The National Scholars Honor Society / Magna Cum Laude.org --> A scam?

College Life
1

<p>Did anyone receive a postcard in the mail from "The National Scholars Honors Society" (Magna Cum Laude .org) with no return address?
(Note: This is NOT the same as high schools' "National Honor Society").
The postcard states:</p>

<p>" The Officers and Directors of
The National Scholars Honor Society
Cordially invite you to apply for Honor Society Membership.
You may complete the application on-line at:
Magna Cum Laude .org
Your application code is xxxx
Wishing you congratulations and continued success.
The National Scholars Honor Society
Established (seal) MCMXCVII "</p>

<p>Is this legit? or is it a scam? It sounds like a scam to me... The membership costs money too and I've never heard of it. Anyhow, I'm not going to apply for it.</p>

2

<p>Sounds like a scam. Latin honors are free (other then cords and such) not something that you have to pay for... Besides I don't recall any meetings.</p>

3

<p>I got that invitation and my mother wanted me to sign up for it so I did. They sent me a certificate and some stapled packet of papers with grade-grubbing instructions. It is a scam in my book.</p>

4

<p>Its a scam. My mom was desperate to sign me up but its crap. The only place your name appears is on the mailing address and its on a 4x6 notecard. The site is pretty mediocre and there are hyphens in the URL. All of it is shady. They ask for a membership fee and theres nothing else.</p>

<p>Fail.</p>

5

<p>yes. scam. they are just trying to sell a book. Don't buy into it.</p>

6

<p>I remember they are asking for $25 to apply for a scholarship. You are better off buying a lottery ticket.</p>

7

<p>My son just received a card like that in the mail, but I tried to go to that website and couldn't get on. So it is a scam? He had a letter from The National Scholars Honor Society asking for $85 for lifetime membership fees - I'm assuming that legit?</p>

8

<p>my high school counselor told me it was a scam</p>

9

<p>I got one of those in the mail yesterday, lol. I'm betting it's a scam, I just threw the card away.</p>

10

<p>yeah defiantly don't put on your resume. Colleges know it is scam and it makes you look a bit desperate.</p>

11

<p>^^^</p>

<p>exactly what he said</p>

12

<p>i just received it last week and it does not seem to have an official website. i believe it's a scam.</p>

13

<p>So sorry it is a scam. I had fleeting thoughts of glory upon receiving the card...I graduated over 20 years ago with C's.</p>

14

<p>As a rule of thumb...</p>

<ul>
<li><p>If they want you to pay money to receive their 'honor' it's almost always a scam</p></li>
<li><p>If they contact you by mail or phone themselves, as opposed to a letter from faculty at your school, it's almost always a scam</p></li>
<li><p>If you've never heard of it before it's likely a scam</p></li>
<li><p>If they propose that they'll list your name in some sort of 'prestigious' book and then, almost without fail, try to sell you an expensive copy of said book, it's almost always a scam</p></li>
</ul>

<p>The only such academic honors that actually matter, and the only ones you should ever list on a CV, are those run directly through your university by university faculty (e.g. PBK). Not only would listing these other 'honors' not help you, if anyone looks into it and sees that it's nonsense you'll just look silly and desperate!</p>

15

<p>Sounds sketchy to me, but then again a couple of honor societies I've joined that were endorsed by my university are pretty sketchy, too. I paid money to have my superior intellect endorsed by the Golden Key International Honour Society and what I get is almost daily emails with offers to buy goods and services or the opportunity to attend a "Resume Writing" workshop which was really an opportunity for a new business to test their product on us, we'll get to buy it later. Omicron Delta Epsilon, an Economics honor society which a professor in the department takes charge of, was cheaper and sent me another piece of suitable-for-framing embossed stationary but never sent the subscription to American Economist magazine they promised.</p>

<p>Don't I feel smart now?</p>

16

<p>I received a card too. I applied just to see what would happen and was accepted. I saw they want $85, but offer no reason for the money. Nor do they have any benefits. I agree it's a crap business. Don't send them any money.</p>

17

<p>I Recieved A Card In The Mail About A Month Ago. I Put It Aside To Join Later. Luckily, When I Tried To Find The Site This One Popped Up Instead! I Hate Scams!!!!</p>

18

<p>This kind of confuses me, I never received a letter from them but found the site on my own. I applied and received a letter saying that the $85 fee for lifetime membership was waived and along with that letter received a stamped and signed document confirming my membership. If it is a scam why did I not have to pay anything?</p>

19

<p>Similar to zwisslb, I did not receive a letter from the National Scholars Honor Society, but instead I applied online. After roughly a month, I received a certificate, lapel pin, and an acceptance letter waving my fee, due to my 4.0 GPA. This organization issues scholarships that are verifiable. The only issue I have with this society is that it does not verify a student’s claim of academic performance (honor-system). As for the membership cost, fees drive any organization, and without revenue, the establishment would not exist. With that said, anyone whom is suspicious of the transaction, should not pay the fee. Instead, investigate the organization to determine a reasonable outcome.</p>

20

<p>I have an odd feeling that zwisslb and Drag boater are from the "National Scholars Honor Society." But yeah, I got the card in the mail today. Seems a bit sketchy to me...</p>