Being a member of a national society can grant you access to numerous professional occupations in the Federal service.
If you are a good performer in college, it is likely that you will attract the attention of an honor society but is it something that you really must join?
The answer is yes.
Becoming a member of an honor society is like wearing an emblem of exemplary academic and personal achievement. And as you might expect, it comes with a lot of perks.
Here are some of the benefits of joining an honor society.
- Meeting New People
Becoming a member of any club allows you to meet like-minded folk. Joining an honor society, allows you to meet other dedicated students who more than likely share your academic goals.
Therefore, you are not only going to form new friendships through honor societies but also be introduced to people who will motivate you to perform at your best in both your academic and social life.
- Boosting Your Resume
A high GPA speaks for itself; there’s no questioning that. However, if you are looking to boost your marketability, consider joining an honor society.
This is because employers typically look out for job candidates who have shown extracurricular involvement while in college. As such, being a member of an honor society is an excellent demonstration of this.
Nonetheless, joining such a society just for the sake of including it on your resume will not be enough. Employers need to see that you were an active member of the club.
Consequently, if there’s nothing to be shown for your membership, it won’t be as impressive in the eyes of the potential employer.
- Receiving Membership Benefits
To join an honor society, there’s a certain fee you will need to part with. In exchange for that membership fee, you will be allowed exclusive opportunities such as access to scholarships, studying abroad, job banks, among others.
Most societies have a lifetime membership that gives you access to those opportunities permanently.
- Networking with Leaders
Getting introduced to local, national, and even international leaders gives you an advantage when you embark on your job search.
Admittedly, colleges do provide networking opportunities such as job fairs to their students. However, an honor society will go beyond that to provide you with exclusive opportunities that are more likely to yield results.
Attending honor society-sponsored events shows leaders that you are a dedicated student, therefore making them open to the idea of working with you in the future.
- Enriching Your Education
Honor societies, especially those that serve a single academic discipline, often go out of their way to help their members stay current in whatever is going on in their field.
This is made possible through local to national meetings, events, and extended learning experiences.
This program starts in college and extends well into your alumni.
- Helping You Make Career Choices
An honor society seeks to bring out the best in you. Therefore, they will provide you with educated insight to help you find the best direction for your future.
- Celebrating Your Accomplishments
An honor society is typically associated with high achievers. If you put in that much work to earn a high GPA, why not couple your accomplishments by becoming a member of an honor society?
An honor society acceptance letter and membership certificate are treasures you will be proud of for all your life.
If you are interested in becoming a member of an honor society, here are some tips on writing a standout honor society essay.
Which Honor Society to Join?
There are various societies out there. Though they all hold academic achievement in high regard, each can benefit you differently. Therefore, Depending on what you’re looking for in a national honor society, one of these might be a good fit for you:
- The Golden Key International Honor Society
This the largest honor society in the world. It is prestigious and offers a wide array of opportunities in addition to connecting you with a global network of alumni.
- Alpha Chi
If you are looking for leadership and work experience, then this society could be a good fit for you. Alpha Chi membership is typically involving as it aims to build grit into their members.
The society will give you opportunities to lead the local chapters, present at events, and submit to Alpha Chi’s publications.
The society typically invites the top 10 percent upperclassmen and graduate students.
- Phi Beta Kappa
This is one of the oldest as well as one of the most renowned college societies. Phi Beta Kappa honors exemplary academic achievement. Therefore, it is the ideal society for you if you are looking for academic prestige.
It has a large community, which provides ample networking opportunities. Some of its more popular alumni include Bill Clinton and Condoleezza Rice. As you can imagine, Phi Beta Kappa has very high standards for qualification.
- The National Society of Collegiate Scholars
The NSCS is an organization that recognizes community service and leadership in addition to academics. Therefore, it focuses more on overall achievement and integrity than on just academics.
In that regard, it is a good idea to join this society since it promotes the holistic development of an individual. Additionally, this society offers large amounts of scholarship funds to its members.
It also achieves its objectives through facilitating leadership and community service opportunities, such as mentorship programs and leadership seminars. To join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, you need a GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Improving Yourself
As a young person, you need all the guidance and opportunities you can get. While having a great GPA is commendable, you will be doing yourself a disservice if you do not put yourself in positions where that GPA will yield the best fruits.
Joining an honor society gives you the chance to make the most out of your academic achievements. Be sure to check out our career section to learn different aspects that will help you nurture your budding career.
