National society of high school scholars

[PurpleTurtle]

I don't believe you've offered this information, Esquette, but may I ask what "University" this is whose President sent your son an "unsolicited letter?"

[LNN]

I was also wondering about this scholarship. I called, they answered. I called back about the fees. They answered again. There is a link on the homepage for fee waivers as well. I was told nobody is turned down. They awarded 107 scholarships last year, look on their site: The National Society of High School Scholars
We might not receive the scholarship, but then again, we might.. 50/50 ... Someone will, and not just 1 person, so there is a chance, and again, if you aren't in, you have NO chance.
I do not enter the lotto, but there are plenty of available scholarships people never even apply for, so they go unawarded. At least Ambercrombie and Fitch award theirs!

[toledo]

Gee, I guess my daughter's 2.7 GPA was high enough, cause she just got the invitation, too.

[skoolmomx4]

The BBB ranks this company with an A-.

BBB Review of The National Society of High School Scholars in Atlanta, GA

[greenwitch]

My daughters each received an "invitation" to this "honor" recently. We decided it was a scam and threw them out. Later that week, another girl in the same HS must have joined because it was cheerily announced in the HS newspaper: "...so and so's academic excellence and blah blah will be recognized in the annual event at the US Senate....". Ugh.

Oh, I wish I had saved that ridiculous "invitation" so I could laugh even more now!

I reminds me of those summer programs that cost thousands of dollars so your child can live with a local family in some place like Morocco. That costs more than $1000 per week? Who is getting that money? Not the local family in Morocco and not those "Nobel" scholars either.....

[iwantivyleagues]

i am an international student and i got the invitation as well. I wondered is it true that we will only be invited if we were nominated by a teacher??

[Genesius]

As a fellow international student and a fellow victim of this semi-scam, it isn't true.

Unfortunately, it's us folks that these people target - immigrants, working-class kids, etc. - because we don't have the fiscal savviness that comes from an upper-middle class life.

I remember my mom pressuring me into this one... oh boy...

[rubdub]

Colleges are impressed by actual accomplishments. Awards, rewards or recognitions based on your established record (grades, etc), as in the case of any of these things you have to apply and pay for, do not provide colleges with any more information than they already have about you. In addition, the awards themselves are not accomplishments. Rather, they are based on your accomplishments. Colleges know exactly what they are so they are not impressive to colleges. Put your efforts into things that are meaningful to you, your school and society in general, and those efforts will be meaningful to colleges. Forget about this sort of garbage.

[veggymomma]

I disagree with rubdub and a few others. I am not a low income nor a immigrant. My children have gone to private schools and what is so wrong with your son or daughter having accomplishments? If it where not for my son being on honor roll and all his awards he would have never gotten accepted at four Ivy League colleges.
For the record both my boys went and both were honored with a dinner and a very informative week long seminar on the do's and don't while in school. Just so you all know this is a actual place.
They do give out scholarships as my older son received one serveral years ago.
Don't knock it until you have tried it.
You may not like it but it looks good on your son our daughters list of what they have achieved and it'll land them a top notch job after college.

If your kids are going for a McDonald's job I'd say save your money, if they are high achievers it's a good thing. I joined a program called FBLA and it helped me out in my long time career as a Landscape Designer.

For the record colleges do look at all your accomplishments!

[qpdrkblu]

According to the Better Business Bureau NSHSS has been an accredited business since 2003. They have only had four complaints in the last 36 months. They have rated this company an A-.
These are direct quotes from BBB.

Products and Services

NSHSS, a national honor society comprised of outstanding high school students, is a membership organization that has a one-time fee for life-time membership. The NSHSS waives the membership fee for any student that demonstrates a financial hardship.

Customer Complaint History

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB processed a total of 4 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 4 complaints closed in 36 months, 2 were closed in the last year.
Sales Practice Issues
Administratively Closed
1 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer.

Service Issues
Resolved
2 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB.

Refund or Exchange Issues
Resolved
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB.


BBB Program Participation
This company has agreed to use special procedures including arbitration, if necessary, to resolve disputes through their participation in the following programs: BBB Identification, BBBOnLine.

Government Actions

BBB has no information regarding government actions at this time.


Advertising Review

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Industry Tips

Scholarship Information Services

As a matter of general information, firms selling information to individuals regarding possible sources of funding to attend college may or may not indicate that money is guaranteed. Potential students should understand that only the actual source providing the funding can guarantee approval. A consumer may wish to determine if the same information he or she will be purchasing from this company may be available free from a school guidance counselor, the reference section of a public library, or directly from the financial aid office of the college he or she wishes to attend. In order to make an educated decision, all details and promises should be obtained in writing before paying for any information. Do not rely on any verbal promises.
A free publication titled "A Student Guide to Financial Aid" is available from the Department of Education by calling 1-800-433-3243.

Vanity Pitches - Don.t Believe the Hype!


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ID: 12000946

Clearly if the NSHSS has something to hide, they are not afraid of the BBB. So if anyone feels they've been scamed or ripped off, they should contact the attorney general in Georgia as well as the IRS and the BBB and get them moving to stop these people.

However, honestly, I haven't really heard anything that screams SCAM. What charitable organization have you ever heard of that actually gives 100% of the donations they get to the actual people they are suppose to help. With all the money that has been going to Cancer research, AIDS research why are there not ready made solutions to cure at the very least the major cancers. These fields seem stagnate to me when compared to the proportionate amount of money, time and manpower given to their causes. I could be wrong. The bottom line though is as with everything, it's only what someone is willing to pay for it that gives is its value. I got the books from the United States Achievement Academy, my kids loved it. My kids go to a really good school, but they are not much for the individual recognition. This is a way for me to give them a little something to say "Alright kid, you did a Good Job." Each to his own, you decide.

[stringkeymom]

While membership in NSHSS may not be by selective process, they do award scholarships. My son was thrilled to win one of their scholarships last year, which reduced the amount of his college financial aid required student contribution enough that he did not have to work last summer or part time during the school year. The organization itself is extremely warm and friendly, and they host many events throughout the year and in different parts of the country. I understand the events are very interesting and worth attending. My son was offered the opportunity to perform at one of these but he had a conflict and could not attend. Obviously, I feel the membership fee was worth it.

[Azizi2012]

This is DEFNITELY a scam. Here's Why :
The letter I received says that membership is based on "outstanding academic achievment"
.

Now I didn't doubt that lol but when I looked at the front where they spelt my last name, they spelled it WRONGLY in the exact same way they spelt in wrongly on my PSAT score results.

LITERALLY, I LIKE FAILED THE PSATS (I DIDNT EVEN FINISH THEM)

THUS, HOW CAN AN ORGANIZATION CLAIM IT SELECTS YOU BASED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVMENTS when they sent this out as a result of my PSAT Exam WHICH WAS DEFENITIELY NOT OUTSTANDING OR EVEN CLOSE!

You've been warned.

[Azizi2012]

I will support the opinion that they do target working class families who will be tricked into joining.

[DougBetsy]

My daughter got the post card today. It went right in the recycling bin.

They target everybody, not just working class.

[early_college]

I got one today as well. I'm a sophomore who has a 3.3 GPA and literally did terrible on the PSAT. How does one got nominated if he/she doesn't have a 3.5? After researching it and reading this thread, it looks like a scam for sure.

At first, I was happy because I NEVER get nominated for anything lol but I do not feel so special any more.