Are college NHS groups worth it?

[LisaR]

From what I can tell, there are many different national honor societies which means the likelihood that a future employer even knows what those Greek letters are on your resume is slim.
Since NHS are based on your GPA and paying your membership fee, will it really make a difference on your future resume? Wouldn't your GPA speak for itself when you apply for jobs? Are there any benefits to joining?

 

[Sadie22]

Being selected to Phi Beta Kappa would make a difference.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Phi Beta Kappa is absolutely worth it, in my opinion (and the opinion of every person I know).

There is a Jesuit National Honor Society for students at those schools (I believe it is called Alpha Sigma Nu) that I suspect would be worth it due to the strength of those networks.

I think the rest of the real ones are "nice" if they are known within the industry, but I don't know how useful they are to join solely for the network.

 

[Unas]

Often those groups require additional activities beyond just grades. Profession specific societies are known to others in the profession and can matter beyond just grades.

 

[clh2]

My DD has joined a business group related to her major-actuarial sciences. The fees are minimal. The benefits far outweigh the costs. For every actuary test she takes and passes while she is in school, she will be reimbursed the test fee. The group is also negotiating with a firm to provide study materials for the test, to be available to all members.

In addition, DD is on the executive board for this group, so when she is updating her resume, she will be able to add some concrete things that she has helped to contribute to the organization.

And, for those who are worried about the fees. This is a whole networking group as it relates to buying/selling used textbooks, which is another way to save money elsewhere.

Professional groups on campus also do some "outreach" volunteer things, like working with Girl Scouts . Which are also things that can be listed on resumes, which help to tell the story of what your child is all about!

Yes, your GPA will tell a future employer some things. The "extra-curricular" and work activities your child is involved in will tell "the rest of the story".

Personally, I think a professional organization is well worth the money spent for fees.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks! I'm not at home so I don't have the letter in front of me, but I thought this said it was for freshman only. It definitely wasn't specific to her major and it wasn't PBK.

When DD was dual enrolled, she was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. I was so excited and thought it was so special. It wasn't. Once a member, always a member even if you don't maintain your GPA. The guy down the street from us got in because he got a 4.0 his first semester. That was the last time he saw anything close to a 4.0. But when he graduated, there was the PTK next to his name.

 

[Sadie22]

I have no idea what Phi Theta Kappa is. I said Phi Beta Kappa. Freshmen do not get into Phi Beta Kappa.

Students may get letters from scam organizations looking to make money, so look out for those. Sometimes what sounds like a great honor is just a money grab.

 

[LisaR]

I have no idea what Phi Theta Kappa is. I said Phi Beta Kappa. Freshmen do not get into Phi Beta Kappa.

Students may get letters from scam organizations looking to make money, so look out for those. Sometimes what sounds like a great honor is just a money grab.

I know you were referencing Phi Beta Kappa. I said this was NOT PBK. DD is only a freshman and wouldn't be eligible for that.

Phi Theta Kappa is an honors society for 2 year colleges. DD was dual enrolled during high school and that was what they had. I pointed out that it seemed like an honor, but after the fact, I wasn't overly impressed.

The current one is Phi Eta Sigma. It appears to be for freshmen. It isn't a scam in that it is a real organization. My question was about the value of joining such organizations.

 

[clori]

Just curious but why is Phi Beta Kappa considered good. I was in Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Chi many years ago and all I recall was putting them on my resume while applying for my first job out of college.

 

[wiigirl]

Often those groups require additional activities beyond just grades. Profession specific societies are known to others in the profession and can matter beyond just grades.

 

[barkley]

Often those groups require additional activities beyond just grades. Profession specific societies are known to others in the profession and can matter beyond just grades.

and I think that's something that should be considered-what profession the student is planning on going into.

based on my experience sitting on hiring panels for public sector professionals, having or not having those group affiliations (or gpa for that matter) didn't enter into hiring considerations. if a profession required a certain degree then someone in h/r just looked to see if that was indicated/verified with their application (w/no preference one over the other). hiring panels were not given resumes or supplementary materials by h/r and we were mandated to ask all candidates the identical questions (if a candidate presented us with materials at the interview we were technically not permitted to review them or take them into consideration for ranking/hiring purposes).

the only time professional affiliations came into consideration was if a specific classification had it written into their job description that membership was required or desired (and it was not honor type groups-it was professional groups). as far as gpa goes-it seems like the current attitude about it goes both ways, some feel it's appropriate to put it on a resume while others feel it just screams 'I'm a student whose only proven success has been in the academic arena'. the only place dd has been advised to indicate her gpa on is an academic resume for the purposes of work-study, internships, scholarships and the like.

 

[momz]

There is a greek honor society for nursing called Sigma Theta Tau.

They host professional conferences that you can pay to attend. But, there are many many many other professional groups that host conferences.

So, I'm not sure there is any advantage to being a member. Just the "good feeling" that the student gets at commencement when the program says they are a member.

whoop de doop.

 

[LisaR]

There is a greek honor society for nursing called Sigma Theta Tau.

They host professional conferences that you can pay to attend. But, there are many many many other professional groups that host conferences.

So, I'm not sure there is any advantage to being a member. Just the "good feeling" that the student gets at commencement when the program says they are a member.

whoop de doop.

This is my gut feel, as well. I did give DD the info (it was sent to us, not DD) and told her to look into what this group does on her campus. I'm sure each campus is different and some are more active than others. If it is a group she can get involved in, they do offer numerous scholarships through grad school so it might be worth it. If they aren't active on her campus, then it is nothing more than a good feeling type thing as you mentioned.

 

[scrapquitler]

I was a member of an honor society for economics students (it was my concentration within my international studies major). We had some kind of induction ceremony on campus which impressed my parents, and I had it on my resume, but I don't think it made any difference to be honest. One thing that the membership fee did get me was a subscription to their journal, and I really liked that...it was very interesting to read the journal articles (but I'm a geek like that).

Some of them are nothing but a scam I think, akin to "whos who among high school students" (does that still exist?) .

One of my friends who is a student at a community college recently posted a picture of a letter that she got inviting her to join some honor society for community college students based on her GPA. I looked at the picture and was like because the letter said "dear community college student...." They couldn't even bother to put her name on the letter. To me, that means it's kind of shady.

 

[swanmom]

Like anything else, there are good ones and bad ones. Some actually based on merit and achievement and some just hope that you will be willing to pay dues in order to be able to put it name on your resume. A little investigation (and clues like 'they didn't even put her name on the letter') should help tell the difference.

My DD was invited to submit an application for Alpha Sigma Nu - the Jesuit honor society. It was a rigorous process involving grades, personal statements, evidence of significant commitment to community service and interviews. (So we knew it was legitimate.) It has been helpful as they maintain a network of alumni and business mentors for members and they organize campus service opportunities. The side benefit that we didn't originally anticipate but which really paid off was when a interviewer didn't know what it was and asked her.
It gave her an opening to talk about her grades, her service activities and the fact that only about 4% of the class is accepted. Any other way that might have come up may have seemed self-serving but, since he asked ............. she was able to answer. If it hadn't been legit, I'm not sure what she could have said.

I think where they are based on legitimate accomplishments they are very worthwhile but when you basically "buy" a commendation, people usually see right through it.