Golden Key Honor Society?

Juniper · 09-03-2008, 01:44 PM

I just got an invitation to join this group. Is it legit? Is it worthwhile? Costs $70 and I think it's a lifetime membership. I suppose I should be flattered, but I am skeptical as it sounds like those "Who's Who" books which we all know are just there to make money by flattering people into thinking they're really worth mentioning in some book. Or that Student Ambassador thing that keeps sending my daughter invitations - this year it's a trip to Japan. 'Cause she's such a special student. Riiiiiight, a special student with $5,000.

Anyone know about this Golden Key outfit?

Flint · 09-03-2008, 01:47 PM

What is it? What does it do? What do you get?

Juniper · 09-03-2008, 01:54 PM

Sorry...I figured either folks had either heard of it or hadn't, and only those who knew of it would be able to give advice anyway. How elitist.

So anyhow, I got this letter in the mail today inviting me to join this Golden Key thing, because I am in college and getting a 4.0 GPA. Apparently my college has its own chapter and there will be a fancy schmancy induction ceremony in October.

Membership costs $70 and they promise goodies like scholarship opportunities, resume helpers, career networking and recruiting, and of course you get to put it on your resume. Like Phi Beta Kappa, I guess, except I *know* that one is legit. I'm not so sure about this one.

Or maybe I just don't want to join a club that would have someone like me as a member.

Here's the website: www.goldenkey.org

Clodfobble · 09-03-2008, 02:06 PM

Ah, yeah... it's crap. I mean, if you like ceremonies, that's cool I guess. But I would never pay $70 for the opportunity to talk with peers, get resume advice, and get bugged by recruiters. That stuff is free.

Flint · 09-03-2008, 02:06 PM

I'm not sure it actually does anything. You can get scholarships already; you can hire a recruiter (it's free to you, they get a kickback from the person that hires you); you can get resume advice anywhere (there's a thread here about that); if you want to network, join Linkedin; and, yeah, you can put it on your resume, but does anybody care? Do not want.

DanaC · 09-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Okay. Just looking at their site, my instinctive thought is, they get the largest part of their income stream from the corporate sector who are using them as a recruitment aid.

It's a pretty good looking site. I don't know what's the going rate for college societies and clubs and the like over there?

I paid £25 for 3 year membership of the History Club (show willin' y'know) it's basically there to organise the interdepartmental football and netball games, and the odd pubcrawl *cough* sorry, field trip. Even at less than a tenner a year that is fairly shitty value for money :P The clubs offering careers advice and the like are pretty much all officially sanctioned non-fee groups.

I have to say it looks genuine to me.

Quote:

The Society maintains active membership in several organizations including the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).

If that could be verified it'd confirm it. It also claims to have Rev.Tutu as a member. Bet that's confirmable via teh interwebz*

It's also only a one off fee. If it's the custom to pay to join honour societies (we don't really have them that I know of.....either that or I just have never beeninvited and they're really all around :P) then this one looks pretty genuine to me.

* sorry, this particular meme has been stuck in my head all day. It seems to be leaking out into the Cellar rather a lot.

Pooka · 09-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Flint you qualify for that... The National Honor Society.... I have the letter requesting dues to join... lifetime membership. Haven't mailed that check...

Clodfobble · 09-03-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

I have to say it looks genuine to me.

They will genuinely provide the services they claim they will provide you, that is true. I will genuinely give your email address to spammers for $70 too, if you want, but that doesn't mean it's worth the money.

Flint · 09-03-2008, 02:24 PM

Hey, I have an idea: Let's mail letters to people asking for money.

Shawnee123 · 09-03-2008, 02:34 PM

The Golden Shower Honor Society?

DanaC · 09-03-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

If it's the custom to pay to join honour societies (we don't really have them that I know of.....either that or I just have never beeninvited and they're really all around :P) then this one looks pretty genuine to me.

Repeated and highlighted for clarity :P I don't know what strange and wonderful things you Merkins get up to at College. We don't go in for sororities and fraternities and such....not in the same way ....though they might at Oxbridge, they do some funny shit down there.

sweetwater · 09-03-2008, 02:52 PM

I get emails from them - perhaps I'm a member - but I did not pay for a membership. I was working at the college at the time so maybe it was a freebie. No advantage at all of which I am aware. The 4.0 GPA rope impressed my mom, though!

