Should I join NHS or not? Foreign Student Applying to Elite US Schools

Applying to College
1

<p>I came to US last year as a junior all the way from China, and due to some transcript issues I wasn't able to apply to NHS junior year. Now as a senior I received invitation letter to apply and I'm pretty sure I will get in. Now the problem is, once I become a member, I'll have tutor assignments 5hrs/semester, which can be spent on my computational chemistry research at a major university. </p>

<p>Although NHS might be a rarity for int'l kids, but since I attend US high school since my junior year, I guess my application would be undoubtedly compared with my American peers'.
Since I'll be applying to elite engineering schools like HMC, MIT, Columbia, etc., NHS would be such a common thing on everybody's college resume that it probably means nothing... </p>

<p>So should I save some precious time doing research, or is NHS a must-have?</p>

<p>Thx!</p>

2

<p>I think you should join anything you find is of your interests. I’m in NHS and I like it. I met new people etc. I think about my future every now and then but regardless, I join what I can enjoy even if I am just a member. Dedication is what matters. And no NHS is not a must have. You’d rather have something that makes you stand out.</p>

3

<p>NHS may be the most overrated “honor” in the history of the planet. </p>

<p>NHS itself is not important, it’s the things you do to get in NHS that are important.</p>