Those "BS" Honors Societies...

[bluesTank]

Did anyone list some of those bull**** honors societies on their AMCAS? My parents enrolled me apparently in Golden Key and Society of Collegiate Scholars, but I heard those are kind of crappy since everyone gets in.

It's not like it would waste a spot since I am already making a compilation of scholarships, awards and honor societies and I have room...I'm just wondering if its possible that it might actually hurt me since it might look like I am trying to fill up space (which I am not, believe me). Just a shame that they paid for those, and they were just trying to help me out. Not sure what to do.

Thanks guys

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[nick_carraway]

Isn't Golden Key by invitation only? Or am I confusing a pile of crap with gold?

 

[corbis11]

Yeah, you are "invited" to join and be a member after you send them money

 

[RPedigo]

I wouldn't list any honors societies except for Phi Beta Kappa* I think.


*sigh... one day they'll accept me 😳

 

[bluesTank]

Yeah, you are "invited" to join and be a member after you send them money

Same with Phi Kappa Phi, but that one is well respected. I could be wrong, golden key might be good I dunno.

 

[UCDavisdude]

a friend of mine had to borrow a stole from another friend who was actually in golden key for graduation so that his parents would think hes smart..if that means anything. golden key is a good one, i barely know anyone whos been invited into it.

 

[nick_carraway]

a friend of mine had to borrow a stole from another friend who was actually in golden key for graduation so that his parents would think hes smart..if that means anything. golden key is a good one, i barely know anyone whos been invited into it.

Maybe they just don't invite anyone at our school :|

 

[UCDavisdude]

Maybe they just don't invite anyone at our school :|

there is. i graduated with golden key honors, and i saw a few others at my graduation with golden key honors stoles as well.besides myself, i only know one other member though.but im sure there are plenty

 

[GreyBlueEyes]

golden key only invites the top 15% of the class, starting junior year.

 

[Jolie South]

interesting . . . all these years I've been wondering why I got invited. hmm. .

 

[maestro1625]

interesting . . . all these years I've been wondering why I got invited. hmm. .

golden key = waste of money...

 

[Jolie South]

golden key = waste of money...

well, i've had my Bachelor's now for 4 years, so it hardly makes a difference.

 

[AppleseedCast]

I agree Golden Key was a waste of money. It seems like everyone I know got inducted into it. If I could go back, I would have saved myself the 70 some-odd bucks to join. I also am in Psi Chi, the psych honor society. I didn't mention either of these in my AMCAS primary. The only honor society I mentioned was Phi Beta Kappa because they only extended offers to 7 juniors at my school. I hear that PBK is pretty much the only honor society that adcoms take seriously.

 

[Jolie South]

I agree Golden Key was a waste of money. It seems like everyone I know got inducted into it. If I could go back, I would have saved myself the 70 some-odd bucks to join. I also am in Psi Chi, the psych honor society. I didn't mention either of these in my AMCAS primary. The only honor society I mentioned was Phi Beta Kappa because they only extended offers to 7 juniors at my school. I hear that PBK is pretty much the only honor society that adcoms take seriously.

dang. . . got that invite too and it ended up in the trash. If I'd only known.

 

[maestro1625]

I agree Golden Key was a waste of money. It seems like everyone I know got inducted into it. If I could go back, I would have saved myself the 70 some-odd bucks to join. I also am in Psi Chi, the psych honor society. I didn't mention either of these in my AMCAS primary. The only honor society I mentioned was Phi Beta Kappa because they only extended offers to 7 juniors at my school. I hear that PBK is pretty much the only honor society that adcoms take seriously.

only 7? damn, the whole top 10% at my class got it I think. (maybe top 5%, but either way, that's 25-30 people minimum)

 

[UCDavisdude]

phi sigma is a big deal too. i had to go to the deans office just to pick up my chord and stole.

 

[SB100]

Hmm, this intrigues me. Is there a way to find out your academic standing against everyone else in your class without being snooty about it? 😛 I'm kind of interested now, as I'm about to start my junior year, and I want to see where I stand 😛

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I joined Golden Key when I graduated with my Bachelor's in 2000. I've come back to the same school for my post-bacc. Guess who keeps emailing me, asking me to join? Yup, Golden Key. I even called and gave them my member number and they still keep sending me emails asking me to join. A top notch organization, right there. Eventually I created a rule to automatically route the message to the trash.

And that's all I've ever gotten from my 7 years of GK membership. It didn't exactly make my AMCAS application, if you know what I mean.

 

[UCDavisdude]

Hmm, this intrigues me. Is there a way to find out your academic standing against everyone else in your class without being snooty about it? 😛 I'm kind of interested now, as I'm about to start my junior year, and I want to see where I stand 😛

official transcripts should list it

 

[nick_carraway]

Hmm, this intrigues me. Is there a way to find out your academic standing against everyone else in your class without being snooty about it? 😛 I'm kind of interested now, as I'm about to start my junior year, and I want to see where I stand 😛

If you email the Dean of your college, he can probably put you in contact with someone who will know. That's what I did when I wondered why I wasn't on the Dean's list in my last quarter.

