National society of high school scholars

parentny · 03-07-2005, 02:42 PM

Is this a scam for moeny? I thought that it was a waste of time. What do you think?

driver · 03-07-2005, 03:01 PM

Yes, they charge you $45 to join. You don't have to pay for real awards. It's the same kind of thing as the "Who's Who in American High Schools."

q's mom · 04-08-2006, 12:00 PM

s guidance said it is not ascambut I honestly think she's young & dumb, anyone research this? Who's Who is optional-that I know, but at this point I wouldlike to hear from anyone who actually investigated this kind of thing,thanks

calmom · 04-08-2006, 12:29 PM

Well, the advantage of "Who's Who" is that the nominees don't have to pay money if they don't want to -- they just pay extra if they want their picture included with a listing, or if the parents want to buy the book to impress the grandparents. Even though its a meaningless honor, it's a nice ego boost for a kid who hasn't gotten a lot of other kind of recognition. Plus I've heard of one kid actually winning the scholarship they offer (I think its about $1000), and while my son didn't get that, they did send him a credit card offer through MBNA when he turned 18 that was on better terms than most he was receiving at the time & had a higher credit limit. (My son was one of those introverted kids who could use the ego boost at the time).

But I personally wouldn't go for any sort of "honor" that requires paying money. Technically (from a legal standpoint) - it's not a "scam" because they give you what they promise for the "membership" -- which appears basically to be a subscription to their publications and access to their members-only web site. But it definitely is a waste of money.

EllenF · 04-08-2006, 01:57 PM

Who's Who scholarhips are a sort of scam. The students who apply for the scholarships are funding the scholarships through "processing fees." A while back, I posted information from the IRS form 990 for the non-profit portion of Who's Who which administers the scholarships. The "processing fees" paid by students applying for the scholarships were far more than the costs to administer the scholarships. In fact, the fees were so much more that they funded nearly all the scholarships.

If something costs, it probably is a scam, even if the cost is fairly small and called a "processing fee." In case anyone is wondering, the Who's Who scholarship processing fees are in addition to anything parents pay for having their child's picture in a book or purchasing the book. The picture and book fees are paid to the for-profit portion of Who's Who.

calmom · 04-08-2006, 03:25 PM

You are probably right - it's not a scam but it is a lottery, not a true scholarship. (Technically, I think a "scam" would be if they took in money but never paid out as many scholarships as they claim). You are also right students shouldn't pay anything for scholarships, but I had forgotten about the processing fee because as I recall it was very small - maybe $2 or $3 - and my son chose to pay it himself. I can see how Who's Who can make a big profit on that, but I think that on an individual basis, my son was willing to pay a couple of dollars for the chance to win $1000, just as he might buy tickets for the state lottery or a local raffle every once in a while. Of course he knows that the odds are against winning... but somehow we keep buying those lottery tickets every time the jackpot gets big.

EllenF · 04-08-2006, 07:40 PM

I agree that the scholarship is set up like a lottery. However, since Who's Who does not disclose to students that they (the students) are financing the scholarships, it becomes a scam. I don't buy lottery tickets no matter how big the jackpot. How many students would buy lottery tickets if they knew the payoff was $1,000 and their chances of winning were very slim?

ConanFan314 · 04-09-2006, 09:47 PM

I think that this organization is actually legitimate.

Mikksmom · 07-29-2006, 01:03 PM

My D just got notified of her 'invitation' to join this group. DOes anyone know if it has any merit? Looked like a few 5K scholarships and some smaller ones but it has costs.

Any thoughts?

MikksMom

flgirl04 · 07-29-2006, 10:28 PM

Further note, educate your children about these types of scams now! In college they will receive a ton of invites to "honor societies" some of which will be reputable, but most will be not. Dont let them spend their money on non-reputable societies!

Greegor · 08-07-2006, 04:25 PM

National Society of High School Scholars

It's a SCAM!

They claim they get referrals from Guidance Counselors.
Most Guidance Counselors know it's a SCAM and won't
provide them with any referrals.

This morning I got junk mail from them for a person
who as far as I know NEVER lived at this address
and mentioning a High School which HAS NOT
EXISTED for at least TWO YEARS!

The Founder/Chairman Claes Nobel apparently
can never be reached on the phone and
his e-mail is through the Atlanta Georgia SCAM organization.
Claes Nobel Founded and Chairs another organization
in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

It is Claes.Nobel@nshss.org
His assistant is Maudelle "Dell" Driskell.

I told the staffer that thousands of press releases,
lots of PR moments, meetings and even the piddly
$1,000.00 scholarship they gave somebody does
NOT make this any less of a SCAM.

What do you figure they're taking IN?
Thousands of people mailing in $ 45.00 minimum
for the basic certificate and PRESS RELEASE!

Various MERCHANDISE available, up to $85 worth.

They claim 120,000 members.
If they all paid ONLY the $45 "new member fee" then the
organization has taken in 5.4 MILLION in four years.

For 2006 they handed out $150K in scholarships.

They gave out MUCH less in scholarships in
previous years.

For a SCAMMER who gets 5.4 MILLION PLUS,
paying out $300K in scholarships to "appear legitimate"
would be well worth it!

They probably spend more than that on
AIRFARE and CAR RENTALS when they hold
meetings or go on junkets for PR purposes!

"NSHSS or its leaders are members of or associate members of the following organizations:
NRCCUA - The National Research Center for College and University Admissions
NSPA - The National Scholarship Providers Association
AASA - The American Association of School Administrators
AAIE - The Association for the Advancement of International Education"

Are these references legit and would they approve
of their names being used in connection with this?

For reference:

National Society of High School Scholars
2531 Briarcliff Road
Atlanta, GA 30329 866/343-1800

Office of the Attorney General of Georgia
Thurbert E. Baker
40 Capitol Square SW
Atlanta, GA 30334 404/656-3790 Consumer Affairs

I would encourage people to write to Mr. Baker
to ask that this organization be investigated
and put under more strict controls.

http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.g.../scholars.html

Please ask the IRS to investigate these people.
Is nshss FOR PROFIT or NON-PROFIT?
http://www.irs.gov

beaston105 · 02-02-2007, 04:58 PM

I got a letter about this today.
Does anyone know if it's really legit or not?

juventus10 · 02-05-2007, 11:03 PM

yea i would like to know

suppasonic · 02-06-2007, 01:50 AM

If you have to ask if something is a scam or not, it probably is a scam.

swimcatsmom · 02-06-2007, 02:02 AM

It is yet another meaningless society (Who's who, NHS etc etc) that does not impress on college apps. I once asked a college admin person about a similar society and she said the honor society type things where they are trying to sell you $40 books(who's who, NHS, this one) are just - companies trying to sell you $40 books - and do not impress colleges at all. I even got an invite for one (something to do with women in business) - I have been a stay at home Mom for years.