National Honor Society:pretty meaningless, right?

[Anonymous]

Kid is panicking because “everyone” is applying and the application is due tomorrow and they did not ask for teacher recs or download the application yet or anything. I don’t believe there’s any requirement at our HS beyond GPA and paying a hefty fee. My child has the GPA (4.0 unweighted, something like 4.6 weighted? as a junior in a magnet program) but I’m trying to convince them that their transcript and other parts of their “resume” will speak for themselves. They do not have a lot of other ECs (a varsity sport, very part time job), but as an excellent student who’s aiming for probably T40-75 schools, they don’t need to play the silly NHS game, do they?

[Anonymous]

This must be dependent on school. There’s no fee at our school. It would be very weird for a 4.0uw student to NOT be in NHS here. Like every year one or two kids are rejected, but it’s generally for a reason that would be a red flag.

[Anonymous]

Our school doesn’t require an application and teacher recs, etc, for membership, just a qualifying gpa (top 10% junior year or top 20% senior year). Private school. Are you talking about just being in the NHS, or applying for a scholarship?

[Anonymous]

We never paid a fee. Mine had leadership positions in both junior nhs and regular nhs. Gave them public speaking skills and organization skills. It was a good experience.

[Anonymous]

If it is true that "everyone" in the school applies, not being in it could be a red flag that he was rejected for character reasons or that he actively didn't want to do the associated community service.

[Anonymous]

My high stats magnet kid didn't do it, mainly due to a technicality. Although they had nearly double the required service hours, enough were completed the summer before 9th grade that they ended up being ineligible because they needed to be done after September 1 9th grade. Who knew? Did not affect applications, now attending a top SLAC.

Definitely too late for your kid, since they can't get the teacher recs at this point. But I don't think it matters. NHS basically just confirms high stats and allows kids to wear nice tassels at graduation.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty useless.

I was valedictorian at my high school but was never invited to NHS. I went to a T10.

Neither of my DCs joined NHS, and they wound up at T25s.

However, if it's just paying the fee and clicking some boxes, go ahead. Can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

It's totally worthless for applications. At our HS, there are plenty of top kids who don't apply or get rejected junior year (the application year) b/c they don't have enough service hours PRIOR to applying. It's kind of silly b/c NHS is a great way to GET service hours. Anyway, my DC and their friend did it senior year for the sash, but not for applications.

[Anonymous]

My private school kid just got invited to join the "Cum Laude Society." No application necessary -- just accept the invitation. Easy. I think like the top 20% of the chapter is invited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid is panicking because “everyone” is applying and the application is due tomorrow and they did not ask for teacher recs or download the application yet or anything. I don’t believe there’s any requirement at our HS beyond GPA and paying a hefty fee. My child has the GPA (4.0 unweighted, something like 4.6 weighted? as a junior in a magnet program) but I’m trying to convince them that their transcript and other parts of their “resume” will speak for themselves. They do not have a lot of other ECs (a varsity sport, very part time job), but as an excellent student who’s aiming for probably T40-75 schools, they don’t need to play the silly NHS game, do they?

Yes, it's meaningless.

GPA, rigor, test scores.

That's it.

[Anonymous]

Why didn’t your kid apply?

[Anonymous]

My kids who were top students never bothered to do it. They went to top colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty useless.

I was valedictorian at my high school but was never invited to NHS. I went to a T10.

Neither of my DCs joined NHS, and they wound up at T25s.

However, if it's just paying the fee and clicking some boxes, go ahead. Can't hurt.

LOL after all these years you'll still take any opportunity that you can, even if anonymously, to say you "went to a T10."

[Anonymous]

My kids are at a W school with high stats. They did not apply. They opened the application and decided not to for various reasons

Kids still apply but it’s not as big of a deal anymore. My oldest got into T20 schools without any. Not NHS or any of the others like math, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid is panicking because “everyone” is applying and the application is due tomorrow and they did not ask for teacher recs or download the application yet or anything. I don’t believe there’s any requirement at our HS beyond GPA and paying a hefty fee. My child has the GPA (4.0 unweighted, something like 4.6 weighted? as a junior in a magnet program) but I’m trying to convince them that their transcript and other parts of their “resume” will speak for themselves. They do not have a lot of other ECs (a varsity sport, very part time job), but as an excellent student who’s aiming for probably T40-75 schools, they don’t need to play the silly NHS game, do they?

Kind of view NHS as listing "Honor Roll" as an award. Schools see the grades. They know what's been accomplished academically.