AOA dues

[lloyd braun]

I apologize that this isn't really a residency question, but this seemed to be the best forum to post.

I am a soon-to-be intern who was fortunate enough to be elected to AOA during my fourth year of medical school. While I am certainly honored, I don't know if I want to pay the $400 in lifetime dues and $40 in annual dues to become a member. I have been elected to honors societies in the past (National Honor Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta) but I don't remember having to pay such atrocious amounts just to become a member. Furthermore, I am not currently benefitting from either of those honor societies now.

I don't see much benefit to being in AOA, aside from having a resume-booster (though I could still say I was inducted, correct?). You get quarterly publications, which I probably won't read anyway. I understand that my dues contribute to the national medical education programs of AOA, and although I am generally an altruistic person, $400 seems a lot to pay right now, especially since I am facing $180K in educational debt of my own. $400 is an entire month's interest payment.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Would anyone recommend against not paying dues? If so, for what reasons? I would appreciate any insight.

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[yaah]

Well, I never paid my phi beta kappa dues from the time I signed the register prior to college graduation and I have yet to suffer untoward consequences from that. It's all a racket. You can still put "elected into AOA" on your resume if you want, you just can't put that you are an active member. I would say it's a waste of money, but then again I have an anti-honor society bias.

 

[mfleur]

was wondering this myself...

 

[Museless]

Membership in AOA is via election, you can list it on your resume forever whether you pay dues or not.

Paying dues gets you some perks - the quarterly newsletter, among other things - but is optional.

And for the record, you have the dues amounts wrong. The national dues are EITHER $25/year OR $600 lifetime, not both (you said "and").

 

[lloyd braun]

Membership in AOA is via election, you can list it on your resume forever whether you pay dues or not.

Paying dues gets you some perks - the quarterly newsletter, among other things - but is optional.

And for the record, you have the dues amounts wrong. The national dues are EITHER $25/year OR $600 lifetime, not both (you said "and").

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Now that I look at the letter closer, there is that option. I originally thought that you had to pay $400 upfront PLUS annual dues. The choice of lifetime OR annual makes it a little more reasonable. I may just pay annual dues for a while and see if I like it enough to pay lifetime dues (which will be less the amount I have paid in annual dues).

So, as an example, if I pay annual dues of $25 for four years, and then decide to pay lifetime dues (which increase to $600 after the first year), I would have to pay $500 and then I would be done with it, correct?

 

[vegetables]

So, as an example, if I pay annual dues of $25 for four years, and then decide to pay lifetime dues (which increase to $600 after the first year), I would have to pay $500 and then I would be done with it, correct?

It was my understanding paying annual dues for a few years doesn't work like a credit to your lifetime dues - it's still going to be $400 or $600 whether you've paid zero or five years of annual dues. I assumed it was their way of getting more $$ upfront from people who can afford to put down $400 now. While it is definitely the cheaper route in the end to pay one lifetime payment vs. years and years of annual payments...I doubt most of us have that to pay right now - I know I didn't! But this is all my interpretation, so take that for what it's worth...

 

[Wednesday]

I have heard that if you don't pay dues but list the credit and anyone ever checks, AOA will deny any knowledge of you. Even if you have paid for a few years and stop, you are taken off the list. And technically you probably can't put it on your CV if you aren't an active member.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I have heard that if you don't pay dues but list the credit and anyone ever checks, AOA will deny any knowledge of you. Even if you have paid for a few years and stop, you are taken off the list. And technically you probably can't put it on your CV if you aren't an active member.

I paid my annual dues this year and will probably pay the lifetime fee when I can afford it. Seriously though, who will ever check to see if you are a dues paying member? If anyone ever cares to call me on whether I was elected into AOA, I'll just flash that hugh-jass certificate that they gave me

 

[Bitsy3221]

I have heard that if you don't pay dues but list the credit and anyone ever checks, AOA will deny any knowledge of you. Even if you have paid for a few years and stop, you are taken off the list. And technically you probably can't put it on your CV if you aren't an active member.

