Should I Join the National Society of Leadership and Success?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are a college student who wants structured leadership programming, access to speaker events, chapter networking, and scholarship opportunities, and you are willing to attend inductions, complete any required steps, and use the career resources.
• Good fit: Your intended field or campus community treats membership as a positive credential, or you have limited other leadership outlets and want an organized, ready-made way to develop skills and meet peers.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: The membership fee would strain your budget, or you are mainly paying for the title rather than the training, events, and connections.
• Warning sign: You are already overcommitted and unlikely to participate actively, or your professors, career center, and target employers do not recognize or value the organization relative to hands-on experience.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Access to leadership courses, speaker broadcasts, certificates, scholarship databases, and local chapter events that can supplement campus involvement.
• A credential you can list on a resume or LinkedIn, which may help if your field values honor-society membership and you can explain what you gained from it.

Cons

• Membership requires a fee, and perceived value varies widely by chapter; some people see it as a pay-to-play credential with limited return.
• Active participation takes time; if you treat it as a line on paper without engaging, the cost may outweigh the benefit.

Decision Checklist

• Which benefits will I actually use, and does my specific chapter consistently offer those events and resources?
• How does the total cost compare with alternatives such as a professional association, campus club, or online leadership course?
• Do I have enough time to participate actively without sacrificing grades, work, or lower-cost networking opportunities?

Alternatives to Consider

If NSLS does not fit your budget or schedule, consider student government, academic or professional societies in your major, service or volunteer organizations, campus mentorship programs, internships, or free online leadership training. These alternatives may provide comparable or stronger leadership experience at lower cost and may be better recognized in your target field. A career-services advisor can help you weigh which option carries the most weight with your goals.

Final Recommendation

Join NSLS if the cost is manageable, your chapter has a strong track record, and you plan to take advantage of its programming. Skip it if you are only seeking a resume boost, the fee would create financial pressure, or you already have better ways to build leadership and connections. For high-stakes career decisions, speak with a career counselor, academic advisor, or mentor before paying.