"scam honors" national deans list, who's who, etc...

<p>I am not convinced, especially since the poster jenwat, who left the huge explanation about the society, has only six, identical posts in other threads.
It's either a scam or a super lame club that won't help you. Jenwat's post comes off as propaganda to me.</p>

<p>Or she only wants to answer what is essentially the same question (is NSCS a scam?) once. No reason why copy and pasting the same answer shouldn't suffice.</p>

<p>I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "super lame club." If you feel that community service is super-lame then I feel pity for you. As for being something that "won't help you," if you really are involved, then it definitely will help you because you will have concrete accomplishments to point to. Some honors/awards/memberships "help you" by virtue of their reputation, built up by virtue of their selectivity, their strict criteria for admission, etc. The Innocents at Nebraska would be something along those lines, as are many of the award societies in high schools like NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Quill & Scroll, Cum Laude, etc. </p>

<p>That's not what NSCS is about - how valuable and worthwhile it is, how much it "helps you," is largely based on how much you put into it. In that regard, it's not much different from the Key Club in high school. If you were a member of the Key Club and paid your dues for it but didn't actually do anything, it will be just one more line on your resume or application. If you actually participated in activities and accomplished things, though, that line will have much more weight and substance behind it.</p>

<p>Great line I just found within a NSCS letter:</p>

<p>"You should know that there is always a fee with joining an honors organization"</p>

<p>Can I yell out a big BS?</p>

<p>That should prove to you right there that all this group wants is more money, not to mention jenwat's ramblings and the lengthy amounts of info that the lowly intern dz has at his fingers.</p>

<p>Thought I would share this bit from The National Dean's List's site. I have read over the site and do not understand why some of you consider it a scam. Please enlighten me.
Legitimate honors should not cost the recipient money. Therefore, there are no financial responsibilities whatsoever contingent upon recognition in The National Dean's List®.</p>

<p>NSCS sounds like suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch a scam</p>

<p>of course people who are scammed are in denial and trying to make it real.</p>

<p>PTK is legit. I got big scholarships from a few of the schools I was accepted to. I'm still waiting to hear financial/ scholarship info from Columbia, though.</p>

<p>Regarding the National Dean's List, you are not charged anything to have your name and info printed in the book. You only need to shell out money if, like me, you are a narcissist who enjoys seeing your name in print. :)</p>

<p>"You only need to shell out money if, like me, you are a narcissist who enjoys seeing your name in print. ":</p>

<p>which is why it's a stupid scam</p>

<p>I disagree.</p>

<p>It's really something to add to a transfer application.</p>

<p>Wow. After reading the full set of comments here I have to wonder how many people will totally be mislead by a few people who aren't willing to do their own checking and research and merely fly ahead based on the fact that something "seems scam like" to them. </p>

<p>There are a significant number of honor's organizations nationally and internationally. While many of them invite you to join, they are doing so based on information that was provided to them by teachers, schools, and other academic organizations. Some of them are for students in High School; others are for College students. A few are for both. </p>

<p>Who's Who Honors are not a scam. The books are legitimate. Go check the library at your college or in your town. Most of them get complimentary copies. Some of them are inter-related. Who's Who of Teachers for example is where the teachers of the students who made it on the National Dean's List are listed. You have to be nominated to get into most of these publications. Many have GPA requirements. Some do not require you to submit money for inclusion in the publication, unless you want to add things like your picture or have a copy of the publication-- parents of nominee's may want copies of the books, for example. </p>

<p>The National Dean's List is a legitimate honor. You must be nominated and have a high GPA. Most colleges recognize graduates with a 3.5 or higher as having graduated with Honors-- so it is silly to suggest that 3.4 is a low GPA. Most people would not think that-- just go ask your advisor. National Dean's list nominee's are also checked and verified. And they do not require you to pay any thing for the recognition of being in the publication. It is a significant honor, and many places do look for it. </p>

<p>Similarly, Many academic organizations like Phi Theta Kappa are totally legitimate. Most of them have GPA requirements, and are service oriented. PTK for example has a membership fee of 75$. That money goes to paying for the materials and supplied used to not only further the service goals, but to also run the organization (i.e. send you a letter of nomination, provide the membership pin, print and send your membership documentation, provide burgers for the national picnic of members, etc.)
Membership in many organizations costs a fee or yearly membership. Good grief! Many golf clubs are just as legitimate, charge membership fees and are just as exclusive!</p>

<p>Organizations and honors may not be free or cheap. Many of them are willing to waive fees for those who cannot afford them. But just because they have a fee for membership, does not make them scams. The reality is that while a lot of students do not get involved in these organizations, many do. And those who do often end up with a lot of wonderful experiences, skills, and contacts that benefit them later. Not everyone who joins them is very active-- some people are only willing or able to join in on a limited basis. In fact, several scholarships are given to students just because they are involved in these academic organizations, and many times being honored helps students successfully get jobs, scholarships, and opportunities. </p>

<p>Just because they send out nominations to several people or students within a range of GPA's or interests does not mean they are not legitimate or worthwhile. And similarly, having a membership fee does not make them illegitimate, a scam or heinous. </p>

<p>If you really are concerned actually go ask your college councilor or advisor. If you actually did some real checking, instead of just assuming you might find that it is surprising how many of these Honors are REAL and actually mean something.</p>

<p><==== PTK Chapter President</p>

<p>PTK is good organization. BTW you get on the NDL is you're in PTK.</p>

<p>Perhaps a good measure of this would be to contact an admissions office and ask if they lend any weight to NSCS as a legitimate, extracurricular honor society. :p</p>

<p>Hey, I am a PTK chapter officer, and I can say it is an organization based on community service as well as good academic standng. With that said, I recommend if anyone is interested in PTK, don't just sign up and use it in the fashion expected. (That is just for your transcripts). PTK offers many avenues to really help other people and causes, and if you really want to buffer your transcripts - show that you have taken these oppurtunities and used them! </p>

<p>So don't think just becuase you check marked that you are a Kappan that you are above anyone else, because there will be others that do the same. However, if you started and continued a project of service through PTK- that will be taken into great consideration. </p>

<p>NDL seems to be automatic if you are in an honors society, but I think its sort of stupid because you can't do anything with it. It's not like you have access to anything such as resources or people to DO something, its just a nice memento that will end up meaning nothing in the long run.</p>

<p>How about Mortar Board? I looked up the quilifications for my university which involves self nomination (filling out an application), an interview, and a minimum GPA of 3.2.</p>

<p>One honor society I know for sure is legit AND an honor to be part of is Phi Beta Kappa:
<a href="http://staging.pbk.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home3%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://staging.pbk.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home3&lt;/a> .</p>

<p>Niggit is right, PTK has amazing oppurtunities if you are active. Some colleges DO require you to be active to get a scholarship.</p>

<p>Is PTK a junior college honor society, because I looked on their website and it says that.</p>

<p>my college doesn't have chapter for ptk... i feel left out.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Kandice_K
New Member</p>

<p>Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads:
Posts: 1

[/quote]
</p>

<p>lol.....</p>

<p>btw, PTK is the biggest scam of them all XD</p>

<p>Well, if that website says that....</p>

<p>PTK is legit... </p>

<p>they have volunteer opportunities at KQED and stuff, give lots of scholarships, and are very active in giving to the community. They put together a book drive at my school's chapter</p>

<p>diamondperezz^^ are you talking about the Better World Boosk Books for Africa drive at De Anza?</p>