Am I Eligible? 

Juniors with a 3.5 GPA and sophomores with a 3.8 GPA are invited to apply to NHS after fall semester grades are posted. Invitations typically go out in the mail the first week of February. 

What makes a strong application? 

The board who reviews the applications look for students who are already demostrating the four pillars: Leadership, Service, Scholarship, and Character. NHS is not a club for students to start their leadership/service journey.  The board is made up of 5 adult individuals selected by the school principal. The board may not know you so selling yourself on your application is critical!

What can I do now? 

Service: To be competitive, applicants should have sustainable service hours, meaning volunteering continuously for a period of time. Service hours should be school related and self initiated. If you need help finding ways to get involved, check out some clubs at the school like Rotary, Youth Service Club, SADD, RISE, Student Council, and more!

• Start logging your volunteer hours NOW!! The board who reviews applications is looking for CONSISTENT hours. If you need help finding places to volunteer at check out the options below 

  • Humane Society (always looking for dog walkers) 

  • Hospital in Fairview 

  • United Way (Washington County) 

  • Family Pathways (in Forest Lake) 

• Volunteer activities NOT required for a school activty count! 

  • Cub Bagging 

  • Running Concessions 

  • Helping with Camps 

Leadership: Applicants should have leadership positions within an organization in the school. This could be a sports captain, executive member of a club, or team lead on an event within a club. Applicants should additionally have leadership opportunities outside of the high school like being a church group leader, summer school teacher, and more. 

• If you are not a captain or on the board of a club, thats OK! Start logging activites that YOU organized for your club or YOU took charge of. Be sure to have SPECIFIC examples of leadership on your application. 

Scholarship: Applicants should show rigor in their course selections. Applications should challenge themselves though CIS, AP, and CTE  courses INTO their senior year. . AP courses are preffered over PSEO courses as AP courses are taken at the high school and NHS is a school focused club. 

Character: Applications must display strong character traits within the high school and community. Ways to demonstrate this is lack of tardies and absences at school, always being kind and respectful, and more. 

What does the application timeline look like? (Deadliness will be set in January)

February - Students receive email inviting them to apply 

February 1- Meeting is held with all students who are interested in applying and are given the application 

Mid Mid February - Application Help Nights 

March  - Applications Due 

April - Acceptance/Declination Letters go out in the mail 

May  - Induction Ceremony