Well, considering that it is on my MSPE, my final transcript, and I have that "hugh-jass" certificate, a key and a medallion, I would say that I have evidence to the contrary to anyone who would check up on me.

It seems to me that while it's true, you can't put AOA on your CV under "Organizations and Memberships" if you don't pay, but you can list it under "Honors and Awards" since being elected is just that--an honor and an award.

 

[flash408]

Since this thread was from a few years ago, I thought I'd check to see if there were any new thoughts on the issue. Is it worth it to pay the $400 in lifetime dues? Or should I just pay $25 for one year and then be done with it?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Since this thread was from a few years ago, I thought I'd check to see if there were any new thoughts on the issue. Is it worth it to pay the $400 in lifetime dues? Or should I just pay $25 for one year and then be done with it?

I went for the $25 because I'm a broke student, so paying several hundred bucks right now is hard to do. I'm planning on sticking with the $25 yearly throughout residency (or at least until I start moonlighting) and then I'll pay for the lifetime dues. If you've got the $600 right now then go for that.

 

[flash408]

I went for the $25 because I'm a broke student, so paying several hundred bucks right now is hard to do. I'm planning on sticking with the $25 yearly throughout residency (or at least until I start moonlighting) and then I'll pay for the lifetime dues. If you've got the $600 right now then go for that.

I guess what I'm wondering is, how important will AOA be after matching into a residency program? If it isn't that important later on, then why not just pay $25/yr for a few yrs till maybe fellowship and then let it lapse?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

The AOA website lists members who aren't active so it's not like you're no longer a member if you don't pay.

 

[yaah]

I guess what I'm wondering is, how important will AOA be after matching into a residency program? If it isn't that important later on, then why not just pay $25/yr for a few yrs till maybe fellowship and then let it lapse?

I am in practice now and the only times I have ever heard AOA mentioned were when everyone was applying to residency. It basically stops mattering at that point because your residency performance begins to matter more. It's like how the MCAT stops mattering after you make it into med school.

The question you have to ask yourself is what you are getting out of it. If it's just the fact that you were elected to it, then don't bother.

 

[flash408]

I am in practice now and the only times I have ever heard AOA mentioned were when everyone was applying to residency. It basically stops mattering at that point because your residency performance begins to matter more. It's like how the MCAT stops mattering after you make it into med school.

The question you have to ask yourself is what you are getting out of it. If it's just the fact that you were elected to it, then don't bother.

That was what I wasn't sure on. I didn't know how much AOA would weigh on Fellowships interviews. I want to go into Cardio, and I know it's competitive. If I'm understanding correct, once you have signed up for AOA, you are a member, but even if you aren't actively paying your dues, you are just an inactive member.

What do you really get out of staying active? An monthly newsletter?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

That was what I wasn't sure on. I didn't know how much AOA would weigh on Fellowships interviews. I want to go into Cardio, and I know it's competitive. If I'm understanding correct, once you have signed up for AOA, you are a member, but even if you aren't actively paying your dues, you are just an inactive member.

What do you really get out of staying active? An monthly newsletter?

You can order AOA ties and pins as a member. Nothing like showing you're a tool. 😉

You get a magazine, but I think it's more like annually or bi-annually. But, no, there aren't other benefits other than the prestige I think. And it's probably useful as an academic attending because you can be involved with your school's AOA chapter. IMO, the appeal there would be being involved with selection.

 

[Spiker]

Hey guys, I am just a premed so I am not going to comment on the AOA. However, I do have some business background so I am going to talk about

400 now vs 25 for 3 years and 40 from then on.

With 5% inflation/interest (instead you can use the money for loan repayment etc) accounted for. You will need to plan to subscribe to AOA for at least 20 years for the $400 one time payment to be a discount!

Make good use of you future/present value calculators 🙂

http://www.uic.edu/classes/actg/actg500/pfvatutor.htm