Do colleges care about NHS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If her kid really wants to know if colleges care she would take the initiative to ask her guidance counselor. This is not kid driven, it’s helicopter mother driven.

This is the perfect example of a situation where the mother should back off.

So you never provide your kid with any input or advice regarding something they haven't yet asked you about?

Not about something like this. No.

Your prerogative. I think that is neglectful parenting.

LOL, OK. If only you knew how my kids ended up. No doubt better than yours will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our school district some of these honors come fairly easily if the kid meets the prerequisites.
-A student taking language AP, is very well positioned to get the seal of biliteracy and also be in the Foreign Language Honor Society
-A students with great GPA and some service component to their ECs will need to only put minimal effort to be in NHS or other honor societies.
-A student with 1580-1600 in SAT would not have a problem being a NMS finalist.

To make it effortless, students and parents need to know what the prerequisites are from start of HS. If NHS expects you to have 3.5 GPA and 60 hours of service hours during HS, these need to be addressed during the freshman and sophomore year, so that the student gains admission in NHS during junior year and is able to avail of the opportunities from this society.

My kid goes in a competitive school and mostly all of the peers will have similar stats. Being in NHS may not help, but not being in NHS will stand out.

No, it really won't stand out in college admissions. Especially if you have the finite number of slots in the common app filled with better things. They won't even know you didn't just leave it off.

There is a place for Honors and Accolades. Very different from the 10 place for EC. There is also the resume. There are schools that want a lot more than common app. Still, know your child.

It's still finite, and you can still fill it with better things.

It can't hurt. It's better to have it than not have it.

It's not better to have if the time and commitment take you away from things that make you stand out. It's a commoditized award that is not much more significant than "honor roll". Sure, if you have a slot for it enter it, but if it takes time away from your Intel competition project or another more exclusive award, it's a minus. That's what the OP is asking, I think.

Yes, that's exactly what I was asking.

[Anonymous]

INTEL science award trumps NHS. Congrats, OP.

[Anonymous]

I think it may totally depend on what school you’re coming from. DS is at a private school. The minimum GPA to be invited to apply is 3.8. Those kids answer an essay and a few other questions and have to get recs from two teachers. Obviously have to not be in trouble. Of those that have the GPA and write the essay etc some (about 15%) of those eligible didn’t make it because what they wrote didn’t show that they had leadership or service experience that was expected. Knowing that gpas are so inflated in public it almost seems worthless if the cutoff is a 3.5 with nothing else.

Colleges have no idea what your individual HS qualifications are for NHS. They do know there are probably dozens of kids from each school with the distinction, rendering it to close to zero impact on admissions.

As stated before, this is the thinking that leads to the bafflement when a great kid doesn't get into any top 20 school. You've got to focus on things that make you stand out, not just the same as the other 50 top kids at your HS (and every other HS in the country).

Anonymous wrote:INTEL science award trumps NHS. Congrats, OP.

That's not what the OP asked and you know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If her kid really wants to know if colleges care she would take the initiative to ask her guidance counselor. This is not kid driven, it’s helicopter mother driven.

This is the perfect example of a situation where the mother should back off.

So you never provide your kid with any input or advice regarding something they haven't yet asked you about?

Not about something like this. No.

Wait, so if you kid asks what you think, what would you do? Would you give him a thoughtful response, or would you just say, "figure it out yourself."

[Anonymous]

This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

You can deny people trying to help if you want. The question asked was "Do colleges care about NHS?" and the answer is a resounding "NO". No one said it would "hurt" -- just that if you don't have it but have more distinctive awards and spend your time on something that makes you stand out, that is better.

If you questioned the absence of it on an application that was full of other substantial accomplishments, awards and activities, you'd be a bad admissions officer.

Again, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that results in adults being mystified when kids they think are "perfect" don't get into top 20 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

You can deny people trying to help if you want. The question asked was "Do colleges care about NHS?" and the answer is a resounding "NO". No one said it would "hurt" -- just that if you don't have it but have more distinctive awards and spend your time on something that makes you stand out, that is better.

If you questioned the absence of it on an application that was full of other substantial accomplishments, awards and activities, you'd be a bad admissions officer.

Again, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that results in adults being mystified when kids they think are "perfect" don't get into top 20 schools.

I am the pp here. My ordinary high stats kid joined nhs and admitted to two T20s. FWIW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

You can deny people trying to help if you want. The question asked was "Do colleges care about NHS?" and the answer is a resounding "NO". No one said it would "hurt" -- just that if you don't have it but have more distinctive awards and spend your time on something that makes you stand out, that is better.

If you questioned the absence of it on an application that was full of other substantial accomplishments, awards and activities, you'd be a bad admissions officer.

Again, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that results in adults being mystified when kids they think are "perfect" don't get into top 20 schools.

I am the pp here. My ordinary high stats kid joined nhs and admitted to two T20s. FWIW

Congrats. But I assure you it wasn't because of NHS membership.

Anecdotes are not data. But to balance yours, my kid was admitted to an ivy without NHS. Before he decided not to join we did research and listened to people more experienced, and they were right. He spent his time doing other things that he enjoyed more and he believes made him more interesting.

According to Naviance, 19 other kids from his HS were denied by that college. They were probably all NHS.

FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Nope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

You can deny people trying to help if you want. The question asked was "Do colleges care about NHS?" and the answer is a resounding "NO". No one said it would "hurt" -- just that if you don't have it but have more distinctive awards and spend your time on something that makes you stand out, that is better.

If you questioned the absence of it on an application that was full of other substantial accomplishments, awards and activities, you'd be a bad admissions officer.

