Wondering if an honor society is right for you?
Joining an honor society in college offers many benefits, such as scholarships, networking opportunities, and resume-building opportunities. And given that 53% of college graduates are underemployed or unemployed, even one of these benefits can spell the difference between getting a job in your field and doing something completely unrelated after graduation.
So if you’re looking for ways to build a better future and improve your college experience, then an honor society may be perfect for you. But with benefits varying widely between societies, it’s important to weigh whether putting time and money into membership is right for you. By doing so, you can make the best decision for your future.
To help you decide, we’ll cover the different types of honor societies, their benefits, and more. Keep reading for everything you need to know!
What Is an Honor Society?
An honor society is an organization dedicated to honoring academic excellence.
Honor societies exist in high schools, colleges, and universities. Membership is typically based on grades or other academic achievements.
When you join an honor society, you join a community of students who have worked hard to meet high scholastic standards. Some honor societies only accept the top students in each field, while others want you to have a minimum GPA to join.
Most honor societies require members to pay dues in order to join. Some dues are paid yearly, while others give you a lifetime membership to the society.
Honor Society Benefits
When you join an honor society, you’ll get access to members-only perks. These include:
- Exclusive scholarship opportunities
- Tech, education, and travel discounts
- Networking events
- Job boards
- Leadership and volunteer opportunities
- Study abroad trips
Some honors societies also have other helpful perks that are unique to them. These could include helpful webinars and even national conferences!
An honor society membership can also give you an edge on your resume.
Employers often look favorably on students who join honor societies, since these students are dedicated to academics and set high goals for themselves.
The Different Types of Honor Societies
There are many different types of honor societies, but they can be divided into four main categories: local, regional, national, and international.
A local honor society is dedicated to honoring students at a specific college or university. These societies are usually created by students, so they have been tailored to meet the needs of the student body.
A regional honor society is a club dedicated to honoring academic excellence in a specific geographical area. These societies are often tailored to a specific career path like engineering.
A national honor society is dedicated to honoring excellence on the regional or national level. Since national honor societies are larger than local or regional societies, they may offer more extensive opportunities to their members.
Finally, an international honor society is dedicated to honoring academic excellence around the world.
Some honor societies also offer admission during certain times in your academic career. For example, to join alpha lambda delta, you must be a full-time student in your first semester of undergraduate studies.
How to Get the Most Out of Membership
Even if you join the best honor society for your career path, there are certain things you need to do so that you get the most out of the membership you paid for.
For example, you want to do your best to attend meetings and events. These events are a great opportunity to meet other students who share your academic interests and goals.
Your fellow society members can encourage you to keep working hard on your GPA. Plus, you could have valuable networking opportunities that may lead to a job in the future.
You also want to get involved in leadership positions. These are very helpful for getting more scholarship opportunities. Leadership also looks fantastic on your resume.
Next, you want to take full advantage of all the scholarship opportunities your society offers. Your society may also notify you of scholarships you may not have noticed while sifting through huge lists on scholarship search engines.
Honor societies also have their own scholarships that they offer only to their members.
As for job opportunities, you always want to use your society’s career services. They may have an advisor you can talk to or an exclusive job board you can use.
Many societies also offer free tutoring and mentoring services. These can help you prepare for exams like the GMAT, as well as help mentor you in areas like job interview skills.
Who Should Not Join an Honor Society
If you join an honor society, it can be a great help in boosting your college resume. But if joining an honor society doesn’t fit with what you’re looking for in a student club, then you shouldn’t join.
You will want to find out if the society you’re looking at has student members that share your goals and academic interests. You may want to get in touch with a current member if you’re not sure.
Honor society membership is also an academic commitment that takes time and energy. You need to make sure that you can meet the minimum GPA and also maintain it so that you can keep your membership.
So if you have any circumstances like work or family that might impact your academic performance, then consider these when thinking about whether to join.
Take Advantage of Joining an Honor Society in College
When you join an honor society in college, it’s important to choose one that best suits your interests and ambitions.
Honor students have access to exclusive scholarships, job boards, and many other resources, so the cost of membership can often be well worth it. And if you do join an honor society in college, make sure you take advantage of all the benefits this membership has to offer!
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