Wow, congrats on being selected!
Strange. When I was in HS, the NJHS and NHS were bestowed on grades alone. We didn't have to apply, but were "pinned" on the selection day with little ribbons. It was very fun and exciting, waiting to see if you would get "pinned".
I sort of understand how they want students to be well rounded, but there are other "clubs" for that where civic leadership is important, I think.
No having graduated from college, I wonder if Cum Laude or Suma Cum Laude have such requirements or if it's on grade average alone. I found this about Gold Key International, a collegiate honor society:
The Golden Key International Honour Society (formerly Golden Key National Honor Society) is an Atlanta, Georgia-based non-profit organization[2] founded in 1977 to recognise academic achievement among college and university students in all disciplines.
Golden Key currently has over 400 chapters at colleges and universities in eight countries: Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, The Bahamas and the United States. Golden Key is the world's largest collegiate honor society. Membership into Golden Key is by invitation only, to the top 15% of college/university 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students and top performing US graduate students in all fields of study,
based solely on the criteria of their academic achievements.[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Key ... ur_Society