Anyone know anything about NSCS?

[lynnzop[$]]

My daughter received an invitation to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. At first I dismissed it as one of those "you are so great, we're going to put your name in this book that no one cares about but we are going to sell you for umpteen hundred dollars" (you guys with high school students probably know what I'm talking about) ploys, but upon further investigation, it looks like it might actually be something that would be beneficial.

Their Honorary Board of Regents include Maya Angelou, Walter Cronkite, Federico Pena and Bob Woodward, among others.



Anyone know anything about this organization? Is it truly an honor and something that would be valuable on her resume in the future? Or is it just a crock that I should throw away as junk mail?

Lynn

[thinkerlady[$]]

My daughter got one too--months ago. She took it into her guidance counselor--they told her to throw it away. They said if it is a "Mass Mailing" it is usually worthless. Do they want $$ from you in any way? If so--it could be ligit, but worthless.

I am not sure if it was the same. Marissa was invited by several organizations of this type, each were poo-pooed by the guidance office. Including Who's Who. She was nominated, but you get to pay something like $50. to have your name in a book. That is it. colleges really don't look at that stuff.

[taurusmoon]

I dunno, I never heard of them. But, looking at their website (and the websites of local chapters) it appears to be a service organization and not a directory.

Plus they offer scholarships. :thumbs:

It might be worth a call to the chapter at her school to see exactly what benefits she might derive from membership.

Sara

[lynnzop[$]]

No Angie, this is a little different. We got bombarded by those "offers" when Bree was in high school and I threw all of them away. This is for 1st and 2d year college student who have 3.XX (I can't remember the actual GPA) and better.

There is a fee of $60 for a lifetime membership (which is why I'm leery) but looking at their web site, it looks like a fairly good program. Focus on scholarships, overseas studies, community service, etc., No book-pimping.

I've just never heard of these guys before (in their website, they say they were chartered in 1994).

[theeye]

Hm. Looked at the web site. I'd tell your daughter to find out if they have a chapter on her campus and contact them. If she's convinced that they're actually doing something and that she respects the people who've joined, then she might consider it.

[CurtisEdmonds]

I just had a GREAT idea.

"Who's Who in American Toddlers."

[theeye]

Oh, great. I can see the application forms now.

A year and a half ago (when the Poopster was 18 months old), I gave up on filling out a school application when I got to the section labeled Please describe your child's special interests.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

WHAT? You mean this child got to age 18 months in NYC and he hasn't been enrolled in violin, painting, or swimming classes yet?

geesh, what a bad mom you are!

mj
who also finds this sign-up-for-preschool-while-kid's-in-utero stuff silly

[thinkerlady[$]]

Sorry Lynn. Didn't realize it was college. Maybe the Admissions office, or Financial Aid might know something??? I am reaching here. If they offer scholarships--I wonder if they would be registerd with College Board.com???

[theeye]

I am a bad mother.

(Don't even get me started on this school thing. You have no idea how stressful it is.)

[emeleel]

Oh, Eye, quit stressing. Having a kid enrolled in a bunch of stuff before school may give them a slight edge when they first start school, but by the end of elementary school, you can't tell the pushed kids from the not pushed kids.

Melanie -
Whose kids have never been enrolled in *anything* (yet), never went to a preschool of any kind, and they're doing just fine and more, thankyouverymuch.

[theeye]

Melanie or Em (not Mel) said in post #11 :
Oh, Eye, quit stressing. Having a kid enrolled in a bunch of stuff before school may give them a slight edge when they first start school, but by the end of elementary school, you can't tell the pushed kids from the not pushed kids.

No, you don't get it. I'm stressing about getting him accepted to preschool.

No, I am not kidding. I live on the Upper West Side. It's crazy here. Getting into a good preschool is very difficult. It is also a prerequisite to getting in to a good kindergarten, etc.

Personally, I think it's ridiculous to interview a toddler. But I don't make the rules.

[theworm[$]]

Sis, please calm down.
The kid potty trained himself! If that doesn't qualify him for the best pre-school, I don't know what could!

[theeye]

It is quite obvious that none of you live on the Upper West Side, where people are insane.

[CurtisEdmonds]

"Eye" said in post # :
It is quite obvious that none of you live on the Upper West Side, where people are insane.

Insane enough to buy "Who's Who in American Toddlers?"

[theeye]

Curtis said in post #15 :


Insane enough to buy "Who's Who in American Toddlers?"

Uh, no.

[conradd]

I have a wonderful home in Oregon on the market. Move out here and I'll guarantee that your son will be accepted into the premier preschool in Sweet Home.

Deb
whose sister-in-law runs the preschool and who cannot walk through Safeway without being hugged by a multitude of toddlers

[emeleel]

So either move out Deb's way or come down here to the South, where people aren't so insane about school. (Okay, they're plenty insane about OTHER THINGS....) And you'd be closer to your sister!

I know it's hard not to worry about "good schools" when everyone else puts such an emphasis on it, but sometimes ya just gotta buck the crowd and keep your head up anyway.

Sigh.... of course, this is all coming from the woman who believes in being a stay at home mom, doesn't believe in day care and preschool, and homeschools her kids, so take anything I say with several grains of salt because I am *far* removed from your reality!

[lynnzop[$]]

Hrmph. My College thread has been derailed by yet another toddler discussion.

Damn kids.

Lynn
who told the daughter to do what she wants after checking out the society's fledgling chapter at her college

[jenninca]

Lynn, I made the mistake of joining something similar when I was in college. I paid $50(?) and all I got from it was continuing credit card offers. If this doesn't have something major going for it, tell Bree to skip it.

Cindy
who also fell for the "Who's Who in HS" thing and was so excited until she saw that the Ohio/2 other states volume was hundreds of pages of tiny writing long

[theeye]

Lynn, it's really simple. Either the chapter on her campus is actually doing stuff -- worthwhile stuff -- or it's not. If they're doing things that impress her and she'd like to get involved, then great. If not, forget it.

[lynnzop[$]]

Eye, it's a brand new chapter. They ain't doin' squat yet.

She's already in a sorority that does a lot of community stuff...I told her to keep that in mind and not over book herself. She is her mother's child, after all.

Lynn

[theeye]

One final bit of toddler hijacking.

No, I'm not moving out of the city. No, no, no. Not happening.

And as for the insanity, the problem is that *I* have very limiting requirements. There's basically one school that I like. Problem is I want a solid religious education, a solid secular education and a philosophy I can live with. Hard to find them all together: most schools have something that I can't live with and there is a lot of competition to get into just a few Jewish schools. So it's a question of deciding which deficiency I feel most competent to counteract or supplement at home. Sigh. Somehow, we'll figure it out.

[theeye]

Lynn said in post #22 :
Eye, it's a brand new chapter. They ain't doin' squat yet.

She's already in a sorority that does a lot of community stuff...I told her to keep that in mind and not over book herself. She is her mother's child, after all.

Lynn

Hm. Well, how about sitting out for now and keeping an eye on it? If it's legit, the offer will still be open later on.