Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at NHS as more of a box to check. If you’re applying to top schools, it would look odd if you weren’t a member.

You think AOs with their previous time are going to have that on their list of things to check? I don’t think so.

It doesn’t have to be a list — if you’re looking at 10 “qualified” kids from one school and 9 have NHS listed and one doesn’t, it would take you two seconds to see that as you read through the kid’s awards & activities. Obviously not determinative of anything, but since NHS membership requires leadership positions and service hours and no disciplinary infractions, it might be indicative of some lack in those areas. Which is why being able to “check the box” is good. It shows you’ve at least met a minimum standard for those things. It also shows that your kid can at least organize the moderate amount of paperwork required.

I think the only way to make NHS better is to be a tutor. Saying NHS is so common. But being a Peer Tutor is alot better. Of course, you actually have to do the turoring, which alot of kids don't really want or feel comfortable doing.

For kids without any awards (which is pretty typical around here as our schools avoid them), it’s something to put on the Common App awards section. You can also put on resume to show you’re a good student and citizen. It’s not a substantial feather in one’s cap but it’s a little something.

At my kid's school, there were many students with the qualifying GPA, but then teachers voted members from that potential pool (based in part on service I believe).

So my kid explained the criteria the faculty used for selecting members. Also, she explained how their chapter contributed to the community (organizing the orientation night for freshmen and their families, for example).

Anonymous wrote:I look at NHS as more of a box to check. If you’re applying to top schools, it would look odd if you weren’t a member.

You think AOs with their previous time are going to have that on their list of things to check? I don’t think so.

Just being strong students and continuing to do service work was what earned the invite and the acceptance at our school.
One thing is one of mine does service work that is not related to education, which was required. So he added peer tutoring (for free) - for friends - in Math and English. Nothing formal - just whenever worked for them, but he felt they really appreciated it and it made a difference. I would always go for NHS if you can.

Anonymous wrote:I look at NHS as more of a box to check. If you’re applying to top schools, it would look odd if you weren’t a member.

That’s what I thought, although my dd decided not to do it, and still gotten to a tippy top school. She had plenty of service hours that she had organized on her own, and she felt like the “box to check” wasn’t meaningful. At our school it seems like nearly 1/3 of the class was invited to apply.

At my DC’s high school it was purely by GPA and a few service hours. There was no interview process or anything.

^^ Sorry, I mis-read your original post. Disregard.

Can you get ahold of the application? Usually, the app has categories of accomplishments in addition to the GPA. For example, clubs, leadership, community service, etc. Evaluate where your child might be lacking and prioritize new positions.

National Honor Society isn't likely to have any effect on college applications at all. It just confirms what they can already see on the transcript. The one thing it does do is tell them a kid has no major discipline infractions.

I look at NHS as more of a box to check. If you’re applying to top schools, it would look odd if you weren’t a member.

Anonymous wrote:DD got a leadership position (president) in one

What does the president do? Or officers for that matter.
I'm looking at the website and the activities look so vague.

DD got a leadership position (president) in one

I see NHS memberships and other Honor Societies mentioned here often.

What did your DC do that makes it helpful?

My kid was in NJHS and just did the community hours and maintained the GPA. Other than that, there was nothing. Is it a lot busier at the High School level?