You’ve seen the email. Or maybe a thick, official-looking envelope landed in your mailbox with your name spelled correctly and a gold seal that looks suspiciously important. It says you’ve been nominated for the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). Your first thought is probably a mix of "Oh, cool, I’m a leader" and "Wait, is this a scam?"
It’s a fair question. Honestly, the academic world is cluttered with honor societies that do nothing but collect a $95 check and send you a tassel for graduation. But the NSLS is different, mostly because it’s massive. We’re talking over 700 chapters and nearly 2 million members. It’s the largest leadership honor society in the United States. But "largest" doesn't always mean "best," and if you’re sitting there wondering if you should drop the registration fee, you need more than a marketing brochure.
Let's get into the weeds of what this organization actually is.
What the National Society of Leadership and Success Actually Does
The NSLS isn't just a club where you sit around and talk about being a boss. It’s structured. Very structured. Unlike some organizations where you pay a fee and you're "in," the NSLS requires you to complete a series of steps to become "inducted." If you don’t do the work, you don’t get the certificate.
First, there’s the Orientation. It’s the basic "here’s who we are" meeting. Then comes the Leadership Training Day. This is usually a marathon session—think four to six hours—where you dive into your own strengths and weaknesses. It uses tools like the DiSC assessment or similar personality inventories to help you figure out if you're the type of person who leads by barking orders or by listening.
Then you have the Speaker Broadcasts. This is actually where the NSLS shines. They bring in heavy hitters. I’m talking about people like Mark Cuban, Trevor Noah, Dr. Bernice King, and Condoleezza Rice. You watch these interviews, and then you discuss them.
The core of the experience, though, is the Success Networking Team (SNT). You get put into a small group. You meet every few weeks. You set a goal—like "I want to finish my internship application by Tuesday"—and your group holds your feet to the fire. It’s basically peer-pressured productivity. For a lot of students, this is the only time in college they actually sit down and talk about their goals with people who aren't their parents or a tired advisor.
Is NSLS a Scam? Let’s Talk About the Money
People love to scream "scam" the moment a membership fee is involved. The NSLS charges a one-time lifetime membership fee, usually around $95.
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Is it a scam? No. A scam takes your money and disappears. The NSLS is a recognized 501(c)3 organization. It has physical offices in Florida. It partners with major universities like Ohio State, Columbia, and various Penn State campuses. If your school has a chapter, it means the Dean of Students or a similar office gave it the green light.
But is it worth it? That’s a different conversation.
If you just want a line on your resume, the National Society of Leadership and Success might help a little, but recruiters aren't going to hire you solely because of it. They’ve seen it before. What they care about is what you did with it. If you can say, "I led a Success Networking Team and managed a community service project involving 50 people," that's gold. If you just paid $95 and put a sticker on your laptop? You basically bought a very expensive sticker.
The Membership Tiers Nobody Really Explains
Most people think you just join and you're done. Nope. There are layers to this thing.
- Pending Member: You paid the fee but haven't done the training. You don't get the cool stuff yet.
- Inducted Member: You finished the orientation, the training day, three speaker broadcasts, and three SNT meetings. Now you get the certificate and the pin.
- National Engaged Leader Award (NELA): This is for the overachievers. You have to attend even more broadcasts and do community service.
- Executive Leadership Program: This is a newer, more advanced track for people who want to move into actual management roles.
It's a bit of a "choose your own adventure" situation. Some people treat it like a social club. Others use it to hunt for scholarships. The NSLS gives away over $400,000 in scholarships and grants every year. If you win one of those, that $95 investment just became the best trade of your life.
The Resume Factor: Does Anyone Care?
Let's be real for a second. A resume is a piece of paper that tries to prove you aren't incompetent. Does the NSLS prove that?
Sorta.
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If you are applying for your first job out of college, having a "Leadership Honor Society" on your resume shows you were engaged. It shows you didn't just spend four years playing video games and barely passing Psych 101. It signals "soft skills." In a world where everyone has a degree, soft skills—communication, goal setting, reliability—are the tiebreakers.
However, if you're five years into your career and still lead with your NSLS membership, that's a red flag. At that point, your actual work experience should do the talking. The National Society of Leadership and Success is a springboard, not a destination.
Critiques and the "Pay to Play" Argument
The biggest criticism of the NSLS is its inclusivity. Traditional honor societies like Phi Beta Kappa require a 3.8 or 3.9 GPA. The NSLS is broader. They often invite students with a 3.0 or even just "leadership potential" as defined by the school.
Critics argue this "dilutes the brand." If everyone is a leader, is anyone a leader?
The NSLS counter-argument is that leadership isn't an elite club for the 4.0 GPA crowd. They believe leadership is a skill that can be taught to anyone willing to do the work. It’s a more democratic approach to personal development. Whether you find that inspiring or just a clever business model depends on how cynical you feel today.
Practical Steps If You Just Got Invited
Don't just click "pay" because you're excited. Do this first:
Check your local chapter. Go to the NSLS website or your school's student organizations page. See who the advisor is. If the local chapter is dead or inactive, your experience is going to suck. You want a chapter that actually meets and does stuff.
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Talk to someone who is already in it at your specific school. Ask them if the Speaker Broadcasts are actually held in a room with other people or if everyone just watches them alone on their laptops. The value is in the networking. If there's no networking, you're just buying a video subscription.
Look at the benefits beyond the certificate. The NSLS has a job board. They have discounts on things like GEICO insurance and prep courses for the LSAT or GRE. Sometimes those discounts alone pay back the $95 fee.
Decide if you actually have 10–12 hours to spare this semester. That’s roughly what it takes to get inducted. If you're working two jobs and taking 18 credits, you might not finish the requirements. Don't waste the money if you can't show up.
The Final Word on the NSLS
The National Society of Leadership and Success is exactly what you make of it. It is a legitimate, large-scale organization that provides a structured framework for self-improvement. It offers access to world-class speakers and a community of motivated peers.
It is not a magic ticket to a six-figure job. It is not a prestigious, "members-only" secret society that will open doors just by mentioning its name.
Think of it like a gym membership. Paying the monthly fee doesn't give you six-pack abs. You have to actually lift the weights. If you’re willing to go to the meetings, engage with your SNT, and actually apply the leadership principles, it’s a solid investment in your personal growth. If you’re just looking for a fancy title to put on LinkedIn without doing any work, you’re better off keeping your money.
Actionable Next Steps
- Verify your school's chapter status: Visit the NSLS chapter directory to see if your campus has an active presence and who the student leaders are.
- Audit your schedule: Look at your next three months. Can you commit to at least four 2-hour sessions and one 6-hour training day?
- Compare the "Perks" vs. the "Price": Check the NSLS member benefits page. If you are already planning on taking a Kaplan test prep course or need new car insurance, the discounts might make the membership effectively free.
- Reach out to the Chapter Advisor: Send a quick email asking about the "Success Networking Teams" on your campus. This will tell you immediately how organized and "worth it" that specific chapter is.
The value isn't in the invitation. It's in the execution. If you join, don't just be a member. Be a participant. That’s where the actual leadership starts.