<p>Several different honor society invites have come in this summer but we don't really know if they are "real" honor societies or not. Can anyone shed some light on which honor societies actually mean something and are worth joining? (I looked for a thread but could only find something really, really old). Thanks.</p>
<p>I always advised my kids not to join any honor society that charged a fee to join.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that is always true. Phi Beta Kappa has one-time dues, and it is easily the most prestigious (and most recognizable) honor society, and can stay on a resume long after graduating from college</p>
<p>My d also got several this summer. She didn’t join any I think mostly because of the fees. But I think one thing to look at is whether there is actually a chapter at the school and if there is an opportunity to get involved. If not it is just a fee. Your GPA will be enough if there isn’t an opportunity to gain experience from being a member </p>
<p>Phi Beta Kappa
Raven Society
Anything else printed in the final exercises program (see page 45 <a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/majorevents/finals/images/Finals%20Weekend%20diagrams%20for%20web%20site.2014/Finals%20Program%202014.pdf”>http://www.virginia.edu/majorevents/finals/images/Finals%20Weekend%20diagrams%20for%20web%20site.2014/Finals%20Program%202014.pdf</a> )</p>
<p>Thanks–the final exercise program is very useful info! It was so easy to know in high school that all of those honor society mailers were bogus. Some that came this summer appear to have active chapters at UVA but I’d never heard of them. We’ll wait for the biggies 
LOL</p>
<p>If they have chapters at UVa and are in-line with your kid’s life goals, or even semi-related and dues aren’t too bad, I recommend joining. Just because they aren’t in the final exercises program doesn’t mean they’re not relevant. Now, would I pay $500 for a group that doesn’t have a chapter on-grounds? No way. Would I pay $500 for a chapter that is available and is relevant but isn’t huge or overly active? Yes, and then I would try to be active in it somehow. Would I pay $100 for a group that doesn’t have a chapter? Yes, and I would work to bring a chapter to UVa.</p>
<p>I found this out after college when I joined a professional organization that was in semi-crummy state and I found a few people within it that wanted to bring it back to glory and we slowly have. I have it listed on my resume as an organization I’m affiliated with and when folks ask about it, I then go into details about the activities that I’ve participated in and/or led/helped lead. </p>
<p>I don’t suggest joining things to pad resumes, but I don’t suggest shying away from something because your name won’t be listed somewhere or it isn’t 100% setup or it isn’t a “biggie”. You’ll end up waiting for years for something and won’t have anything more than a bullet on a resume, if that.</p>