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Since your GPA is so high, it probably isn't worth it.
I joined PTK mostly so I could just have it on my transcript since I'm transferring to a four year school next semester. Apparently they offer some decent scholarships, but I haven't looked yet. More of a psychological boost than anything, IMO. But if I somehow get some serious money, I'm sure I'd change my view.
Since your GPA is so high, it probably isn't worth it.
I joined PTK mostly so I could just have it on my transcript since I'm transferring to a four year school next semester. Apparently they offer some decent scholarships, but I haven't looked yet. More of a psychological boost than anything, IMO. But if I somehow get some serious money, I'm sure I'd change my view.
As I mentioned; you need to check with what-ever school you are going to transfer into. Some schools accept PTK scholarships, some do not. And some schools give scholarships to transfer students who are members of PTK (and others don't).
I know that to some of you this might sound stupid and a waist of time. Today I received in the mail a letter from my community college inviting me to join an honor society called Phi Theta Kappa.
I am 35 years old and decided to go back to school last year to pursue a degree in nursing . My current GPA lays around a 3.8. The only reason why I try to keep my GPA up, is so that I have a chance to get into nursing school next spring or fall.
I am born and raised in Sweden and lived most of my life over there. I went to HS in Sweden so for me to go back to school here in The USA was kind of scary so I am pretty pleased with my accomplishments so far.
But today, when I received this letter I was a little bit confused. What exactly is this Phi Theta Kappa? It says I have to pay $60 to join, but is it worth it? I thought these kind of "clubs" were more catered to 4 year universities?
I also kind of feel a false sense of pride. I mean, why would anybody get below a 3.0 at a Jr college unless you absolutely did not care. It is not like I am anything special!! I think the requirement for this specific "group"(Phi Theta Kappa) have a minimum gpa of 3.5 or around that. Not that impressive if you ask me. Not for a community college anyways.
Anyways, If some if you with experience in the matter can help me out. I would appreciate it. Is it worth the 60 bucks?
Thanks
Don't listen to these who think that Phi Theta Kappa isn't worth it. Didn't you work your butt off to get that gpa and recieve that invitation letter? You think it was too easy? No, it wasn't and will never be. It's an achievement to make it all the way up. In spring, because I'm a member of PTK, I'm transfering with a scholarship of $4,000. You still think it's not worth it? Then why don't you go spend your own money, if you're rich of course. And talk with real people instead of reading comments from idiots who can't even reach 3.0. Never reject your accomplishment. You only live once my friend.
Do you know what Who's Who books are? They are a commercial directory that publishes a very expensive set of books that lists prominent people. So they send letters to just about everyone to say that they are so prominent in their field that they are now included in the latest Who's Who book, which is only $XXX for a leather bounded copy.
Years ago these books were actually only filled with very famous people, now everyone is in them that pays and they are completely worthless. Anyone that actually puts that they are listed in Who's Who on their resume just gets snickers rather than admiration.
That's basically has happened with honor societies. There are a ton of them and only a few matter (i.e. the ones that are real difficult to get into). PTK is one of the worthless ones. They just offer it to too many students that it isn't that big of an honor. If you maintain a high GPA throughout your career, you'll probably get offered to join a dozen of these things and maybe 2 are worthwile. The honors that your school offers for free (i.e. Dean's list, *** laude, or whatever) are the ones that actually means something.
PTK is NOT one of the worthless ones. I advise PTK students and I will tell you this- those students recieve tens of thousands of scholarship money every year, and as many have said already, is automatic. For the bigger monies though, you DO need to do more than just join, walk at induction and pay the fee. With ANY type of student activity you can always pay dues and sign up but it won't mean much unless you actually do something.
I am Phi Theta Kappa and started college at the age of 44 and loved every minute of it, made the deans list more than once, graduated with a 3.98gpa, and I'm in the who's who as well.
PTK is NOT one of the worthless ones. I advise PTK students and I will tell you this- those students recieve tens of thousands of scholarship money every year, and as many have said already, is automatic. For the bigger monies though, you DO need to do more than just join, walk at induction and pay the fee. With ANY type of student activity you can always pay dues and sign up but it won't mean much unless you actually do something.
