Why So Many Greek Letter Orgs?

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

Phi Beta Kappa is the best one. I think there's a thread about their "prestige" somewhere on here.

You and oldu need to get over yourselves (yourself?)

Prestigious honor society struggles with lack of name recognition
Students regard Phi Beta Kappa as just another honor society

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (KRT)

ST. LOUIS -- Phi Beta huh?

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious college honor society, just isn't ringing the same old bell with college students.

At St. Louis University this spring, 23 out of 77 of them never answered invitations or follow-up calls. Ditto for 27 of 84 prospective inductees at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

University of Missouri senior Brian Quigley was among the nonplussed. To him, Phi Beta Kappa just didn't stand out among many organizations with "three different Greek letters" that he says have bombarded him with offers to join.

"I never even look into them anymore," he said. He admits that he probably would have passed up membership, except for some prodding from a faculty member who told him what a singular honor Phi Beta Kappa was.

The name recognition just isn't there anymore, said Nancy Pope, assistant dean of Washington University's graduate school of arts and sciences and a point person for Phi Beta Kappa there. "We thought we were a known quantity, and we stopped being known."

The parents of Washington University senior Dan Rubin knew, though. He first heard about Phi Beta Kappa from them, and their message was that he should grab it if he got a chance. Yet, when his invitation came this spring, he hesitated, still unsure what the organization was all about. After Pope filled him in, he was happy to join _ but not excited, he said.

At the initiation, he learned more about the society, met other members -- all people who "really enjoy learning" -- and got fired up. "The more they talked about it, the more I thought it was right up my alley," he said.

Once the obvious standout, Phi Beta Kappa stands now, more and more obscured, in a field crowded with those many Greek-letter groups that bombard Quigley and other students with solicitations.

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/s...me.Recognition


ETA: and isn't it only on less than 300 campuses?

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

You and oldu need to get over yourselves (yourself?)

Excuse me?

Prestigious honor society struggles with lack of name recognition
Students regard Phi Beta Kappa as just another honor society

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (KRT)

ST. LOUIS -- Phi Beta huh?

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious college honor society, just isn't ringing the same old bell with college students.

ETA: and isn't it only on less than 300 campuses?

I bet it's still the oldest and most prestigious to the individuals who are hiring today's top college students.

300 campuses is correct, I would say.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

Excuse me?



I bet it's still the oldest and most prestigious to the individuals who are hiring today's top college students.

300 campuses is correct, I would say.

Isn't Phi Beta Kappa limited to certain majors though? So a business major isn't eligible, even if they have a 4.0 and a bazillion activities. I know at Ohio University, students in the College of Communications weren't eligible for Phi Beta Kappa either (nor were College of Health and Human Services students or College of Education). So I guess what is the best academic honor society depends on what your major is. (but I would agree that Phi Beta Kappa is the best for those that are eligible for it).

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Isn't Phi Beta Kappa limited to certain majors though? So a business major isn't eligible, even if they have a 4.0 and a bazillion activities. I know at Ohio University, students in the College of Communications weren't eligible for Phi Beta Kappa either (nor were College of Health and Human Services students or College of Education). So I guess what is the best academic honor society depends on what your major is. (but I would agree that Phi Beta Kappa is the best for those that are eligible for it).

I agree. Basic liberal arts undergrad -- it's still the top, I'd say.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Isn't Phi Beta Kappa limited to certain majors though? So a business major isn't eligible, even if they have a 4.0 and a bazillion activities. I know at Ohio University, students in the College of Communications weren't eligible for Phi Beta Kappa either (nor were College of Health and Human Services students or College of Education). So I guess what is the best academic honor society depends on what your major is. (but I would agree that Phi Beta Kappa is the best for those that are eligible for it).

For what it is worth, I knew a few Communications majors who were elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Also a couple of Chemistry (pre-med) and a Business Economics major. I know that both the Chemistry and the Business Economics major were involved within the Fine Arts Department as part of their studies.

From Membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

"To be eligible for election, students must have pursued a broad program of study in the liberal arts and sciences and met other academic criteria as required by the electing chapter."

My guess is that "other academic criteria as required by the electing chapter" (emphasis on the electing/individual/specific chapter) might explain why certain majors at one campus might be elected into Phi Beta Kappa, but not on another campus. Each chapter decides what that "other" criteria might be. And as such, I would guess that the criteria might change as the membership changes.

[PhiMu_Gator]

I just noticed that a lot of the honor societies I was receiving invites from had GPA's of just 3.0's, which I originally thought to be a good GPA, but not honor society material. that's why I was so confused why those even exist and there are TONS! (I definitely recyled a lot THAT day!) I think the saying is true...

there can be too much of a good thing =)