not that weighty because it’s not very exclusive. If you want to spend the money, there’s some benefit for your child in that it’s somewhat a tangible honor – but for colleges, they regard it little. Why should they give notice to an organization that pays schools for names to place on their mailing list? “Send us your honor roll and here’s $200 to your school’s activity fund.”</p>
<p>Same thing with “Who’s Who in American High Schools”</p>
<p>Save your money and have a nice family dinner, I say.</p>
<p>I will always be suspicious of any society that “honors” it’s members after a monetary donation. The only credence I will give this society is that they will fully or partially waive the membership fee for financial hardship. I doubt that I would qualify so my S or I would likely pay the fee if we choose to join.</p>
<p>But deep down, I ask really what is being honored? Has my S performed any service-related activities to merit such an honor? Has he offered any proof that he is an upstanding citizen of the community? No, the only thing my S will offer for the society is $60. Yes, he has excellent grades and has tested well, but that is what a high school transcript will show to any applicable college.</p>
<p>I will likely encourage my S to participate in meaningful service, and let his service be it’s own honor. If he shows the kind of character that should be honored, then I think the honors will come without a monetary price tag.</p>
<p>^^^^ Exactly. Parents should ask their school boards how much NSHSS and Whos Who donates to the districts in order to obtain honor roll lists and such. This will tell you how prestigious those orgs are…</p>
<p>I guess “legit” is in the eye of the beholder, but I’m still skeptical. You send them money; they send you bumper stickers and invite you to events. </p>
<p>The Washington Nationals invite me to events because I like them on Facebook, and if I send them money, they’ll send me a bumper sticker. I don’t think the Nats will help me get into college, though. (And maybe we should just leave aside any discussion of whether the Nationals are “legit.”)</p>
<p>If posters are happy being part of NSHSS, that’s great. I really mean that–certainly better than joining and being unhappy. But what the OP listed as his or her “real question,” whether it helps at all in college admissions, is still open at best.</p>
<p>They offer admission to everyone with a 3.5+ GPA, so it’s not very exclusive. It’s a good tool for scholarship offers and college news and stuff, but it’'s not something you should necessarily list on college apps, especially because you don’t really do anything once you get in, like in NHS.</p>
<p>If you want to be part of it, that’s your decision to make.</p>
<p>However, it’s not a big factor in admissions because it’s an award you pay for.</p>
<p>Awards that generate revenue for the awarder encourage the awarder to offer more awards, as more awards means more revenue. Thus, these awards are far less exclusive and mean a whole lot less.</p>
<p>Awards that do not cost anything, but do not provide the student with any money are more exclusive than awards that the student pays for. Admissions cares about these much more than awards you pay for.</p>
<p>Awards that pay the student have the greatest incentive to limit the number of awards given, and thus are the most exclusive and the most beneficial in admissions.</p>
<p>I’m in it. Yeah, it costs you to be in it, which is kinda odd, but I think it’s legit. I don’t know if it helps in college admissions or not, not sure if it helped me or not.</p>
<p>It took a page out of Newt Gingrich’s book.</p>
<p>Nothing they do is illegal, as they send you a paper certificate and a cheap cord, along with various E-Mails about events and stuff. But it is very useless as an award.</p>