 

[UCDavisdude]

If you email the Dean of your college, he can probably put you in contact with someone who will know. That's what I did when I wondered why I wasn't on the Dean's list in my last quarter.

i bet it was because u had less than 12 graded units in the qtr huh.

 

[artaxerxes]

I always thought Phi Beta Kapa was given to 1% of graduating class, the people I know who got it all had 3.9+ GPA

I think anyone with 3.5+ GPA are eligable for GK, which is frankly a lot of people. With that said, GK is a very established and completely legit organization that provide its members with networking help and a lot of other benefits that you don't see with PBK. So, PBK is more prestiage while GK is more practical.

but if you got space on your app, why not put it in?

 

[coralfangs]

what does golden key do for you anyway?
I never joined (cuz I seriously could think of better ways to spend the $$$ every time they send me an invite)

 

[AppleseedCast]

only 7? damn, the whole top 10% at my class got it I think. (maybe top 5%, but either way, that's 25-30 people minimum)

from what I understand, PBK only takes the top 1 percent and involves having to be nominated by faculty. My induction class had around 30 or so students, but only a handful of juniors.

 

[smeagol]

I think it's silly to join an honor society that bases invitation on GPA. The adcoms can read your GPA, they're not dumb.

 

[nick_carraway]

i bet it was because u had less than 12 graded units in the qtr huh.

Yes. Yes it was. Bastards!

 

[kypdurron5]

golden key only invites the top 15% of the class, starting junior year.

Even if that's true, you've got to consider that most med school applicants are probably in the top 15% at their schools....which means it probably is the most common "honor society" among applicants. Still, I listed it, but I put it in an activity with all my achievement-based awards/activities.

 

[Hassler]

Did anyone list some of those bull**** honors societies on their AMCAS? My parents enrolled me apparently in Golden Key and Society of Collegiate Scholars, but I heard those are kind of crappy since everyone gets in.

It's not like it would waste a spot since I am already making a compilation of scholarships, awards and honor societies and I have room...I'm just wondering if its possible that it might actually hurt me since it might look like I am trying to fill up space (which I am not, believe me). Just a shame that they paid for those, and they were just trying to help me out. Not sure what to do.

Thanks guys

Maybe you can just add a "Miscellaneous" item and list out all your honor societies in that item, so you won't have to list each honor society as separate items.

Honestly, I would prefer listing intramural sports or a meaningful volunteering experience from high school than those....

 

[kyidmnmaiv]

The requirements for receiving an invitation to Phi Beta Kappa are set by the individual chapters. At my school, you have to maintain a certain GPA and have a certain curriculum completed that goes beyond the general BA requirements. I believe there were 30-40 students inducted with me.

 

[SB100]

How exactly do faculty recommendations for PBK work? Does the school like give faculty members a list of next year's graduating class and say "pick who you like to be PBK" or something? 😛

 

[spanamit]

Xxx

 

[searun]

How exactly do faculty recommendations for PBK work? Does the school like give faculty members a list of next year's graduating class and say "pick who you like to be PBK" or something? 😛

Phi Beta Kappa is for liberal arts students only. Only certain colleges and universities have been granted Phi Beta Kappa chapters by the national organization. A college or university has to apply for chapter status and has to qualify. Only faculty members at schools that have a chapter may vote to admit a student in his or her junior or senior year. The criteria for admission is very stringent, a high gpa and broad coursework in the liberal arts. I think that Phi Beta Kappa is well respected in academic circles. The top 10 med school where I was admitted specifically asked about Phi Beta Kappa membership.

 

[AppleseedCast]

I believe that PBK also looks at extracurriculars such as research involvement, community service,etc

 

[chucky85]

Phi Beta Kappa is based on amount of coursework taken in the liberal arts and sciences (has to be around 70% or so of the total coursework without one weighing too heavily), faculty and dean recommendation, and good academic standing (but nothing about class rank). One of the biggest aspects of the organization is that it stresses coursework in the sciences and liberal arts.

I was inducted. Those were the requirements at my school. About 40 - 50 people, juniors and seniors combined, were inducted out of about 6000-7000 or so juniors and seniors.

 

[SB100]

Phi Beta Kappa is for liberal arts students only. Only certain colleges and universities have been granted Phi Beta Kappa chapters by the national organization. A college or university has to apply for chapter status and has to qualify. Only faculty members at schools that have a chapter may vote to admit a student in his or her junior or senior year. The criteria for admission is very stringent, a high gpa and broad coursework in the liberal arts. I think that Phi Beta Kappa is well respected in academic circles. The top 10 med school where I was admitted specifically asked about Phi Beta Kappa membership.

