Honor Societies

[texaspremed]

Is it best to be in as many honor societies and clubs as possible, or just a few of them are good enough? I am in about 6 right now (Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership, Alpha Chi Honors, Honors Alliance, Pre-Med Society) and I was accepted into another. It is $75.00 for dues. I have the money, but I didn't know if it was going to make a difference if I was in it. It is the College Honors Society. Thanks!

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[sirus_virus]

Is it best to be in as many honor societies and clubs as possible, or just a few of them are good enough? I am in about 6 right now (Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership, Alpha Chi Honors, Honors Alliance, Pre-Med Society) and I was accepted into another. It is $75.00 for dues. I have the money, but I didn't know if it was going to make a difference if I was in it. It is the College Honors Society. Thanks!

No difference. save your money

 

[Seanses]

You may want to look at Phi Beta Kappa though.

 

[brbsb]

I was told that Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi (if your school doesn't have Phi Beta Kappa, like mine), and your departmental honor society are the only ones worth paying for.

 

[ADeadLois]

Med schools don't really care what you're in...it all depends on what you do while you're in them.

 

[ITRGTR]

you dont need to join clubs to be a competitive applicant. I'm only in two organizations on campus and i was accepted. ADeadLois is exactly right.

 

[45408]

I was told that Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi (if your school doesn't have Phi Beta Kappa, like mine), and your departmental honor society are the only ones worth paying for.

ditto. for the OP, you've been wasting your money. The adcoms probably don't even know what those groups are, and the ones they do know, like Golden Key and Mortar Board are open to practically everyone.

 

[HumbleMD]

Yeah, Phi Betta Kappa is the only one worthwhile. Does anyone else have a Golden Key honors society on campus? Those guys are relentless. I fell for Who's Who back in the day and vowed I will never be scammed again...

 

[35m]

Yeah, Phi Betta Kappa is the only one worthwhile. Does anyone else have a Golden Key honors society on campus? Those guys are relentless. I fell for Who's Who back in the day and vowed I will never be scammed again...

What makes Phi Betta Kappa worthwhile?

 

[szhao]

No difference. save your money

so true actually this is probably a better question to ask your undergraduate advisor.

 

[Seanses]

What makes Phi Betta Kappa worthwhile?

Here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_beta_kappa

Also, only certain schools that meet particular requirements can have chapters. This particular honor society is not meant to be an extracurricular activity per se, but a way of distinguishing a 4.0 at a community college with an average GPA of 4.0, from someone with the same grades at a far more competitive school (it is often based on percentile). It carries a similar meaning as things like summa cum laude and respected professionals often cite it on their CV. If any one person thinks it is pointless because it does not require participation, just like "being summa cum laude," there are many more people who are instead impressed. I tried to argue against it once with one of my fake business school friends and he convinced me to cough up the dough. I assure you that I will cite that bull**** until I die. Peer pressure sucks?

 

[JDovers]

Phi Beta Kappa is all that matters.

HOWEVER... The Golden Key cord for your graduation robes is slick as hell. It's by far the coolest looking cord I saw when I graduated.

 

[8744]

Is it best to be in as many honor societies and clubs as possible, or just a few of them are good enough? I am in about 6 right now (Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership, Alpha Chi Honors, Honors Alliance, Pre-Med Society) and I was accepted into another. It is $75.00 for dues. I have the money, but I didn't know if it was going to make a difference if I was in it. It is the College Honors Society. Thanks!

I bet you got beat up a lot as a kid.

 

[kapil_MD]

I bet you got beat up a lot as a kid.

wtf?

 

[8744]

Is it best to be in as many honor societies and clubs as possible, or just a few of them are good enough? I am in about 6 right now (Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership, Alpha Chi Honors, Honors Alliance, Pre-Med Society) and I was accepted into another. It is $75.00 for dues. I have the money, but I didn't know if it was going to make a difference if I was in it. It is the College Honors Society. Thanks!

I repeat, nobody who thinks like this could have avoided getting beaten up a lot. I'm not saying he deserved it or that it was right but there it is.

 

[texaspremed]

To be honest, I've never been beat up, other than by my brother or sister. I'm not some nerd, you can tell by my not so good gpa. I was trying to find other ways to make me stand out. by the way, im a girl, a very nice and pretty girl, so no one wants to beat me up.

 

[45408]

by the way, im a girl, a very nice and pretty girl, so no one wants to beat me up.

Pictures are required to prove this.

 

[kapil_MD]

I repeat, nobody who thinks like this could have avoided getting beaten up a lot. I'm not saying he deserved it or that it was right but there it is.

Panda, perhaps he's just unaware that many of those societies he listed are just interested in making money. I'm a member of a couple of them too - and they're good if you actually do things within the society, eg-leadership etc.
I have a ton of volunteering, leardership experiences with these societies that I would otherwise not have had.

I've been offered a scholarship to go abroad by one honor society to learn more about international medicine. I've decided India🙂

So as you can see it's definetly worth it, as long as you're proactive.

 

[Seanses]

Pictures are required to prove this.

Sleazy

 

[stixx]

To be honest, I've never been beat up, other than by my brother or sister. I'm not some nerd, you can tell by my not so good gpa. I was trying to find other ways to make me stand out. by the way, im a girl, a very nice and pretty girl, so no one wants to beat me up.

Personally I'd never even *heard* of any of these honour societies until I started getting invites after my first year. I have a good GPA but my motto is party hard, study harder, not really a nerd. Given the choice between hanging out with my 'average' student friends and a bunch of people who flaunt their grades (that's pretty nerdy), I'd choose my friends. 😳 Stereotype I know

 

[Cirrus83]

PBK would be the only one that really matters, like everyone else is saying.

