Who's Who Among American High School Students

[luvflorida]

What exactly is the benefit or value of being included in this publication, and is it truly an "honor"? I'm confused and I've researched this on Google and I came away with mixed feelings.

I got a letter in the mail yesterday informing us that our DD15, a high school Sophomore, has been "recommended for one of the highest honors awarded to less than 5% of American high school students." "...only the highest-achieving students are even considered for this honor."

With our permission, she will be included in this publication, free of charge. If we wish to have a copy of the book, there is a fee, and if we wish to include her photo, that's extra also.

I guees I'm a little skeptical about the whole thing. My older daughter never received this in the mail, and she was an extremely high achieving student all throughout high school and college. DD15 is also a very good student, but I know there are many students achieving at an even higher level than she is.

In my research, I read where some people think it's more of a joke than a true honor, and some people said that college's don't really consider it as meaning too much. Other people seemed to think it WAS an honor and would proudly put it on a college application. I'm confused!

I do believe that students are nominated by teachers, but there doesn't seem to be any concrete criteria. And, there is some scholarship money that these kids can apply for, but I believe it is very minimal.

I'm questioning rather or not to return the form. Does anyone else have any experience with Who's Who, or any insight they can provide? Thanks so much.

 

[Bob Slydell]

There's very little value or benefit in it, IMO -- it's a sales ploy to market their books.

That said, I got the letter way back in HS and yeah, I (well, my mom ) bought the book.

 

[pyrxtc]

It's a bunch of Hooey1 Don't order it, If you don't then your DD doesn't get in the book and try to find the book anywhere! If you have to pay something for your DD's name to be in it, then it isn't such an honor! They sent that to me nd I got horrible grades in school. All my brothers and sisters got the letter too!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

My brother and i both got in it while we were in high school...

my mom bought the book because we both were in it hahahahha..but i do think its mainly a ploy to get you to buy the book.
my guidance counslers said it was still something colleges looked at, just not anything too exciting

 

[CheshireVal]

While not a scam, it's not really so much of an honor, either. They send those letters to everybody.

I think my mom bought it for me, though.

 

[tarmand]

I got one too. I didn't join since it seemed like a random thing back then. I wasn't in any clubs, and was basically a "B" student so I know there were others more suitable than I was.

 

[tekmom]

I got a letter like this when I was in HS. Like the previous poster said...marketing ploy. You would be paying to have your childs name in a book.

 

[inneedofvacation]

There's very little value or benefit in it, IMO -- it's a sales ploy to market their books.

That said, I got the letter way back in HS and yeah, I (well, my mom ) bought the book.

Mine too, was really worthless!

 

[akhenaten]

I got one way back in HS and Guess what ?
just yesterday my "parents " got a letter in the mail saying I was chosen to be in WW among Am. HS students....

not bad for a 40 plus year old college student with a DH and 3 kids!!!

HAHA My Dh did not know he was married to a HS student !! HAHAHAHAHA

 

[va32h]

It's a scam in my opinion. There are others like it; "poetry contests", "leadership" awards - any organization that asks you for money in order to received your "award" is just a big fat scam.

I got one of those letters in high school too - that was 17-18 years ago. We didn't buy the book.

 

[luvflorida]

I got one too. I didn't join since it seemed like a random thing back then. I wasn't in any clubs, and was basically a "B" student so I know there were others more suitable than I was.

That's the thing that confused me. Yes, my daughter is a high achiever, but there are many students who are even more high achieving than she is and many that participate in a lot more extra curricular activities.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the feeling that it would actually be embarrassing to list this publication on a college application as an honor. I would think colleges would look more favorably at National Honor Society members and Merit Scholarships.

It also makes me think that the truly high achieving students aren't the ones being tapped for this book, although the letter says otherwise.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I always send back the forms, but never buy the books. I dont think it means all that much, but I know in ds school, you list it and they put it as part of your permanent school record. He is applying to colleges and I will put it down but dont think the colleges will really care about it either. I get all that stuff in the mail and now its for 2 ds no less,

 

[Toby'sFriend]

TOTAL BUNK. They buy the names from marketing lists looking for suckers.

Last month I got nominated for "Who's Who Among Teachers" same letter but change "teacher" for the word "student."

Apparently I'm among the top 5% of America's Teachers, and I'm not, and I've never been, a teacher.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I totally fell for this in HS...and yeah, my parents probably bought the book too

 

[luvflorida]

I just want to clarify- There is NO charge to have your child's name listed in the book, BUT if you want a copy of the book, you must pay for it.

I was still confused, though, because many of you have said that you received this letter and it sounds pretty random, so I went back to reread it and NOW it is much clearer!!

The letter states- "------- has been recommended for one of the highest honors awarded to less than 5% of American high school students."

I interpreted that to mean that ONLY THE TOP 5% of students, meaning those in the top 5% academically in their class, were eligible for this award. That's why I couldn't understand why my older daughter never received this. She really WAS in the top 5% of her graduating class.

 

[stevenpensacola]

You'd be better off trying to help out the Nigerian Prince keep his government from getting all his money...

 

[puffkin]

There's very little value or benefit in it, IMO -- it's a sales ploy to market their books.

That said, I got the letter way back in HS and yeah, I (well, my mom ) bought the book.

Agree completely.

I got it for both high school and college. My mom bought the book in high school, and then we realized it was just a big sales ploy.

Honestly, what I would do is fill out the information to be included in the book, but don't pay the money to have your picture printed or buy the book. Then you will be included in the book and can put it on your college apps and resumes, but it won't cost you anything.

 

[Mom2Angels]

I received this for my son as well this weekend, only problem is I received his progress report at the same time, they only send them out for classes you have a C or below in, the only classes he doesn't have a C or below in are PE and Science. So yes, I think it is a scam!

Now, I need to get him off of his butt and stop being so lazy and get his school work done, which is a major battle!

Debbie

 

[Nancy]

Let's put it this way. My oldest got the letter when she was in school, her Freshman year she failed 3 classes, her sophomore year she passed, but some just barely, Junior year she failed everything, senior year she dropped out and got her GED. Sounds like a real high achiever to me.

Meanwhile DD #2 has always had top grades, and is a real high achiever, her goal is to make it to Yale Law School! No letter for her.

 

[golfgal]

One of my roommates freshman year in college felt it necessary to point out that SHE was in the book and I wasn't. She didn't like it when I told her that the only reason she was in the book was that her parents paid for the book, we though it was a bunch of garbage. I got the letter and threw it away. It means nothing although some people actually think it is an honor.

DS13 got a letter last year saying he was one of the top 5% high school students, blah, blah, blah, he was in 7th grade at the time.