Should I Bother Joining NHS? Need Some Opinions

I've got a lot on my plate with AP classes and a couple of time-consuming extracurriculars, but there's a lot of talk about National Honor Society at school right now. So I'm debating—do colleges really care if you're in NHS? Is it worth the extra effort to join and participate, or is it not that big of a deal on applications? Anyone got insights or personal experiences to share?

Joining the National Honor Society (NHS) can add to your extracurricular profile, but it may not be as influential as some other activities. Since you're already taking AP classes and involved in time-consuming extracurriculars, your application will showcase your academic rigor and commitment. Colleges often look for depth and leadership in activities, not just participation.

NHS is a Tier 3 activity—it's fairly common and doesn't carry the distinctiveness of Tier 1 or 2 activities. For more about the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities, take a look at this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities/

That being said, if you ascend to a leadership position within NHS or initiate projects that have a substantial impact, it could strengthen your application and possibly elevate the NHS to a Tier 2 activity in your profile. Given your current commitments, if NHS participation would detract from your performance in other areas, it might not be worth the additional strain.

It's crucial to consider how you personally can best allocate your time to show both achievement and genuine interest in what you do. Remember, a handful of well-chosen activities where you can demonstrate meaningful involvement and leadership can be more beneficial than a long list of memberships with superficial participation.

Weigh the benefits of being a part of NHS against the time commitment it requires and whether that time could be better spent on your current activities or exploring a passion in greater depth.