Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle Editor

It’s not uncommon for students to receive emails every so often from organizations calling themselves honor societies. They advertise that their members get exclusive opportunities, such as scholarships, connections to potential employers as well as a status that will be a helpful addition to a resume. They also often say that all this can be yours — as long as a membership is purchased.

However, as noted by the fact that “scams” is one of the first things that pops up alongside internet searches for a number of these societies, not all of these organizations are necessarily legitimate. While they may in fact give out memberships, whether they truly deliver on what is promised is what should be considered before committing.

The Association of College Honor Societies, or ACHS, is an organization that evaluates the credibility of various groups claiming to be legitimate honor societies. According to the website, there are a number of red flags that will often indicate whether an organization is legitimate.  

One of these things to consider is the minimum requirement for academic performance. According to the ACHS, a 3.0 grade point average is considered low for most credible honor societies. Most legitimate ones will look for the upper 35 percent grade point average for undergraduates, which is closer to 3.2 or 3.3. Vague entry requirements are generally not a good sign.

Another thing to consider is that scam organizations differ from real ones when it comes to presence and activity on actual college campuses. If it can be found on campus, or if a specific chapter can be located, it’s more likely to be legitimate.

According to the ACHS, other factors to think about involve the official status of the organization. If it is for-profit rather than non-profit, that alone is considered a warning sign. Also, the website should clearly state the criteria for membership, contain a listing of bylaws and a national headquarters and staff easily located on the site.

An invitation to join an honor society can seem at first like a good opportunity, but doing some research beforehand can save money in the long run. A credible honor society can provide certain opportunities, and sorting them out from the rest can be well worth the time it takes.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of achsnatl.org