And umm you don't really need a 4.0 to get into PBK, but someone has to notice you being uber leet so it's pretty hard heh.

 

[tennisguy896]

I wasn't planning on updating schools that I got into PBK this fall, should I?

 

[wickd]

I don't think schools will weigh a lot on club like undergrad admissions do, but they are good gateways to other things, like community service, clinic experience, etc...


Last post under this name.

 

[Wordplay]

Yeah, Phi Betta Kappa is the only one worthwhile. Does anyone else have a Golden Key honors society on campus? Those guys are relentless. I fell for Who's Who back in the day and vowed I will never be scammed again...

Who's Who is at least free. Well... the cost of a stamp to send your info in.

 

[35m]

Also, only certain schools that meet particular requirements can have chapters. This particular honor society is not meant to be an extracurricular activity per se, but a way of distinguishing a 4.0 at a community college with an average GPA of 4.0, from someone with the same grades at a far more competitive school (it is often based on percentile). It carries a similar meaning as things like summa cum laude and respected professionals often cite it on their CV. If any one person thinks it is pointless because it does not require participation, just like "being summa cum laude," there are many more people who are instead impressed. I tried to argue against it once with one of my fake business school friends and he convinced me to cough up the dough. I assure you that I will cite that bull**** until I die. Peer pressure sucks?

I was invited to register for Phi Betta Kappa, and I do not plan to join.

All it means is that I got a certain gpa or better at the school which I attended; this information is already available on all of my applications.

They have asked about honor societies at my interviews, and I tell them that I have received many invitations and turned them all down. I do not see how me being too cheap to give these pointless honor societies money could hurt me.

 

[NCF145]

I was invited to register for Phi Betta Kappa, and I do not plan to join.

All it means is that I got a certain gpa or better at the school which I attended; this information is already available on all of my applications.

They have asked about honor societies at my interviews, and I tell them that I have received many invitations and turned them all down. I do not see how me being too cheap to give these pointless honor societies money could hurt me.

It is a little harder to make PBK than you are saying. In addition to having a high gpa, you have to have a very well-rounded education. Also, in order to be invited to join, current PBK members (professors and such who have been a member for 10+ years) have to vote on your election to the society.

 

[tennisguy896]

It is a little harder to make PBK than you are saying. In addition to having a high gpa, you have to have a very well-rounded education. Also, in order to be invited to join, current PBK members (professors and such who have been a member for 10+ years) have to vote on your election to the society.

Yep- PBK uses your gpa for screening, but then relies on professor recommendations (kinda similar to LORs) and such to elect members. at least at my school. Also, PBK has a strict quota on how many students can be elected, which many other honor societies don't.

 

[45408]

I wasn't planning on updating schools that I got into PBK this fall, should I?

You could include it in a letter, but I wouldn't send a letter JUST for that reason.

Also, you need to fulfill certain course requirements and GPA requirements for PBK. A lot of science majors at my school don't get it, because it requires so many liberal arts classes.

 

[RokChalkJayhawk]

What is Phi Theta Kappa? A knock off of Phi Beta Kappa?

 

[Seanses]

I was invited to register for Phi Betta Kappa, and I do not plan to join.

All it means is that I got a certain gpa or better at the school which I attended; this information is already available on all of my applications.

They have asked about honor societies at my interviews, and I tell them that I have received many invitations and turned them all down. I do not see how me being too cheap to give these pointless honor societies money could hurt me.

Gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[blargh]

To be honest, I've never been beat up, other than by my brother or sister. I'm not some nerd, you can tell by my not so good gpa. I was trying to find other ways to make me stand out. by the way, im a girl, a very nice and pretty girl, so no one wants to beat me up.

who says you can't get beaten up just because you're a very nice and pretty girl? don't be sexist. women are entitled to the same beatings which men get.

 

[Cirrus83]

who says you can't get beaten up just because you're a very nice and pretty girl? don't be sexist. women are entitled to the same beatings which men get.

lol, equal opportunity beatings?

 

[45408]

lol, equal opportunity beatings?

you bet. I'm gonna go lay a girl out in a minute for trash-talking me.

 

[blargh]

you bet. I'm gonna go lay a girl out in a minute for trash-talking me.

i would do that... if it didn't result in getting arrested.

 

[edmadison]

I was invited to register for Phi Betta Kappa, and I do not plan to join.

All it means is that I got a certain gpa or better at the school which I attended; this information is already available on all of my applications.

They have asked about honor societies at my interviews, and I tell them that I have received many invitations and turned them all down. I do not see how me being too cheap to give these pointless honor societies money could hurt me.

During my 10 years between college and medical school, the single most noted thing on my resume was Phi Beta Kappa. I suppose if you are definately in medical school it doesn't matter, but people in the "real world" make a big deal about it. No one knows whether a 3.6 GPA is good a given school, but PBK is well recognized. Of course it was free at my school.

Ed

 

[RokChalkJayhawk]

PBK actually cost money to join- but it's the best 25 bucks you'll ever spend. Unless of course you bought Berkshire Hathaway back in the 1950's.

 

[texaspremed]

T

 

[texaspremed]

t

 

[texaspremed]

look, i was just trying to be nice. just because i asked a simple question, doesn't mean i get beat up alot. there is no relationship between the two. its people like you that like to cause drama. to be honest, it doesn't matter that if i am a girl or a boy, i noticed that everyone was calling me a "he" so therefore i made a statement that i am female. ever heard the statement, that people make fun of others when they feel inferior, guess what- it applies in this situation. please find something better to do with your time, than make fun of people you don't even know.

 

[ClockworkDoc]

Do NSCS (national society of Collegiate Scholars)! I had a blast with it!