Again, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that results in adults being mystified when kids they think are "perfect" don't get into top 20 schools.

I am the pp here. My ordinary high stats kid joined nhs and admitted to two T20s. FWIW

Congrats. But I assure you it wasn't because of NHS membership.

Anecdotes are not data. But to balance yours, my kid was admitted to an ivy without NHS. Before he decided not to join we did research and listened to people more experienced, and they were right. He spent his time doing other things that he enjoyed more and he believes made him more interesting.

According to Naviance, 19 other kids from his HS were denied by that college. They were probably all NHS.

FWIW.

Like I said, it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed. Your kid chose to dismiss and got lucky at the same time because we all know that admission to any ivy is a crapshoot. My kid did not want an ivy, but if he applied, he just might have gotten in -- even with his NHS box checked.

You are exactly what I was talking about when I said how gross the DCUM community is. Just horrible.

People, don't listen to this snob!! Let you kid do what he or she thinks they will enjoy during their four years in high school. If that is NHS, then so be it. I know a kid who got into Princeton and another into Yale in my son's high school class. Both were heavily involved in our NHS. At our school, the NHS makes a significant difference in the lives of the underserved. Yes, it is a little more stuff on your student's plate, but if they can pull it off, it cannot hurt. Mine spent about 5-10 hours a semester on this activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread just goes to show how gross and snobby the DCUM community is.

The NHS is a great thing to have on your resume. Is it exceptional? No. But it is still something that will make a kid look well rounded. I would actually question the absence of it if a kid is academically strong and has little or no service on his/her resume. Was the kid too lazy to apply? Did he/she apply and not get in? Like I said earlier, it cannot hurt to have it on your resume, and many schools are looking for kids who like to do service. This in and of itself demonstrates that along with academic success. It puts him/her in a category that is acceptable and could get him/her in the right pile during admissions.

Will the NHS help your kid get into Harvard or any top 20? No. But it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed.

You can deny people trying to help if you want. The question asked was "Do colleges care about NHS?" and the answer is a resounding "NO". No one said it would "hurt" -- just that if you don't have it but have more distinctive awards and spend your time on something that makes you stand out, that is better.

If you questioned the absence of it on an application that was full of other substantial accomplishments, awards and activities, you'd be a bad admissions officer.

Again, this is EXACTLY the kind of thinking that results in adults being mystified when kids they think are "perfect" don't get into top 20 schools.

I am the pp here. My ordinary high stats kid joined nhs and admitted to two T20s. FWIW

Congrats. But I assure you it wasn't because of NHS membership.

Anecdotes are not data. But to balance yours, my kid was admitted to an ivy without NHS. Before he decided not to join we did research and listened to people more experienced, and they were right. He spent his time doing other things that he enjoyed more and he believes made him more interesting.

According to Naviance, 19 other kids from his HS were denied by that college. They were probably all NHS.

FWIW.

Like I said, it serves a purpose and should not be dismissed. Your kid chose to dismiss and got lucky at the same time because we all know that admission to any ivy is a crapshoot. My kid did not want an ivy, but if he applied, he just might have gotten in -- even with his NHS box checked.

You are exactly what I was talking about when I said how gross the DCUM community is. Just horrible.


People, don't listen to this snob!! Let you kid do what he or she thinks they will enjoy during their four years in high school. If that is NHS, then so be it. I know a kid who got into Princeton and another into Yale in my son's high school class. Both were heavily involved in our NHS. At our school, the NHS makes a significant difference in the lives of the underserved. Yes, it is a little more stuff on your student's plate, but if they can pull it off, it cannot hurt. Mine spent about 5-10 hours a semester on this activity.

You are exasperating.

The stuff you typed that I bolded above -- THAT IS THE POINT. 100% the point. Don't do NHS just because you think it will help admissions, because it won't. Do what you think you will enjoy and will make you unique. The OP clarified that was the intent of the question, but for some incomprehensible reason you refuse to accept that.

As for your typing that I put in italic: No one said being in NHS would keep you out of an elite college. That has never been claimed, even once.

For you to call me a "snob" and say the community is "horrible" -- well, if answering a sincerely asked question as truthfully as possible and with good intent makes me a horrible snob, then I'll wear that label.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If her kid really wants to know if colleges care she would take the initiative to ask her guidance counselor. This is not kid driven, it’s helicopter mother driven.

This is the perfect example of a situation where the mother should back off.

So you never provide your kid with any input or advice regarding something they haven't yet asked you about?

Not about something like this. No.

Wait, so if you kid asks what you think, what would you do? Would you give him a thoughtful response, or would you just say, "figure it out yourself."

You ask them questions about it that will tease out their feelings without injecting your POV. Ask how many students are in NHS nationally and at their high school. Ask them what kind of service projects their school chapter does and whether they would enjoy participating in them. Ask them how they'd balance commitments to NHS with their other responsibilities.

Plenty of ways to guide and encourage your kids to make their own decisions. None of which include giving advice.

[Anonymous]

DP here. A lot of what my kid does also fulfills the NHS requirement, and a couple other honor societies (French, Art, Math) requirements. Its a low hanging fruit for him.

[Anonymous]

My kid decided not to apply for NHS. She’s a high starts kid who meets the requirements. But she felt the payoff wasn’t there. It’s a pretty cumbersome application process and she didn’t feel it was worth it. Only a small percentage of kids at her large public high school applied. This school is filled with many, many kids who were qualified but decided not to apply. It does not seem to be perceived as a big deal by these kids. Now whether or not it hurts them in the college application process, we’ll have to see, but personally I doubt it.