When you type “Psi Chi” into a Google search engine, one of the more popular related searches is, “Is Psi Chi Worth It?” And that makes sense, right? Students invited to join Psi Chi are in the top 35 percent of their classes, so it is only natural that some of these intelligent people choose to research the value of this professional organization before they join.
I looked through some of the search results myself, and I was pleased to see that most chat discussions were positive about Psi Chi. At minimum, they said things like thisopens in new window: “There is no downside to joining Psi Chi. I joined as an undergraduate and although I didn't get too heavily involved, it looks good on my resumé.” Meanwhile, some of the more positive and significant responses stated things like thisopens in new window: “I've reviewed CV's for graduate psychology scholarships/grants and do note when someone had listed they were in Psi Chi in undergrad.”
There are many testimonials on the Psi Chi website too. For example, Katina Harris was quoted saying, “I looked forward to becoming a member because I believed the organization would benefit me as an undergraduate student. Now as a graduate student, I realize the organization continues to benefit me in multiple ways.” Also, longtime faculty advisor Kevin Woller, PhD, recently said, “All students of psychology should strive to become members of Psi Chi... Lifelong membership means a life of opportunity and growth potential that I believe is an essential part of any education.” As you might guess, I agree with all of these.
So, let’s try to estimate what a membership in Psi Chi is worth to you. That’s a very big question with different answers for each unique member of Psi Chi. To get to the bottom of this, I would like to focus on three important aspects of membership:
- International recognition.
- Local networking and leadership experiences.
- A lifetime of opportunities.
International recognition
From the moment you join Psi Chi, you will receive international recognition for academic excellence in psychology. This is a key benefit that all members receive by the mere fact of membership. Joining Psi Chi is an effective strategy to show others that you are an accomplished individual who plays an invaluable, positive role at your school and in your community. And as many students are excited to hear, this international recognition of membership can be included on your resumé, CV, biography statements and elsewhere. New members receive an official certificate too.
Consider each of the other lines on your resumé — your college education, your jobs and internships, your hard-earned skills and references. Now, compare Psi Chi’s single, low, lifetime membership fee to the amount of time and money you spent to acquire these other resumé lines. I am betting that Psi Chi membership is already looking extremely appealing! Am I right?
Psi Chi is well represented and respected across the field of psychology, having inducted more than three-quarters of a million members since its founding in 1929. Today’s job market is increasingly complex and competitive. A single line on your resumé about Psi Chi membership could give you a boost over other job applicants in order to obtain your next job in psychology or beyond.
Local Networking and Leadership Experiences
International recognition is only the beginning of your experience with Psi Chi. Impassioned by their personal experiences, numerous Psi Chi leaders and members have published articles about how to make Psi Chi more than a line on your resumé by engaging with this professional organization. Consider some of these:
- Your membership is more than a resumé builderopens in new window.
- Do more than join — engage deeply with Psi Chiopens in new window.
- You’re inducted: Now what?opens in new window
- Why Psi Chi membership is a good investment for your futureopens in new window.
The authors of these articles obtained a variety of valuable skills by participating in their local chapter meetings and other activities. Psi Chi consists of chapters at more than 1,150 colleges and universities around the world. At each of these locations, many networking experiences, invaluable friendships and mentorships are readily available.
The more you do with your chapter, the more you will get out of your Psi Chi membership. Local chapters help students build relationships with faculty. They provide students with unique leadership opportunities (here’s a list of officer positionsopens in new window that students should consider). And chapters provide educational opportunities too, such as career panels, graduate school application workshops, collaborative research projects and diversity sessions. Community service projects also create invaluable opportunities to help others.
A lifetime of opportunities
To help local chapters achieve their members’ academic and professional goals, Psi Chi proudly provides a vast array of programs and membership benefits. I encourage you to review the complete list of membership benefitsopens in new window and think about the many ways that you could apply them to advance your future.
In particular, please note some of these impressive programs:
- Psi Chi awards $400,000 in annual Awards, Grants and Scholarshipsopens in new window. These funds are available to undergraduates, graduate students and faculty, and provide financial assistance for research projects, travel and more, as well as countless opportunities to practice writing grant applications.
- Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Researchopens in new window welcomes undergraduate, graduate student and faculty authors to submit their empirical research for publication. The journal’s focus on educating authors about the peer-review process and research practices is a truly unique benefit that you will not want to miss.
- Collaborative research opportunitiesopens in new window such as Network for International Collaborative Exchange: Crowd invite undergraduates, graduate students and faculty researchers from around the globe to join together and answer specific research questions. Special convention programming and research presentation opportunities are available too.
- Graduation regaliaopens in new window will help you stand out from your fellow undergraduate and graduate students on your graduation day. Impress your family and friends with this visual tribute of your academic accomplishments — you deserve it.
- The Psi Chi Career Centeropens in new window offers hundreds of current psychology-related jobs located across the United States. All members — undergraduates, graduate students, alumni and faculty — are encouraged to set up free job alerts to learn when new openings occur that match your specific talents and geographic location.
- Educational articles in Eye on Psi Chi magazine and Psi Chi’s blogopens in new window share the latest trends in career advice, graduate school applications, fields of psychology, diversity and more. Whether you are in school or out, Psi Chi publications will help you stay informed about advancements in the field of psychology.
- Our one-of-a-kind mentorship app, Psi Chi Connectopens in new window, allows members to be paired with others who have knowledge in your specific areas of interest (e.g., career planning, social psychology, leadership, applying to grad school).
In addition, Psi Chi is always adding to its collection of member benefits and opportunities. To learn more about some of the most recent endeavors, see these articles in the Psychology Student Network:
- Why join Psi Chi? More great reasons every year.
- Seven new reasons to join Psi Chi.
- The future looks bright for Psi Chi.
- Psi Chi shares news about travel to Cuba, scholarships and Plans for 2017.
- Psi Chi expands its international focus and shares scholarship news.
Psi Chi is a launching point for your professional career
Are you considering joining Psi Chi? I encourage you to give it a shot. You have nothing to lose, and incredible recognition, local experiences and lifetime opportunities to gain.
Psi Chi is passionate about helping each new generation of psychologists — and professionals in many other fields — to become the best generation yet. As Psi Chi’s Diversity Statementopens in new window proclaims, “The scope of our organizational relevance is only as broad as the diversity of our membership and their scholarly pursuits.”
Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members are welcome to apply onlineopens in new window. You may also have the option to start a new chapteropens in new window if there isn’t one already located at your local university or college campus.
About the author
Six 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 wife and 1-year-old son, Hamilton.
