Hi, peeps! Gotta start my NHS essay and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Does anyone have any solid tips or approaches that could help in crafting an NHS essay that stands out? What do admission committees typically look for?
Hello! Tackling an NHS essay is a great opportunity to showcase your character and achievements. Admission committees are typically on the lookout for students who embody the four pillars of the National Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. So, when writing your essay, be sure to highlight examples of how you've exemplified each of these qualities in your high school career.
It's not just about stating that you have these traits, however, but tangibly demonstrating them by describing in detail certain experiences in which you've relied on them. For instance, discuss a specific project or initiative you led that benefitted your school or community, and reflect on what that experience taught you about leadership or service. Remember to be authentic in your essay – let your own voice and unique perspective shine through, as if you try to write what they want to hear, you'll just end up sounding the same as every other student out there who's taking that approach.
If you're wondering how well your essay works, you can check out CollegeVine's free peer essay review service, or submit your essay to an expert advisor for a paid review. Asking your friends, teachers, and family for help is also a good idea, but getting a neutral perspective from someone who doesn't already know you can give you a better sense of how the NHS evaluators will read your essay, and of how to tell your story as clearly as possible in terms of structure and grammar, since they don't have any background knowledge of you to fall back on.
Good luck!
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