Nashua High South is home to nine different honor societies: National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Math Honor Society, John Locke Society (social studies), English Honor Society, Art Honor Society, French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Latin Honor Society.

With so many different honor societies, how honorable can they really be? Do they really have any effect in college admissions, anyway?

Honor societies are viewed by many students as their ticket to a high-rated college. There is a shared idea among students and parents that honor societies are crucial to be a part of if they are to have any type of success in the future.

"It is very important to me to be a part of honor societies," said one sophomore, who wished to stay anonymous. "I would like to be in as many as I can."

However, honor societies may not be nearly as beneficial in college admissions as some think. Jaclyn Lesser, the National Honor adviser at South, said she doesn’t think that membership was a significant factor in admissions.

"When applying to colleges, especially Ivy Leagues, honor societies are a dime a dozen. Everyone is in one," Lesser said. "The real benefit of being a part of honor society is as congratulatory for the effort required to even qualify."

Kim Montine, an adviser for the English Honor Society, said she believes the biggest benefit of being in an honor society is "the opportunity to do something outside of yourself with different students with common likes and focuses."

However, she also said "honor societies have become something to just accumulate instead of actively participating in."

A big problem with honor societies is that there is little active participation, and they are often not taken seriously by students after being inducted.

"I honestly just do it for the cords at graduation," said junior Kshma Dharampal, a member of several honor societies. "You don’t really do anything in them."

Another junior, Tamanna Asarpota, agreed. "Some of the honor societies I’m in barely meet. Most of us don’t even know what’s going on."

The pressure parents put on their children (and students on themselves) to get into an honor society is unnecessary. Being a part of an honor society (or five) does not determine where a student will get into college and has little effect on their future. So to those who are part of an honor society, congratulations, and to those who aren’t, don’t worry about it.

Paulina Tarr is a junior at Nashua High School South.

Newsletter