Applicants:

Q. Do I have to pay annual membership dues?

A. No, there are no annual dues for membership in the Society. There is a lifetime membership fee that is paid upon induction into the Society. There is no obligation to join the Society once accepted.

Q. How much is the lifetime membership fee?

A. The lifetime membership fee is $110. This is the only fee to join the Society, and is only payable once you have been accepted. The membership fee must be returned with the Member Acceptance Form so that we can begin processing your membership. There are no additional dues or fees once membership is paid.

Q. Is there a fee to apply?

A. No, there is no fee to apply for membership. The only fee associated with the Society is the membership fee that is paid if you choose to join the Society.

Q. How can I pay the membership fee?

A. The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society accepts payment via check, money order, and PayPal. If paying by check or money order, please send the payment, along with the Member Acceptance Form, to:

The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society
Attn: Member Services

110-64 Queens Blvd., #305

Forest Hills NY 11375-6347

If paying via PayPal, please send payment to Accounting@nhmss.org. Please include your full name, address, member id#, and mail or fax the Member Acceptance Form.

Q. Do I have to be invited to join?

A. No, since we are not affiliated with any institutions, students can apply on their own and do not require an invitation from their school.

Q. Are there any admission deadlines?

A. No, we have a rolling admission process so there is no deadline to join the Society. The only deadline is the scholarship deadline, which is December 15th of each year. If you apply after December 15th, you will not be eligible for scholarships for that year, but for the following year. This is done to make the scholarship selection process fair to all students who have applied during the calendar year. For example, if you apply on December 20th 2006, you will be eligible for the 2007 scholarships, but if you apply on December 5th 2006, you will be eligible for the 2006 scholarships.

Q. Who makes up the Member Selection Committee?

A. The Member Selection Committee is made up of the President, Vice-President and 2 member selection advisors.

Q. When will I find out if I was accepted for membership?

A. Applications are evaluated within 5 days of their submission. Once evaluated, you will be notified of your acceptance within 2 to 3 weeks.

Q. How do I make a correction to my application once it has been submitted?

A. If you have already submitted an application, please submit another application and the decision will be based upon the most recent application. You can also send a written correction in the mail and we will update your application, however this may delay the processing of your application.

Q. Should I submit a letter of recommendation along with my application?

A. A letter of recommendation is not necessary; however, the more information that is provided with your application, the better able the Society is to evaluate your file.

Q. What are scholarships based upon?

A. Evaluation is based upon numerous factors, including: academic honors and recognition, current GPA, civil service, leadership experiences and any accomplishments pertinent to the Society. Scholarships are determined in January for scholarships for the previous calendar year. Eligibility is determined by the date of the application, and students are eligible for each year that they update their file. There is no limit on how many times the student can be considered for scholarships, so we encourage students to update their file periodically each year.

Q.Who is eligible for scholarships?

A. Scholarships are only available to Society members. Non-members and applicants who have not paid their membership fee are not eligible to receive scholarships.

Q. Am I guaranteed a scholarship?

A. Applicants are not guaranteed a scholarship, as scholarship amounts vary each year depending on the number of members who join, and the selection process is highly competitive.

Q. Do I need to submit an application to be considered for scholarships?

A. Your application to join the Society is what is used to evaluate your scholarship eligibility. There is no fee to apply for membership, and no other forms to complete besides the application form.

Q. What are the scholarship amounts?

A. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $2,500. The number of scholarships varies each year, depending on how many members join for the particular calendar year. Membership dues are used to award scholarships, so as more members join, the scholarships available to members increases. The total funds available for scholarships will be determined by the Executive Committee and will be distributed in January of each year.

Q. If I am home schooled, am I eligible for membership?

A. Yes, home schooled students are eligible for membership as long as they possess the appropriate qualities that the Society strives to uphold, and their current academic standing is high school or above.

Q. If I am a graduate student, am I also evaluated for scholarships?

A. Scholarships are granted to high school, undergraduate and graduate students alike, and will be awarded at the beginning of each calendar year.

