I’m a sophomore at my university and I’ve been invited twice to join my colleges honor fraternity. In a way I would like to join just because it’s prestigious because you have to be selected to join however don’t like the aspect that it is still a fraternity. I’m a female by the way so it’s one of those open to everyone fraternities. I’m not into the whole Greek thing. As a freshman in the fall I did try to rush for a sorority but I really didn’t like and and didn’t go through with it. I kind of find it wierd how your expected to become best friends for life with your “big” and how demanding the fraternity is in doing group events like trips and going somewhere every weekend. I don’t mind doing service or community events but I don’t like having to plan on going on a fraternity trip every weekend. The pleading process is 6 weeks long and involves doing so many hours of certain events and going to meetings every week. I’m already involved in 2 other clubs I really like and participate with a lot of events in them. I’m even going to a national convention with one of them later in the month. People say it is beneficial to join the honor fraternity but I just don’t know if I like the whole Greek aspect to it and that it has the possibility to interfere with other clubs I actually like. I’ve been in honor societies before like NHS in high school and Phi Theta Kappa when I was a dual enrollment student. Even then I kind of just joined just to say I was in them. I never got much out of either club as far as making connections or doing events because they never really did anything. The only thing I’ve gotten out of those memberships is being able to put it on my resume and scholarship applications. That’s probably the same thing I’ll get out of joining the honors fraternity. Ive also recently gotten an email from golden key international honor society, they’ve send me invitations several times but I’ve never joined just because it seemed like a rip off to pay like $90 or whatever the cost is just to have no involvement and have something else to put on my resume.
That’s one very long paragraph.
Honor frats are hardly the stereotypical Greek experience. They’re a great way to meet like-minded folks and an excellent networking opportunity. If you’re interested, try it out.
I found honor greeks were nice, but were more like a couple of meetings and then after 9 months you pick next year’s inductees. I didn’t make friends there and there were no more than 1 or 2 social events. And yes, some of them were just to get your money and give you a line on your resume.
If social sororities are not for you, there are other types of Greek letter organizations. There are service groups, subject groups, sports groups, even co-ed greeks…all with an emphasis on the social side. They may not have Greek letters. Take a look around, go to your student activities office and ask for help in finding a couple of organizations. Don’t put all your hope in one group…try out several to see which one or more than one is best for you.
I don’t know any social sorority that requires members to do things EVERY weekend. There is a LOT to do the first six to eight weeks of pledging, and yes, there are mandatory things to do from time to time. Participating in rush training and in rush/recruitment is mandatory. Ritual activities are mandatory, philanthropy events and meetings are mandatory. But it’s not every minute of every day or weekend. Friendships, even in a sorority, take time to build.
And like any other organization, you will get more out of it if you participate fully and whole-heartedly.
Investigate any organization carefully, and talk to members, before joining.
Honors Frats aren’t stereotypical frats – a lot of them are service oriented; others deal with pre-professional fields (pre-law, pre-med, pre-dental); some are oriented towards certain disciplines (Sociology Honors Society, Anthropology Honors Society, Health Sciences Honors Society) etc. Whether or not it is worth joining has to do with how active the specific frat is on your campus and whether or not they do things that interest you.
If you’re doing it just to put the name on your resume or to tell people that you were in it, then it’s not worth it. The name is not going to impress anyone, and it’s not going to make or break you in whatever you want to do. Don’t do it just because it makes you feel special to be selected for something. It’s a waste of time when you could be doing something much more meaningful and important to you.
If you’re doing it because it will give you great volunteering or service opportunities, because it will connect you to other talented students (including upperclassmen, who may be able to help you during college), because the networking opportunities or alumni network are fantastic, then it may be a fantastic opportunity and totally worth it. But it has to be something you take advantage of and get involved in, not just something you do just so you can associate your name with the organization. Otherwise, there are better uses of your time.
If you don’t want to do it, then don’t do it. You can be very socially active, have great friends, volunteer, network, and be very successful in whatever you want to do without ever joining a fraternity. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested, and that’s a perfectly valid way to feel. If you don’t feel like they have a lot to offer you and that you don’t have the time or interest to be fully involved, then I wouldn’t bother with it, unless it’s something you really want to do.
^Exactly what he said. You’ll probably never even meet some of your fellow members.
It sounds like you don’t want to do it and just want something for your resume, in which case: don’t do it. You would not get the enjoyment out of it that it would offer and it would be unfair for your Brothers who actually take the organization seriously and are passionate about it.
I am part of an Honor Fraternity at my school and joining it was the best decision I ever made, but that’s because I take it seriously, go to the events, make friends, and integrate it into my college life. If you don’t care about it, it won’t be rewarding whatsoever.
Back in the day I jointed Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu (Honors Engineering Fraternities) because they were offered…I didn’t do much…just liked the honor. If you want to get more involved there are service and leadership opportunities.
Do not Join GOLDENKEY, they will take your money and give you no benefit. I joined a little over 3 months and I still have not received my membership. Funny thing though is they are still soliciting with me to join their group. Asked for a refund and oops sorry past the 30 day refund period…and still no membership number supplied with the reponse email. DO NOT JOIN GOLDEN KEY
@TheHouse I’m a member of golden key and quite enjoy it. Our chapter sends out updates throughout the year and organizes a service project every semester. Your school should have an official induction ceremony in a couple months. I was not able to go to mine, so my membership certificate was mailed to me. I don’t think golden key gives out “membership numbers” (I don’t know of any honor society that does, so I’m not sure what you’re expecting), you become a member as soon as you receive a confirmation email from them (the induction ceremony is more of a celebration- you’re already a member before then).