Becoming a Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Becoming a Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Introduction
What is National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)? Have you ever hear about this community before? Obviously, almost everyone knows that university/college is the period of progression of heading for the society stage by stage. During the four years in university/college, apparently, book learning is not the first priority for students any longer. Instead, capacities and career experiences become the bright spots on the resumes. Every university student hopes to emerge as the best candidate in the job interview after graduation. According to several scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, there is a close relationship between leadership skills and employment. Frank claims the relationship that, “leadership and entrepreneurial skills can stimulate college/university students to strive for innovation and can open career opportunities in the civic sector” (636). Besides, Tierney and Kristan indicate that the financial aid, especially the scholarship, becomes an important factor affecting low-income students` decisions about whether to go to college/university (363). Undoubtedly, with the increasing employment pressure, whose resume has more spot light, will stand out above the rest. Green, Patricia, and Roland maintain that the effects of a formal internship program on students` perceived values of traits, such as an individual`s personality or technical traits, important to employers during the interview process (100). Therefore, in this paper, I will argue that the NSCS greatly influences their members on campus by observations, interviews, and scholarly research about their literacy and discourse practices.
Background
American university/college students may be no stronger to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), even there are lots of university students receiving the invitations before. According to the NSCS website, “the National Society of Collegiate Scholars is national nonprofit academic honor society founded in 1994 by Steve Loflin on the campus of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C” (NSCS.org). NSCS is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has chapters at over 300 institutions across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia with nearly one million lifetime members (NSCS.org). According to the brochures of NSCS, the NSCS exists to recognize and elevate high-achievers, most focus on first-year and second-year undergraduates with a minimum 3.4 GPA (“Benefits of Membership”). The NSCS is dedicated to the ideals of scholarship, careers, and service. First, “NSCS make nearly half a million dollars in scholarships available to its members every year, and the scholarships are available to meet every need and every type of student” (“Benefits of Membership”). For example, some of the scholarships NSCS provides include Merit Awards, Semester at Sea Scholarships, NSCS Scholar Abroad, and Induction Recognition Awards (“Benefits of Membership”). Second, “NSCS members have exclusive access to HonorSourceTM, an online job search tool that contains listings for prestigious internships as well as full-time and part-time employment opportunities” (“Benefits of Membership”). Furthermore, service is one of the three pillars of NSCS, along with scholarship and career. In the interview with Christi Crowder, she introduces the NSCS that, “members across the country are involved in a variety of service events at the chapter and national level, NSCS has partnered with diverse service organizations to give members a meaningful connection to serving other to maximize their college experience” (Crowder).
Lines of argument
First, NSCS greatly influences their members on campuses because it provides abundant scholarships. There is no doubt that more and more students depend on scholarship and grant money for college than ever before, especially for some private postsecondary universities. In the recent research, Tierney and Kristan suggest that low-income high school students do not prepare for college because they believe a postsecondary education is expensive and unaffordable (363). Therefore, many high school students with great grades may give up the opportunity accessing to university, or choose a university with relatively low tuition. Similarly, as Tierney and Kristan mentioned, going to college/university for first generation students who are from low-income backgrounds is an active choice that necessitates a myriad of inter-related decisions and actions---one of which is financial aid (383). The NSCS provides nearly half a million dollars in scholarships for their members (NSCS.org). Scholarships are available to every need and every type of student, which can help to lighten the burden on the students and their families. If students receive better financial aid such as abundant scholarships, then access to a postsecondary education is likely to rise for low-income youth. Therefore, NSCS greatly influences their members on campuses through providing abundant scholarships.
Second, NSCS greatly influences their members on campuses because it provides careers` opportunities. With the increasing employment pressure, finding a suitable job after graduation seems to be the first priority for most undergraduates. According to the studies, Green, Patricia, and Roland demonstrate that faculty in business programs may comment on the differences between students with and without an internship experience (100). In the article, Green, Patricia, and Roland demonstrate that the students with internship experience appear to bring more to the classroom, link the importance of classroom discussions to practice, and demonstrate a significant maturation process lacing in non-internship students (100). Actually, in the almost all enterprises` interviews, relevant working experience is preferred. Due to huge entity and limited resources and funds, most universities and colleges cannot provide employment opportunities to their all students. However, the NSCS can replace university for students. NSCS provides many opportunities and tools to help their members reach their career goals. Members enjoy access to their exclusive job board where top companies post their job openings first and want to fill them with NSCS members (NSCS.org). The organization sets up an online job search tool --- HonorSourceTM --- that contains listing for prestigious internships as well as full-time and part-time employment opportunities (“Benefits of Membership”). NSCS is in constant contact with employers and leading corporate recruiters to uncover the best job and career opportunities for NSCS members. Therefore, NSCS greatly influences their members on campuses through providing internship opportunities.
Finally, NSCS greatly influences their members on campuses because it provides services. Undergraduates still focus on book learning is a common phenomenon. Graduating students lack communication skills, leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills, and so on in the interviews. In the present planning education, Frank indicates that the entrepreneurship and enterprise skill are the missing elements of planning education (635). Undoubtedly, leadership skills and entrepreneurship skills not only have great influence on knowledge learning, but also affect career hunting. A people with good leadership and entrepreneurship skill can accomplish a task with ease. According to the study, management and leadership skill and entrepreneurial learning can stimulate students to strive for innovation and can open career opportunities in the civic sector (Frank 636). The NSCS has partnered with diverse organizations to give members a meaningful connection to serving other to maximize their college experience. Take National Leadership Council for example: “the National Leadership Council is comprised of current undergraduate members of the Society who help the national office set policies and priorities for NSCS” (“Member”). Through this opportunity, council members can gain much experience in leadership and decision-making. Besides, as Christi Crowder mentioned, the NSCS hosts annual Leadership Summits, which provide current and aspiring NSCS officers with training and opportunities to not only develop their leadership skills within NSCS, but also to foster growth and improvement in all areas of their lives (Crowder).
