As Psi Chi’s writer and journal managing editor, I have the honor of promoting many Psi Chi projects through official emails, the Psi Chi website and other platforms. Psi Chi is the world’s largest student honor society in psychology and has developed numerous benefits over the years, such as $400,000+ in annual awards and grants, publication opportunities, local chapter leadership opportunities.
The list goes on and on. Honestly, there are more reasons to get involved in this professional organization than I could ever count. But today, let’s talk about what is new. Here are seven new opportunities that I think you will appreciate.
1. Our graduate school eBook
Psi Chi’s new eBook, "An Eye on Graduate School: Guidance Through a Successful Application", features the society’s very best advice, accumulated from 25+ experts in over 20+ years of Eye on Psi Chi magazine issues. Within this book, you’ll find comprehensive advice on topics such as selecting a program, preparing for the GRE, soliciting letters of recommendation and the interview process.
Many chapters have been updated by the authors to include the latest application trends and information. The book is $4.99 for members (login required) or $19.95 for nonmembers. iBooks and Kindle versions are available at the Psi Chi Store.
2. Undergraduate and graduate scholarships
For the past three years, Psi Chi has awarded $3,000 scholarships to undergraduate students based on Psi Chi activity, financial need, future plans in psychology and academic performance. Notably, in summer 2017, graduate students were invited to apply for the very first time, in addition to undergraduate students. Also, thanks to numerous supporters, we quadrupled our scholarship fund from $12,000 in 2016 to $48,000 in 2017. That allowed us to award eight undergraduate and eight graduate scholarships this academic year.
Meet our 2017 scholarship recipients in the latest issue of Eye on Psi Chi magazine. It is our goal to continue expanding the number of scholarships awarded for many years to come — perhaps to 100 scholarships when Psi Chi turns 100 in 2029. Be sure to get involved.
3. Support of transparent research practices
Members who submit their empirical research to Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research are now invited to apply for any of three Open Practices Badges, which were created by members of the Open Science Collaboration. These badges are awarded to recognize articles that fulfill transparent research practices, such as Open Data, Open Materials and Preregistration — essential steps for the future of psychological science. In addition, Psi Chi Journal offers a one-of-a-kind Replications Badge to encourage replication studies. Learn more about our badges program on the Psi Chi website.
Another advancement for the Psi Chi Journal was the recent achievement of DOI numbers for published articles. DOIs are permanent, meaning that you will always be able to access our articles, even if webpage URLs or other information changes in the future. Furthermore, articles are now indexed in EBSCO, PsycINFO, Crossref, Google Scholar and Psi Chi’s unique Publication Search databases. All published articles can also be read for free on the Psi Chi website.
Already a Psi Chi member? View submission requirements.
4. Hundreds of job opportunities
The Psi Chi Career Center is only a year and a half old, and yet it already features hundreds of psychology-related job openings available across the United States. To be precise, there are 764 jobs listed at the time of writing this article. However, this number changes constantly because job opportunities come and go all the time. Searching all jobs and uploading your resumé for potential employers to review is 100 percent free. You can also set up “Job Alerts” to notify you when an opening in a particular field or geographic area becomes available.
Visit the Psi Chi Resources: Careers in Psychology webpage to find or post jobs. You will also find a collection of Psi Chi’s best career advice for writing résumés, acing interviews and navigating your place of work. Last but not least, our coaching experts will answer any specific career questions you may have. This is free too. Visit the Psi Chi Career Center webpage and scroll to the bottom.
5. Popular online resources
In Fall 2017, Psi Chi launched an new online resource, called Diversity Matters, which features numerous strategies to promote diversity, suggested diversity-related activities to incorporate into classroom settings, and relevant diversity articles. Other online resources have also been updated. For example, our Conducting Research resource now offers opportunities to join or host collaborative research projects through the Network for International Collaborative Exchange.
6. Our nifty, new blog
Student and faculty publication opportunities abound in our new blog, Psi-Chi-ology Lab. Its mission: to connect readers with others interested in psychology; increase our knowledge; and promote Psi Chi opportunities. Launched in February 2017, the blog has already released 36 short, engaging articles about topics such as “How My Psychology Degree Gave Me Tools to Improve My Psychological Health” and “The Pursuit of Graduate School: Vanity or Necessity?”
Be sure to check these out on the Psi-Chi-ology Lab webpage. Also, members logged in on the Psi Chi website can comment on posts and/or subscribe to receive new blog articles directly to the inbox of their choice.
7. Instagram
As of October 2017, you are invited to follow Psi Chi on Instagram. Here, we feature popular fields in psychology, new articles and more. Psi Chi social media also allows you to learn about programs and opportunities that didn’t fit into this article — believe me when I say that there are many other financial, educational and career-related opportunities, both locally and internationally.
Psi Chi also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. See you there.
Receiving all that Psi Chi has to offer
I hope that reading about these benefits has convinced you to join or reconnect with Psi Chi. Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members are welcome to apply. Are you passionate about psychology? Then, welcome home.
For the fourth year in a row, a single $55 membership fee is all you’ll ever have to pay to be a member of Psi Chi for life. Although Psi Chi is a large organization with endless benefits, we are proud to be keeping this one-time fee so incredibly low — doing so encourages people to join based to their academic achievements, regardless of their financial situations.
To view the eligibility requirements to join Psi Chi through your local chapter, visit the Psi Chi: Become a Member webpage. Or if there isn’t a chapter at your four-year college or university, you can learn about starting one on the Psi Chi: Start a Chapter webpage.
Remember: Once a member, always a member.
About the author
Five years ago, Bradley Cannon joined the Psi Chi Central Office staff in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally an intern, he is now Psi Chi’s full-time writer/managing editor, working closely with Psi Chi’s Department of Communications and the Editorial Team of Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. Bradley received a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his 3-month-old son, Hamilton.