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Frequently Asked Questions About NSCS
NSCS is an honors organization recognizing first- and second-year students for outstanding academic achievement. As a member, you have the opportunity to join a national organization that not only recognizes outstanding students, but also provides opportunities for members to develop leadership skills and get involved with their communities. (See What is the membership fee used for?)
The Board of Directors establishes the criteria for membership. Only first- and second-year students who rank in the top 20th percentile of their class and have a minimum GPA of 3.4 are invited to join. Eligibility requirements are consistent for all chapters.
This is the standard set by the Association of College Honor Societies. Additionally, the Board of Directors and staff believe that it is a very commendable ranking and GPA for students, particularly early on in their academic careers.
Currently, we have chapters at 226 colleges and universities nationwide, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. They include The George Washington University, where we were chartered in 1994, Princeton, UCLA, UC-Berkeley, the University of Virginia, Howard University, the United States Naval Academy, Rice, Brigham Young, and Dartmouth.
Seventy-Five Dollars.
The membership fee is used to provide benefits and services to members. These benefits include funding to the chapter for activities; a personalized diploma; an on-campus induction ceremony; networking and career resources; scholarships (including the Merit Award); and leadership development (an annual leadership summit and opportunities to serve in national and campus leadership positions). The fee also helps offset NSCS’ administrative costs. The fee is for lifetime membership, entitling members to on-going access to NSCS’ resources and services. Benefits and opportunities are also available through our alumni program. NSCS is a 501 (c) 3, not-for profit organization and all income is used for the development and operation of the Society.
Once you join NSCS, you will receive a confirmation of your membership, a membership diploma, information about benefits, and a press release to share with local media. The names of all members are provided to your NSCS chapter officers to facilitate informing you about NSCS activities and services on your campus.
The Induction Convocation provides members the opportunity to be formally inducted into the Society and receive their membership pins. The ceremony is an opportunity to learn more about NSCS and meet chapter leadership. The induction is also attended by a member of the national staff. The induction typically lasts one hour and dress is business casual. The chapter arranges for a keynote speaker from campus or the local community. Family and guests are welcome to attend.
Members are highly encouraged to attend the induction. Although members are not required to go to the induction to be part of this organization or participate in chapter activities, involvement is the key to a more fulfilling NSCS experience. The ceremony is also a great opportunity for members to be publicly recognized for their accomplishments. Parents/guests are invited to attend, but should realize that on some campuses space is limited.
NSCS provides a unique opportunity to get involved and make a difference on your campus and in the community. Your level of involvement is the key to maximizing the benefits of membership. However, there is no minimum time commitment to be a member.
The Society is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of educators, business professionals, the founding president and student representatives. The Board sets the policy direction for the Society and is responsible for overseeing the fiscal and operational efficiency of NSCS. The day-to-day operations are overseen by the executive director, who also serves as a member of the board of directors.
The NSCS Board of Directors is comprised of a number of business and education professionals from around the country who represent a host of different disciplines. The Board of Directors sets policy and is involved with creating the vision and mission of NSCS. Students also serve on the Board. The Honorary Board serves in an advisory/support capacity.
Yes. NSCS is a highly selective, 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization. NSCS is a member of The Association of College Honor Societies and is a recognized organization at campuses across the country, with new chapters being added each year.
NSCS is an officially registered on-campus organization before invitations are mailed. NSCS may be a new organization on campus so many people may not have heard of it yet. It is not unusual for organizations to be “unknown” by some university officials, particularly on larger campuses.
Your name was provided to us by your school. Universities provide us with a list of students who meet our eligibility requirements (top 20th percentile and a 3.4 minimum GPA). NSCS does not know the specific GPAs earned by members. All students who meet the criteria are nominated by their college or university.
First- and second-year students in the top 20th percentile with a 3.4 minimum GPA are nominated to join by the school's registrars office. Based on these requirements, Georgia Tech invites around 350 new members each year.
As with most honor societies there is a fee to cover basic costs and provide opportunities and benefits to members. (See What is the membership fee used for?)
The mission of NSCS is honoring and inspiring academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime. NSCS recognizes outstanding academic achievement and provides opportunities for members to enhance their collegiate experience.
Benefits of membership include recognition, networking and career resources, the opportunity to apply for scholarships (see below), leadership development, and social and service activities on campus.
NSCS currently offers several scholarships for our members. NSCS offers a $1,000 Merit Award to 50 new members each year. NSCS also offers a Study Abroad scholarship to assist members in covering some of the costs of studying abroad. NSCS offers Scholar At Sea partial scholarships to assist members attending Semester at Sea. There are also several Graduate Scholarships which will be awarded to members continuing their education. A complete listing of scholarships and award opportunities can be found at our Scholarship homepage. You will also find a comprehensive list of external scholarships you might be eligible for here as well, along with deadline and criteria information.
The Merit Award is a $1,000 monetary award granted to 50 new members each year. Award recipients are selected based on how they exemplify Society’s mission to honor and inspire academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime. Recipients are announced at campus Induction Convocations in the fall. All new members are welcome to apply at nscs.org. The deadline to apply is July 1.
The Convention is held each summer, locations vary each year. The 2008 NSCS Convention will be held July 16-19 in Orlando, FL. NSCS members, officers, and advisors are encouraged to attend. Summit participants have the opportunity to:
A press release is a written, formal announcement of your membership. We encourage you to distribute the release to your local newspapers. Included with the release are instructions for distribution.
Yes, we encourage you to list your membership on your resume. NSCS has a nationwide network of universities, corporate partners, national associations, and nonprofits. NSCS is well recognized among these and many other companies and institutions.
Please contact the national office for refunds.(See How do I contact someone at the NSCS national office?)
The national office will process the membership confirmation. It typically takes 4-6 weeks to process memberships. The next information you receive will be your diploma and a press release.
NSCS recognizes that a college campus provides many opportunities for students to become involved. NSCS is an organization that recognizes students who do well academically during the most difficult period of transitioning from high school to college. Once you are a member, NSCS provides opportunities to become involved and make a difference.
NSCS is a student-run organization; therefore, all NSCS officers are students. Each chapter has a faculty member or administrator who advises the officers and provides support to the chapter on campus.
Hopefully chapter officers can answer your questions. NSCS is a student-led organization, and the advisor’s role is to support the chapter leadership. Advisors volunteer their time.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars has a full-time staff based in Washington, D.C. whose function is to support our campus chapters. The staff members have significant experience in higher education and are committed to promoting the overall development of students affiliated with NSCS.
Our mailing address is:
Visit the Current Officers home page for your chapter's officers' contact information. |
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