Millions of high school students receive invitations from the National Society of High School Scholars every year when they check their mailboxes, or more likely, their email inboxes. The promise of recognition among the top students in more than 26,000 high schools across 170 countries is noteworthy, the letter is formal, and the language is flattering. The initial response is pride for a lot of students and their parents. Suspicion comes in second, not far behind.
It’s worth taking a moment to sit with that tension.
NSHSS was established in 2002, and the organization doesn’t back down from its co-founder’s connections to the Nobel Prize family. Its declared goal is to connect students with resources that span high school, college, and the early stages of their careers while also recognizing academic excellence. On paper, this includes networking events, webinars, leadership programs, college fairs, internships, and scholarships. However, a lot of the skepticism stems from the $75 one-time membership fee.
It’s important to understand what that $75 truly unlocks. The organization claims that NSHSS and its partners provide members with access to over $2.5 million in scholarships each year. Additionally, the organization offers partner discounts on educational services, free webinars, study abroad opportunities, and what it refers to as a global community of like-minded scholars. The degree to which a student chooses to participate will determine whether or not that is worth $75.
Speaking with both current and former members, it seems that NSHSS provides comparatively little to passive members while rewarding those who are actively involved. For the majority of organizations, that is probably the case. Compared to students who paid the fee, framed the certificate, and moved on, those who applied for scholarships, joined the Ambassador program, or attended events appear to leave with a truly different experience. According to one ambassador, it was “a community of likeminded individuals” where she made genuine cross-state friendships. That is not insignificant, particularly during the lonely period of college applications.
It is worthwhile to address the scholarship criticism in an open manner. Unlike traditional academic honor societies, which typically choose only the best students at a particular school, NSHSS does not function in this manner. Many students receive invitations because its criteria are academic but rather broad. This has long been cited by critics as proof that the company puts profit ahead of selectivity. That’s a valid point, but it’s also possible to hold two things at once: NSHSS might not be as exclusive as, say, NHS, but it might still be very helpful to students who make intentional use of its resources.
One aspect that is not sufficiently discussed is the fee waiver option. Students may apply to have the membership fee completely waived if they can prove their financial need. Calculus is significantly altered by that. If they take it seriously, NSHSS could be a useful on-ramp for a low-income student who might not otherwise have access to scholarship databases, webinars on college preparation, or professional networking events.
NSHSS is most likely not a magical credential. A demanding course load or an engaging personal essay will make a bigger impact than listing it on a college application. Admissions officers are aware of it. However, this does not imply that the organization is worthless; rather, it simply means that students should be realistic about what they are truly joining. A platform, not a gatekeeper. Additionally, it reimburses you roughly in proportion to your input, just like the majority of platforms.
