Phi Beta Kappa// Alpha Omega Alpha

[superZ4040]

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Is accepting a membership to Phi Beta Kappa important/relevant for a medical student seeking competitive residency? I was invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at UCLA and I want to know whether it's worth the $75 lifetime membership fee they want to join this supposedly prestigious honor society. I heard that graduating as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha is really imp and I want to know if the same holds true for Phi Beta Kappa.

Thanks!

 

[epalantequevoy]

pbk is a big honor and for 75 dollars (which i didn't have to pay to join for some reason) it's definitely worth it. residency directors will at least recognize the name and i think it's a nice end to your university career. however, i highly doubt it will help give you a leg up in residency.

 

[Dunce]

pbk is a big honor and for 75 dollars (which i didn't have to pay to join for some reason) it's definitely worth it. residency directors will at least recognize the name and i think it's a nice end to your university career. however, i highly doubt it will help give you a leg up in residency.

agreed.
Everybody who you might want to impress by being PBK will defnitely know what it means and should recognize it as a "big honor" as posted above. However, laypeople aren't going to have a freakin clue what it is.
If I had an opportunity like yours I would definitely take it. Congratulations

 

[Tiger26]

For me it was only $50, but I'd still do it. People in the know will be impressed, but everyone else thinks you're joining a frat for some reason at the end of your senior year.

 

[superZ4040]

For me it was only $50, but I'd still do it. People in the know will be impressed, but everyone else thinks you're joining a frat for some reason at the end of your senior year.

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[mchou]

Is accepting a membership to Phi Beta Kappa important/relevant for a medical student seeking competitive residency? I was invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at UCLA and I want to know whether it's worth the $75 lifetime membership fee they want to join this supposedly prestigious honor society. I heard that graduating as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha is really imp and I want to know if the same holds true for Phi Beta Kappa.

Thanks!

I got that same invitation several years ago, (because my units advanced me way faster than my years, I was only a 2nd year or something at the time) and not knowing much about it, I discarded it. and I really regret it.

I think it's worth it. and you can always pretend you're in a cool fraternity (even if we all know it's a buncha nerdies like us) 😀

 

[Ashers]

I've heard it's really the only honor society that's helpful for you med school apps. It was $75 for me, and now, ever few months, I get something asking to be an active member, which I just throw away. My parents paid for me to be an active member for a year, and all you get is an additional 1-2 PBK magazines or something like that.

 

[velo]

Really? It is a good thing? I saw "we want $75" and told them to stick it in their ear! I guess it didn't hurt me in med school apps anyway....