Will it hurt my college admission chances if I quit the National Honor Society?

Applying to College
1

<p>My school's NHS is reigned over by a tyrant president, for lack of more graphic words. He's an arrogant snot who talks down to us at meetings and treats us like children (even though most of the seniors are older than him). </p>

<p>Now, the NHS at my school doesn't really do much...we do maybe 1/2 events per year, so I don't view it as a club vital to my college admissions. </p>

<p>On top of the inactivity, and the arrogance and rudeness of our president, the dues are $40. That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider college fees, SAT fees etc etc it really becomes an unnecessarily expensive club.</p>

<p>I have already mailed my applications off for my top four schools (Duke, Stanford, Princeton and Harvard)...would it hurt me if I quit the club? I don't enjoy it, and I gain nothing from it. I am still in the National Honor Society, but I just see no reason to torture myself through every club meeting. </p>

<p>any help would really be appreciated, thanks!</p>

2

<p>quick questions, did you apply SCEA/ED to one of them? And what did you put on your college app for NHS (did you include this year?)</p>

3

<p>I applied ED to Duke and RD for the other three. I did include it on the application, since I AM currently in the organization.</p>

4

<p>It is probably a non-issue if you quit now. I would add, however, that being directed by a tyrant, arrogant snob, and somwone who talks down to you is something that you may want to get used to, since your remaining working life will likely include many bosses with the same personality traits as those of this club president.</p>

5

<p>Oh of course, but in a working position I’ll obviously expect that–there should be a hierarchy like that. But I detest being spoken to as a 4 year-old by someone who is my ‘peer.’</p>

6

<p>I promise you that you will also have peers who act like this. I would strongly advise you to learn how to deal with people like this. They are as often insecure as they are egocentric.</p>

7

<p>Oh I can deal with it. I just don’t want to pay $40 for it, ya know?</p>

8

<p>I don’t think it would hurt to quit, but I (well, I am paranoid about things, but trust me) would just send your colleges a quick update that you are no longer in the club. NHS is kind of a joke, but you don’t wan them to think that you lied on your application (again, they probably won’t check, but if they do somehow for some reason, and you are not in it, you’re screwed)</p>

9

<p>Hm, ok. I don’t know if that would send a bad message to them…that I quit…</p>

10

<p>Wait…if you quit, you can get your $40 back?</p>

<p>Sounds to me as if you want to quite NHS because you don’t like the president. I don’t think it matters a whit in your college applications. (But I don’t think it sounds all that grown-up, either.) And I don’t think it’s really about the $40.</p>

11

<p>No it’s not entirely because I dislike the president. He’s a snot, so that DOES factor in…but it’s also financial/time/other commitments. I don’t want to go to a meeting where we do nothing, and miss out on other things going on (academic team meets on the same day, at the same time and I’m the captain). Dues are to be turned in this week, and I’ve already had to spend over $250 this week on application fees, SAT report scores etc. I just want to cut down on expenses. </p>

<p>I admit that I am partly motivated by childish reasons (it would be dishonest on my part to suggest otherwise) but the decision isn’t founded solely on dislike.</p>

12

<p>OK, when you put it that way, I can certainly see your point about wasting time in pointless meetings. (On the other hand, it could be argued that wasting your time in pointless meetings is far better preparation for the workplace than anything else that happens in a high school classroom.) I may have been a little judgmental before. Sorry.</p>

<p>I don’t think quitting NHS is a make-or-break decision. I think it would be OK to save some afternoons (and $40) for better uses.</p>

13

<p>No problem, I can see how I might have come across as catty, or immature. I should have included that last bit in my original post. </p>

<p>Thank you so much for your help on this! Are you already at uni? Or are you applying?</p>

14

<p>I’m 47. I’m one of those CC parents that some high school seniors like to complain about.</p>

15

<p>Ah, so I’m guessing your kids are in Uni already? Where?</p>

16

<p>Haha. Goodness. I’ve never understood why people take NHS so seriously. It really shouldn’t have that much weight as far as your ECs go. Literally everyone is in it at my school, and after reading up a bit here, it seems like that’s a common scenario. </p>

<p>If the average NHS club had about ten qualified kids in it from each school, it would probably be different. However, our NHS has probably 60 kids in it, and zip to show for it.</p>

17

<p>You know what, stand up to him. Don’t let him talk down to you like that. Show him whose boss. What is he going to do? He can’t do anything. If he kicks you out, fine. You wanted to leave anyways. I hate little pricks like that and there are plenty around.</p>