Look, any honor society offers membership to EVERY community college student that has a 3.5 GPA is NOT anything anyone cares about.
The fee is like a ponzi scheme. The vast majority of people pay just to put it on their resume and they never do anything with the organization. A tiny number of members actually do the stuff that will allow them to get any scholarship money.
Your time and effort is better spent on other organizations that relate to your major or things that interest you, rather than generic, national fee-based honor societies that don't account for class rank.
Compare that honor society to those that actually require to apply, or be nominated by a professor, write an essay, file an application, go through an interview, and then be selected based on criteria like academic standing, leadership, philanthropy and character.
Or honor societies that are awarded to the top students in your major with organizations that hold symposiums or events so you can network with people who work or who are leaders in those fields.
Or honor societies that are awarded to the top 1% or 3% of the students in your class.
Any organization that would take you and the only criteria is a good, not necessarily great GPA and a fee, seriously there are dozens of so-called honor societies like that and no one is impressed by them.
Honestly, PTK isn't even the worst. Golden Key, Phi Eta Sigma, and whatever that sophomore one is are truly worthless.
Maybe I'll start my own, make it for any student with a 3.0 GPA and tries really hard. I'll offer 10 $5K scholarship after I get 100,000 people to pay me $100 membership fee, offer cushy $100K jobs to my buddies, executive director salary of $300K for myself, and get some sweet office spaces. I'll offer some famous people and Harvard professors $100K a year to be on my advisory board and give nice looking certificates and cool looking pins. Hire direct marketing firm to put together real fancy looking broshures and initiation packets. Maybe I'll buy the trademark of a defunct honor society that went under 50 years ago, so I can claim the 100 year history of my honor society.
Oh wait, dozens of organizations already have done that.
I too kept my GPA up in community college so I could get into a Nursing program. I also waivered on if I should pay 60 dollars for a bullet point, but I decided it was worth while and did it.
Did joining PTK do anything for me directly? No, unless you count offers to attend overpriced summer experiences.
However, PTK along with my 3 deans lost entries, my 4.0 for a full year, and my 4.0 overall were all bullet points on my scholarship applications. Sure all those things are redundant (a simple 4.0 GPA would say the same thing) but long lists look more impressive than short ones and if you are gaming for admittance into a great school, or for a scholarship that pays you to go to school, you have to look better on paper than the next guy and that's where PTK came through for me.
A side note, don't hate on community college kids for getting under a 3.0. There are all sorts of students at CC, and I've tutored many that tried really hard but just couldn't grasp certain things. Blame it on the fact that in the States we tell everyone they need to go to college, so we end up with a lot of students that churn and burn to get their 3.0's.
Slim04, I respect that you don't care for Phi Theta Kappa and other honors societies. I understand that. However, I don't think you know exactly what these students do...
-Each year, each chapter does a reseach project on a set academic topic, and takes said topic and relates it back to their local communities. This involves scholarly research, interviews with members of the community, journaling their progress, etc. They then present this information to the local communities in some manner. At the end of the calendar year, the chapter then writes up how they got to the end result using a set of writing and research rubrics, and are judged by professors/scholars and can win awards on the regional and international level.
-On top of this, the students also have to do a college project which finds a need in the campus community and, like the honors project have to prepare their end result using similar rubrics. The experience that these students can have from working, writing, and implementing these projects can develop skills that they can use for the rest of their academic careers.
-Eligible students are about 3-5% (at least where I am) each year. A 3.5 GPA is NOTHING to sneeze at (and did I miss something if it was?)
-You also mentioned that other societies are better because you can write an essay or get a professor to write you an recommendation. Isn't there a flaw in that too? (what if, you get a person who kisses butt and finesses their way to a recommendation? Or you just write really well? Or Interviews well?)
-Many advisors/coordinators are NOT paid. Usually just expenses and travel.
I do agree that there are some flaws with the application process...but In general, I have seen some amazing things come out of this organization.
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