1. NHS Selection Process
2017

2. The Four Pillars of NHS
Selection is based on four equal factors: scholarship, character, leadership, and service.

3. Step 1: Academic Eligibility
Already completed 
Juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater.
Enrolled in at least five classes
Letters and forms sent out

4. Step 2: Personal Profile Form
This form should list all of the activities, both school and community, that you have been involved in for the high school years.
It is very critical that you do a good job filling in this form.
Do not turn in a sloppy form.
Type or handwrite (neatly!).
Please use black ink as it copies best.

5. Step 2: Personal Profile Form
Carefully look over the form and make sure your fill it out properly.
Some sections ask you to just check off that you have been in an activity, while other sections ask for hours (community and volunteer service activities).
Make sure to provide a name and a phone number/ of someone who can verify your activity.
If there are activities not listed, please add them in the appropriate places or if needed, attach a sheet with the information.

6. Step 2: Personal Profile Form
If you do add a sheet, please make sure your name is on this sheet in case it becomes detached in the copying/evaluation process.
No letters of recommendation will be considered.
Make sure to read and sign the form along with your parent or guardian.
Please let me know if you have been in violation of the Target Policy.

7. Step 2: Personal Profile Form
You have until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, to complete the personal profile form.
Forms are to be returned to Ms. Maki in W146.
Upon submission to Ms. Maki, you will receive a receipt of delivery.
Late forms will not be accepted.

8. Step 3: Character & Leadership Evaluations
After the forms are submitted, a list is compiled of all interested candidates.
This list is then given to all of the staff to evaluate the candidates for character and leadership.
A copy of the memo that is sent to the faculty was enclosed with the letter for your parents that accompanied your letter.

9. Step 3: Character & Leadership Evaluations
Faculty evaluates character and leadership on a scale of 0 to 5.
These evaluations need to be completed by Wednesday, November 1.
Then, I calculate an average character score and an average leadership score for each candidate.

10. Step 4: Service Scores Back to your personal profile forms…
Copies are made for each of the five members of the Faculty Council.
Before our meeting, I will give them the stack of forms to evaluate on their own. They read each one of your forms.
Each member of the committee assigns a “service” score for each candidate.
Soon after, the Faculty Council will meet and discuss our scores and then come up with an average “service” score.

11. Step 5: Faculty Council Meeting
By the end of the Faculty Council meeting, a total score will be determined for each candidate .
Scholarship is worth 25% and you automatically get that for having a 3.5 GPA.
Character, leadership and service are each worth 25%.

12. Step 5: Faculty Council Meeting
I total the four different scores. 85% is used as an eligibility benchmark, but it does not determine whether a student will be invited to join NHS.
A majority vote by the Council, whose members use the score as a point of reference, determines the list of invitees. Each candidate is considered. There is no minimum or maximum number of students accepted. If not selected this year, junior students may be considered for membership again their senior year.

13. Step 6: Notification
On or before November 10, you will receive membership invitation letters.
Also, by this date, rejection letters will go out.
The greatest deterrent to getting into NHS is the service portion. That is usually what precludes a student from getting in. If a student has not been active, they might want to join some school activities and community activities, which are equally important.

14. Step 6: Notification
If you do not get into NHS in the junior year, you can try again in the senior year. If you do go out and become a little more active, this is taken into consideration by the selection committee.
Lastly, as advisor to NHS, I coordinate this whole process, yet in the selection process I am only one member of the staff who evaluates each candidate for character and leadership. That’s it. I do not have any more influence on the selection process than any other staff member.