Honor Society

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Tyo007, Jun 4, 2002.

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  1. Tyo007

    Tyo007 New Member

    I am about to complete my DL MBA from a US university and received letters announcing that I was selected for membership to Phi Kappa Phi and Delta Mu Delta.

    I am always suspicious of mail announcing that I have been selected with great honor to pay something. Is this worth anything, are people mentioning these on their resume ? Is it a bit like a college ring, a bit over the top ?


    Cheers,
    Bert
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Phi Kappa Phi:
    This is what they say about themselves, which seems fairly impressive:
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    The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest and most selective academic honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all fields of higher education. More than 1 million members have been inducted since its founding in 1897. There are currently more than 120,000 active members worldwide. The initial chapter was founded at the University of Maine, and now there are 282 chapters on college and university campuses throughout the United States... Over 1,200 faculty and staff volunteer their time to serve as officers for local chapters. The Society is also responsible for over $500,000 in national and local scholarships awarded annually.
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    I thought I hadn't heard of them -- but the picture of their 'key' rang a distant bell, and now I am pretty sure that I once got of those keys.

    DMD seems equally legitimate, with chapters on scores of real campuses (including Cal State Dominguez Hills).

    An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education last year pointed out that many fewer people are joining honor societies -- even something like a third of those invited to the best-known, Phi Beta Kappa -- decline (used to be pretty close to 100% acceptance).

    If a resume-inspector is familiar with a given society, then it can do no harm being on the resume. Other than that, the advantages seem rather modest, at best.

    --John Bear, possibly PKP
     
  3. ashton

    ashton New Member

    When I was an engineering undergrad, I was selected for two honor societies. Since I studied on-campus, I knew the seniors who had selected me, and when I was a senior, I was involved in the process of selecting the juniors who were honored. Maybe you should make some inquiries amongst your peers or people one year further along in the program, to see if they know how you were selected.

    Gerry Ashton

    P.S. The societies were Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi.
     

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