Q. Who is eligible for membership?

A. The membership of The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society shall be open to men and women who are attending institutions of secondary or higher education in the United States of America. High school, undergraduate, graduate, professional, home schooled, full-time and part-time students are all eligible for membership as long as they possess the appropriate qualities that the Society strives to uphold. Foreign students are also eligible as long as they are attending schools within the United States of America.

Q. I was wondering if you had graduation attire for your inductees, such as honor cords, stoles, tassels, etc.?

A. Yes, The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society has honor cords that are available to members at the time of acceptance.

Q. How do I purchase an honor cord to wear at graduation and how much does it cost?

A. On the Member Acceptance Form you will be asked if you would like to purchase an honor cord. The price is $5, and can be paid along with the lifetime membership fee. If you would like to purchase an honor cord but you are already a member, please contact us and we will provide you with one.

Q. What are the benefits of joining the Society?

A. The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society offers many benefits that can assist members throughout their academic and professional lives including; academic recognition, a personalized certificate to display honorary membership, career assistance, scholarships, the resume review service, letters of recommendation/verification, resume building and the opportunity to start a chapter at your school.

Q. What fields of study does the Society cover?

A. The Society is an academic honors society that honors students from all academic disciplines.

Q. Is the Society a democratic society?

A. The Society utilizes the Bylaws in every action taken. Amendments to the Bylaws can be made by the Executive Committee with a majority vote.

Members:

Q. I've been accepted for membership, when will I receive my certificate?

A. Once your membership fee is paid, you will receive notice of payment, and we will begin processing your application. Membership processing and certificate printing takes 4 to 6 weeks, however during peak volume and holiday periods this may take up to 8 weeks. If you have not received your certificate after 8 weeks, please contact us immediately.

Q. I have been accepted for membership however I have misplaced the Member Acceptance Form, what should I do?

A. Please contact us and we will send you another Member Acceptance Form.

Q. My address or other information has changed, what should I do?

A. If any of your information has changed, such as your address or phone number, please submit the Member Update Form, which can be found on the application page.

Q. Does The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society host public ceremonies for graduation or induction?

A. Unfortunately, since members are located in all parts of the country, this makes it impossible to hold a public ceremony.

Q. When will I find out if I was granted a scholarship?

A. Applicants are reviewed for scholarships upon acceptance into the Society. Each member will be considered for a scholarship every time their file is updated. Files may be updated every year but are not mandatory for maintaining membership in the Society. To update your file, please submit the Member Update Form, which is located on the website, and list any changes to be made. Please be sure to include your name, address and member id#.

Q. How do I start a chapter at my school?

A. Please contact us and we will let you know if a chapter exists at your school. If not, we will send you the Chapter Application Form along with the requirements information.

Q. I need a replacement certificate, what should I do?

A. If you have already been accepted to the Society, and have received your certificate, but it has been damaged, lost, your name has changed, or other errors, please contact us and we will gladly provide you with a replacement. You can request this on the contact page, or mail us a written request.

Q. How do I update my file so I can be evaluated for scholarships?

A. To update your file you must submit the Member Update Form. This form is found on the application page. Please list any changes to your academic standing that will be used to determine your scholarship eligibility. Use this form to periodically update your file to remain in the scholarship eligibility pool.

Q. How do I utilize the resume review service?

A. Please send an email to Resumes@nhmss.org with your current resume, when exactly you will be graduating, what the resume will be used for (job, school, etc.) and any other information that is not included on the resume.

Q. How do I get a letter of recommendation or verification letter from the Society?

A. The National Honor & Merit Scholars Society will gladly provide its members with letters of recommendation. Please contact us using the contact form, and state what the letter of recommendation will be used for, along with your member id# and current academic/professional information. For verification letters, please provide us with the pertinent information for this request and where the letter should be mailed.

Q. What happens if my cumulative GPA drops after I join?

A. Once a member of the Society, your membership cannot be withdrawn for any reason, including a drop in your GPA, graduation from your school or transferring to a new school.

Q. Where can I find the Member Update Form?

A. The form is located on the application page. Please click on the link that says "Member Update Form" and press submit once it is completed.