Alternative arguments
However, other people have opposite views. First, they think that joining the NSCS is waste of money. When one student applies for the NSCS membership, he/she need to pay $95. Many people think that it is really expensive for a university student. Sometimes, students cannot attend all activities and programs NSCS offered. Thus, they consider that $95 is not worth paying. Undoubtedly, different people have different opinions. Personally, the $95 is worth to pay because the NSCS provides lots of amazing opportunities and services. As mentioned before, the NSCS is a nonprofit organization, so all income is used for the development and operation of the Society. Thus, the NSCS is not a scam. According to the brochures of NSCS, the membership fee is used to provide a variety of benefits and services to members, including: funding sent directly to members` chapter for activities and service projects, member scholarships, awards, new member induction ceremony funding, networking and career resources, NSCS events, and offsetting NSCS` administrative costs (“Frequently Asked Questions”). You only need to pay $95, and you will have the opportunity to acquire abundant scholarships, career opportunities, and making a lot of wonderful people.
Furthermore, others consider that the NSCS only have the great influences on “excellent” students rather than all students. Some people indicate that the requirement of NSCS membership is not fair. Because the NSCS [only] sends the invitations to all students at their chapter schools who meet the membership requirements set by the Association of College Honor Societies, i.e. first-year and second-year undergraduates with a minimum 3.4 GPA (“Benefits of Membership”). In other words, the organization just provides opportunities to those excellent students. However, in my opinion, NSCS just sends invitations to the first-year and second-year undergraduates with a minimum 3.4 GPA contributes to the development of students. In terms of GPA, the NSCS gathers all students with a minimum 3.4 GPA together. On this base, make each student stands on same scratch line, everyone is equal, thus, they have plenty of fight again. For those students with a low grade, it seems like a little unfair. However, if we see this problem from a different angle, the result will be different. Those students with low grade will be encouraged to study hard in order to join the NSCS.
Conclusion
As an undergraduate, obviously, book learning is not the first priority any longer. Instead, improving capacities and increasing career experiences would be the most important. In general, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) greatly influences their members and non-members on campuses on the basis of scholarly, peer-reviewed articles. First, the NSCS offers nearly half a million dollars as scholarships for their members every year (NSCS.org). With the increasing tuitions of university, the abundant financial aid really can lighten the burden on the students and their families, which also “gives those low-income high school students opportunities to access to the university/college” (Tierney and Kristan 363). Besides, in condition of missing leadership and entrepreneurial skills in present planning education, the NSCS can provide training and opportunities to develop members` leadership skill and foster growth and improvement in all areas of members` lives through “hosting annual Leadership Summits and the National Leadership Council” (“Benefits of Membership”). Finally, undergraduates can benefit from this community at the aspect of searching jobs. NSCS members have exclusive access to HonorSourceTM , an online job search tool that contains listing for prestigious internships as well as full-time and part-time employment opportunities (“Benefits of Membership”). However, different people have different opinions. Some people think that joining this community is a waste of money. Other people consider that the requirement of NSCS membership is unfair, which only focus on those “excellent” students. I believe that each university student hopes to emerge as the best candidate in the job interview after graduation and everyone wants to impress his/her boss. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars creates a precious opportunity for us. It is our choice to join the NSCS, and then to improve our capacities and skills.

Works Cited
Crowder, Christi. E-mail interview. 10 Apr. 2013.
Frank, Andrea I. "Entrepreneurship And Enterprise Skills: A Missing Element Of Planning Education?." Planning Practice & Research 22.4 (2007): 635-648. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
Green, Brian Patrick, Patricia Graybeal, and Roland L. Madison. "An Exploratory Study Of The Effect Of Professional Internships On Students ' Perception Of The Importance Of Employment Traits." Journal Of Education For Business 86.2 (2011): 100-110. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
NSCS.org. The NATIONAL SOCIETY of COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS, 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Benefits of Membership. Washington, D.C.: Mariah Douglas, 2013. Print.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Frequently Asked Questions. Washington, D.C.: Mariah Douglas, 2013. Print.
Tierney, William G., and Kristan Venegas. "Finding Money On The Table: Information, Financial Aid, And Access To College." Journal Of Higher Education 80.4 (2009): 363-388. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.

Cited: Crowder, Christi. E-mail interview. 10 Apr. 2013. Frank, Andrea I. "Entrepreneurship And Enterprise Skills: A Missing Element Of Planning Education?." Planning Practice & Research 22.4 (2007): 635-648. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Green, Brian Patrick, Patricia Graybeal, and Roland L. Madison. "An Exploratory Study Of The Effect Of Professional Internships On Students ' Perception Of The Importance Of Employment Traits." Journal Of Education For Business 86.2 (2011): 100-110. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. NSCS.org. The NATIONAL SOCIETY of COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS, 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Benefits of Membership. Washington, D.C.: Mariah Douglas, 2013. Print. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Frequently Asked Questions. Washington, D.C.: Mariah Douglas, 2013. Print. Tierney, William G., and Kristan Venegas. "Finding Money On The Table: Information, Financial Aid, And Access To College." Journal Of Higher Education 80.4 (2009): 363-388. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.