Should I drop NHS?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

NHS at my school is a pretty big thing. If you’re invited to join, it means you have a pretty high numerical average (at least an A for all four years) and that teachers recognize your character. I’m not really sure if I want to be apart of NHS though. It’s basically a lot to do with volunteering and promoting service. The idea of it just seems like another way to boosts people’s egos. At my school, it’s almost like an unspoken sin if you have the credentials to join NHS but choose not to. It’s also one of those clubs that are highly dominated by cliques and a bunch of students who think they’re all that. Aside from being a bit introverted in general, I’ve just reached a point in my HS career where I feel as though very few things matter and I’m really just focused on myself as a person and what I’m going to do when I get out of here. I have the time for it but I’m not sure how it would benefit me as a person individually.

I’ve mentioned to other students that I was thinking about dropping NHS. I’ve basically been told not to because it looks bad to colleges when you have the grades to join NHS but choose not to. One person explained it to me as looking lazy and not having good character. My problem with this is that I thought NHS was very popular throughout a lot of schools and its not uncommon to run across a student that was part of it. Even if I stayed in the club, I would just put it under honors/awards on my apps. I don’t imagine it would make a significant difference or be the “deciding factor” for any of my apps. I don’t know if I really want to endure another activity with people I’m ready to get away from. But I would like a cord to bling out my graduation attire.

Thoughts?

2

I doubt NHS is weighted more heavily than any other EC, so I doubt it will affect your application. The only reason I still decided to do NHS this year was because I wanted the graduation cord; otherwise I would have dropped out. You should only do ECs if you enjoy them, so if you don’t feel the cord is worth it, you don’t have time for the club, or you don’t enjoy participating in it, then by all means drop it.

3

How horrible! Volunteering and service!

4

@bodangles Last thing I want to be spending my time doing! >:P

5

If you don’t believe in what NHS stands for then yes you should drop. It doesn’t make sense to be part of an organization you don’t enjoy just to have on resume. And NHS is just one thing, if you have others don’t worry. Some schools don’t even have NHS so I don’t think it would hurt you to drop.

6

I would have some respect for a student who stayed in NHS and attempted to make some changes from within. If you feel that service in NHS is meaningless and self-promoting, you have the opportunity to really do something useful by pointing that out and helping your chapter decide how they might actually “make a difference”.
Otherwise, you’re just a quitter with selfish aims, which is not too different from the indictments you leveled.