Is National Society of Leadership and Success a Scam?

Hey guys, I recently got an invitation to join the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and I've been seeing mixed opinions online. Some say it's beneficial and helps with college apps, others call it a scam. Can someone who's actually been a part of this society tell me about their experience?

While NSLS, the National Society of Leadership and Success, is certainly not a "scam," as the organization is legitimate, joining would have a limited impact on your college application. These kinds of organizations function on a "pay-to-play" basis, which means that by paying a membership fee, you are granted access to various resources, and sometimes your name might be published in a directory along with other students who also paid to join. In other words, joining is not indicative of any particular talent or achievement.

While there may be some resources and opportunities that NSLS offers members (like leadership training, networking events, and potential scholarships) that could be useful, many of these opportunities can also be reached through other avenues, for a lower cost than you would have to pay to join, or even for free.

If you think some of the offerings would help you explore your interests or pursue your goals, you might find value in joining. However, in terms of college applications, admissions officers typically see NSLS as a Tier 4 extracurricular activity. Activities in this tier are the most common, and are thus the least impressive to admissions officers, because they don't demonstrate any unique accomplishment, leadership, or commitment.

If you'd like to learn more about the extracurricular tiers and what causes an activity to fall into one versus another, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities

Overall, while you might find benefit in the experiences or opportunities afforded by NSLS, joining is not likely to significantly boost your college applications. Devoting time to more unique or impactful extracurricular activities within your own school or community where you can show dedication, long-term commitment, or leadership roles are likely to impress admission officers more.

I hope you find this information helpful!