Trilby · 09-03-2008, 04:49 PM

Forget it. It's not worth it. I've been "formally" and "honorably" granted membership (for a mere 70$) voted by my university.

There's another honor society that's legit, and the names of these two societies are different, but similar enough to fool some people.

Trilby · 09-03-2008, 04:53 PM

you want Phi Beta Kappa. That's the honor society to get into!

SamIam · 09-03-2008, 09:04 PM

I agree with Brianna. Go for Phi Beta Kappa. The outfit that contacted you sounds like its trying too hard. I never remember having to pay to get into an honor society. Of course, I went to school with the dinosaurs, so maybe things have changed. I did get a letter from MENSA once (shows how misguided THEY are) telling me I qualified to join and just to send my yearly dues right along. I ignored it, since they had obviously made an egregious error of some sort, and I'm not into that type of elitism, anyhow.

09-03-2008, 01:44 PM	#1
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Golden Key Honor Society? I just got an invitation to join this group. Is it legit? Is it worthwhile? Costs $70 and I think it's a lifetime membership. I suppose I should be flattered, but I am skeptical as it sounds like those "Who's Who" books which we all know are just there to make money by flattering people into thinking they're really worth mentioning in some book. Or that Student Ambassador thing that keeps sending my daughter invitations - this year it's a trip to Japan. 'Cause she's such a special student. Riiiiiight, a special student with $5,000. Anyone know about this Golden Key outfit?

09-03-2008, 01:47 PM	#2
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	What is it? What does it do? What do you get? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-03-2008, 02:06 PM	#4
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Ah, yeah... it's crap. I mean, if you like ceremonies, that's cool I guess. But I would never pay $70 for the opportunity to talk with peers, get resume advice, and get bugged by recruiters. That stuff is free. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

09-03-2008, 02:06 PM	#5
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I'm not sure it actually does anything. You can get scholarships already; you can hire a recruiter (it's free to you, they get a kickback from the person that hires you); you can get resume advice anywhere (there's a thread here about that); if you want to network, join Linkedin; and, yeah, you can put it on your resume, but does anybody care? Do not want. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-03-2008, 02:24 PM	#9
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Hey, I have an idea: Let's mail letters to people asking for money. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-03-2008, 01:54 PM	#3
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Sorry...I figured either folks had either heard of it or hadn't, and only those who knew of it would be able to give advice anyway. How elitist. So anyhow, I got this letter in the mail today inviting me to join this Golden Key thing, because I am in college and getting a 4.0 GPA. Apparently my college has its own chapter and there will be a fancy schmancy induction ceremony in October. Membership costs $70 and they promise goodies like scholarship opportunities, resume helpers, career networking and recruiting, and of course you get to put it on your resume. Like Phi Beta Kappa, I guess, except I know that one is legit. I'm not so sure about this one. Or maybe I just don't want to join a club that would have someone like me as a member. Here's the website: www.goldenkey.org

09-03-2008, 02:20 PM	#7
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	Flint you qualify for that... The National Honor Society.... I have the letter requesting dues to join... lifetime membership. Haven't mailed that check...

09-03-2008, 02:34 PM	#10
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	The Golden Shower Honor Society? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-03-2008, 02:52 PM	#12
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	I get emails from them - perhaps I'm a member - but I did not pay for a membership. I was working at the college at the time so maybe it was a freebie. No advantage at all of which I am aware. The 4.0 GPA rope impressed my mom, though! __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

09-03-2008, 04:49 PM	#13
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Forget it. It's not worth it. I've been "formally" and "honorably" granted membership (for a mere 70$) voted by my university. There's another honor society that's legit, and the names of these two societies are different, but similar enough to fool some people. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-03-2008, 04:53 PM	#14
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	you want Phi Beta Kappa. That's the honor society to get into! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-03-2008, 09:04 PM	#15
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I agree with Brianna. Go for Phi Beta Kappa. The outfit that contacted you sounds like its trying too hard. I never remember having to pay to get into an honor society. Of course, I went to school with the dinosaurs, so maybe things have changed. I did get a letter from MENSA once (shows how misguided THEY are) telling me I qualified to join and just to send my yearly dues right along. I ignored it, since they had obviously made an egregious error of some sort, and I'm not into that type of elitism, anyhow.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)