Well define "liberal arts" students. I go to Brandeis University and while it's deemed as liberal arts I know science majors have gotten PBK here before. Overall I meet the requirements, I'm just curious as to how faculty do the recommending, since it's kind of hard when your basic science professors can't remember you 😛 I've made an effort to get to know some of my professors, both in the sciences and liberal arts, in a context outside of coursework, so I'm hoping that helps.

 

[maestro1625]

for PBK:

every chapter is different...

every chapter is different...

every chapter is different...

some schools go by special invitation only...others go by rank... mine went by special invitation for juniors and rank for seniors...

every chapter is different...

 

[SB100]

Hmm, I wonder how I can find out the way my school does it 😛

 

[AppleseedCast]

If you can find the PBK website for your school's chapter, they should outline their selection process. I know for my school it was invitation by the executive officers only after a strenuous selection process beginning with nominations from faculty.

 

[searun]

Well define "liberal arts" students. I go to Brandeis University and while it's deemed as liberal arts I know science majors have gotten PBK here before. Overall I meet the requirements, I'm just curious as to how faculty do the recommending, since it's kind of hard when your basic science professors can't remember you 😛 I've made an effort to get to know some of my professors, both in the sciences and liberal arts, in a context outside of coursework, so I'm hoping that helps.

Liberal arts includes natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, foreign languages, theatre, and the fine arts. I was a biochemistry major and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa but I took alot of social science, literature, and theatre classes and that helped me qualify.

 

[SB100]

Well I guess I'll check the site and see if anything is written up about my school's process. As for liberal arts themselves, I admit a lot of my courses taken so far have been sciences (to get through pre-requisites, two majors, etc.) but I've tried taking courses in other areas to broaden my perspective. I've got three semesters of Hebrew and a film history/theory class under my belt, plus I'm taking a social/political philosophy course and American revolution course next semester.

 

[SB100]

Ok, so my school doesn't have it on a website. Boohoo 🙁 😛

 

[AppleseedCast]

the pure sciences are considered part of the liberal arts, so it shouldn't be a problem unless you are an applied sciences major (i.e. accounting, engineering, actuary sciences, etc. )

 

[SB100]

Hmm I just thought of something. I know usually they request faculty recommendations, but can faculty be expanded to like, deans?

 

[theunremarkable]

Phi Beta Kappa is the only one that counts.

All of the rest, like Mortar Board, Golden Key and the Collegiate Scholars are a waste of money and aren't really prestigious as they seem to have lower standards.

 

[Sir Buckethead]

be warned, you run the risk of looking like a complete tool if you join any of these.

 

[cadingcading]

Did anyone list some of those bull**** honors societies on their AMCAS? My parents enrolled me apparently in Golden Key and Society of Collegiate Scholars, but I heard those are kind of crappy since everyone gets in.

It's not like it would waste a spot since I am already making a compilation of scholarships, awards and honor societies and I have room...I'm just wondering if its possible that it might actually hurt me since it might look like I am trying to fill up space (which I am not, believe me). Just a shame that they paid for those, and they were just trying to help me out. Not sure what to do.

Thanks guys

You could go ahead and list these. Keep in mind that unless you were directly involved with these organizations (e.g. running for office, events, etc.), you may just be wasting space. Good luck.🙂

 

[smeagol]

be warned, you run the risk of looking like a complete tool if you join any of these.

Haha I wouldn't go as far as to say that but I agree that med schools probably don't care if you were in x or y honor society. I haven't read any website from any med school that recommends joining these organizations.

If you think about it, the concept of an honor society is kind of redundant. Suppose that in order to join x honor society, you have to be pretty awesome (i.e. great ECs, grades, etc). Med schools will almost see your exact same qualifications in your AMCAS/secondaries. They don't need some honor society to tell them that you're smart.

That $70 membership fee into Golden Key is probably better spent on a secondary app heh.

 

[SnoPearl]

What about Sigma Xi? Anyone join that one? And is it worth mentioning?

 

[caffeineaholic]

I've heard that of all the honor societies, only Phi Beta Kappa (for liberal arts) and Tau Beta Pi (for engineering) are worthwhile to join.

Personally, Tau Beta Pi was worth the ~$80 lifetime membership fee. I got free quality food (not just pizza/pop) every couple of weeks for 2.5 years and got 10% off my Princeton Review prep course.

 

[Depakote]

I wouldn't list any honor society that didn't require some form of nomination/verification process to join.

Phi Beta Kappa and honor societies for specific subgroups (like greek, or specific academic circles) are probably worth it if they actually look at you as a whole person and not just your GPA.

Rationale, they're going to know just how smart you are when you're applying to med school. If you dole out the cash to get a piece of paper telling you how smart you that you are that smart, it's not going to impress anyone (might even hurt a little bit).