Are you a student eligible to join the National Honor Society, and you are wondering if it’s worth it? Have you heard about the program’s benefits and wondered if this will help you prepare for college? Regardless of what brought you here, we have the answers you’re looking for.
All you have to do is keep reading for more helpful information. We will start with some of the most basic information, like what the society is and how to get into the NHS. We will then provide you with a multitude of reasons why the organization could be beneficial for you.
What is NHS?
What is NHS?One thing that you may not have known is that the National Honor Society was the brainchild of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The NHS, or National Honor Society, was first founded in 1921 by the NASSP. This was the first nationwide organization of its kind. Though it only started with one chapter, it has grown not only in its chapter size, which now has more than 1000 chapters nationwide but its influence as well.
Chapters are full of not only academically talented students but well-rounded charitable students. Chapters are often filled with students who are committed to community service, charity donations, and even blood donation. They celebrated their centennial anniversary in March of 2021.
Is It Easy to Get Into the NHS? Who Can Join?
It is no easy feat if you’re wondering how to get into the NHS. You have to be a dedicated and well-rounded individual. There are also specific minimum stipulations that students must meet to be considered for admission to the honor society.
To be eligible for admission to the National Honor Society, students must be in grades 10th, 11th, or 12th. Each chapter may also have specific guidelines for membership; however, there are still national guidelines that students must meet. These chapter-specific guidelines must be prominently posted and available to prospective members.
Students must excel in scholarship, character, leadership, and service to meet national standards. Nationally, students are only required to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. However, specific chapters may increase their GPS as they see fit. The NHS also looks for students who give back to their community, have exhibited a track record for leadership, and have a solid moral foundation.
Students must also be willing to complete their obligations once they join the program. This may include chapter meetings, events, and even group community.
How are Applications for NHS Evaluated?
Before you can apply to the program, you must first get in touch with your school’s chapter. Students are evaluated on a school-by-school basis; students in different states will never be evaluated against each other. The national offices are not a part of any singular selection process. Each application is vetted through the society’s four pillars.
Service
The first area which is evaluated is service. This area aims to look at how a student has contributed to their community or school as a whole. The chapter wants to ensure that this individual will be a good representation of what they stand for by being selfless and volunteering their time for someone else.
Character
Your character is a significant representation of you. It is how reliable you are. Are you an honest person? Can individuals count on you in their times of need? These are all areas within your character that the society looks for to be strong and leadership worthy.
Leadership
The National Honor Society wants to select students who have high leadership potential. Society wants to ensure that you are someone who can take action when needed and make critical decisions to help lead others.
Scholarship
Scholarship speaks to your education. Are you someone who is serious about their education trajectory? Do you have a need to bring your gift to the world by any means necessary?
Achieving and maintaining these standards will not be hard if you are a solid, high-achieving student. It will simply be a regular day. There are several different reasons why saying yes to the National Honor Society is not the worst thing you can do.
7 Reasons Why You Should Join the NHS
There are several reasons why you should join the National Honor Society. It is not only a highly recognizable organization, but it can be great for college applications. Here are seven reasons why you should think about not only joining but investing your time in the National Honor Society.
1. A Networking Opportunity
Due to the society’s extremely popular nature, this may not be the organization to join If you are looking for something to help you stand out on your Stanford University application. However, this is a great place to start if you are looking for something to help you meet other intelligent, successful individuals. The National Honor Society also has several organizations sponsored events that you may partake in. These events include things like local chapter events and even conferences. Examples of prominent events include summits and even leadership conferences.
2. Scholarship Opportunities
The National Honor Society also offers students several scholarship options. These options range in amounts, and the amount received will vary by year and recipient. There are three levels of scholarships for students. The highest level, the $25,000 option, is available to one lucky recipient; the $5,625 scholarship is open to 24 finalists, and the final $3200 goes to 575 recipients. These scholarships are available for college seniors in good standing with the organization.
3. How You Benefit from the Organization Depends Strictly On You
The organization is not the most selective, but it will help you open doors in your education if you play your cards right. The organization’s namesake is not for your benefit. However, the resources they provide are its most outstanding amenity.
4. College Resources
There are several resources that older students can take advantage of when getting ready to go to college. This includes webinars and guides which help students prepare for college, planning resources like scholarship searches, and even webinars on how the admissions process works. They also provide a checklist for parents to get them prepared for.
5. Service
The National Honor Society is a great way to get service hours. National and local chapters will provide students ample opportunities to complete service projects and obtain community service hours.
6. Accolades Are Given
Within the program, students may also receive a host of different accolades that may boost their college applications and job success odds. These can include things like badges of honor which can be placed on their digital profiles.
7. LEAD Conferences
These are conferences that students from all over look forward to each year. They are hosted in various cities and focus on topics like wellness, living a healthy lifestyle, networking, and even community service. LEAD, which breaks out into Leadership Experiences and Development conferences, is a weekend of meetings that stimulate thought and critical thinking within your child.
Is It Worth It Being in the NHS?
Is it worth it to be in the National Honor Society? That is a question that many students often ask before they commit to joining the society. If you are a student looking to attend college and have a prosperous educational future in front of you, the society has great benefits. Outside of the benefits mentioned in the previous section, there may be some indirect benefits that students may reap.
Once you decide to become a member, you gain access to a database of scholarships that is unique to you, as well as getting help throughout your college application process. You will also have the ability to utilize mentors and role models in your field of study. You may find an individual to help you through various stages of life. Outside of the endless number of resources and aid that is available to students – you will also gain the camaraderie of students like you. These students can be positive role models, study groups, and even motivators for grade improvement.
Being in an organization of this caliber can also prepare students for what to expect from collegiate-level organizations. These may include Greek letter organizations, collegiate honor societies, and more.
Wrapping Things Up: Is it Worth it to Join the NHS? Does It Matter?
Though the National Honor Society is not one of the most selective organizations, it can have many benefits to your academic pathway. Joining the National Honor Society is strictly for high school students, excluding first-year students. This allows the organization time to see your potential and progress in academics, service, and leadership.
Potential candidates are evaluated on four main pillars. These pillars include leadership, scholarship, service, and character. Students who are able to meet the criteria created by their school and gain entrance into the organization are now offered a variety of amenities. One of these amenities is the ability to apply for the NHS scholarship. This scholarship is an excellent option for you to make your presence known.
So, is it worth it to be in the national honor society? The short answer is yes, it is.
Curious about the difference between NSHSS and NHS? Check out this article to learn which is the best choice for you.
