College is expensive, so when someone comes up to you offering scholarships and opportunities to put on your resume for a small joining fee, many don\u2019t hesitate to join. Honor societies can be tremendous opportunities, but they can also be scams made to prey on broke college students, offering little or nothing in return. Pellissippi State Community College offers many honor societies including Gamma Beta Phi, Phi Theta Kappa, NSLS, and more, each one a different experience that appeals to different kinds of students. Get to know the ins and outs of each organization and see which one will be the best fit for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gamma Beta Phi<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Gamma Beta Phi (GBP) is one of the most popular honors societies offered at Pellissippi State. In order to be considered, students need to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and, once accepted, have the opportunity to take on president and vice president roles in the program, which are great positions to grow leadership skills. Good academics, responsibility, and leadership roles are all boosters for resumes that GBP provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I spoke with our Managing Editor and Gamma Beta Phi member, Anna Trevathan, about her experience with GBP; she mentioned that they were cheaper to join and considerate in scheduling an in-person induction ceremony to honor the students, but this year, that in-person ceremony was canceled and turned into a virtual one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was devastating [paying out] for an honors society,\u201d Trevathan said, \u201cand then them not having the decency to host a small ceremony to celebrate their students [was also devastating].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking over the computer versus in-person makes it difficult to have fellowship and develop relationships with others \u2013 in the context of a virtual induction ceremony, members don\u2019t get the chance to experience applause and appreciation for their achievements because, instead of being on a stage where they\u2019re handed their certificate and immersed in the environment, they\u2019re sat in front of a computer and told over the screen that they got inducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, students have to pay to be in the organization. They expect to get the appropriate treatment because they paid $85 to participate and not holding an in-person ceremony made the payment feel like a waste of money to Anna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was tough getting in contact with the advisor of this honors society because they did not respond to emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I was able to get in touch with a Gamma Beta Phi advisor, Douglas Devaney, through my peers from Imaginary Gardens<\/em>. He answered my questions kindly and thoroughly, speaking on the fact that being involved helps with developing resumes, which is important for students seeking jobs after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt shows that you merited an invitation to the society,\u201d Devaney explained. \u201cIt says something to prospective employers when you graduate\u2014that you were working hard because you maintained the standard to get in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing Gamma Beta Phi helps students with is applying for scholarships. Although it might not be scholarships that cover full tuition, it\u2019s still a scholarship that can be added to a resume and help with finances. Even if it\u2019s a $500 scholarship, it could help cover necessities like textbooks or class fees to take a couple of things off a college student\u2019s long list of things to pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For students who are interested in joining, they can attend fairs on any of the Pellissippi State campuses and find booths where they\u2019re advertising the honors society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of what members do in GBP, Devaney says that this organization has a theme every year on which they base their serving opportunities. This year, the theme is education and reading, so members will go to local schools and participate in some sort of reading or mentoring of younger students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Giving students different places to serve every year helps make society activities less repetitive and more engaging. Through these acts of service, they get the chance to experience the different challenges that come from different places and develop adaptability, another quality of a leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my interview with Devaney, I asked what prompted the decision for Gamma Beta Phi to hold a virtual induction ceremony instead of an in-person one and how they planned to create a community moving forward without as many face-to-face interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of that is dependent upon the numbers [of new students] that are coming in\u2026 and our ability to try to organize and help the board set something up,\u201d Devaney explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were also outside factors, like familial obligations board members had to focus on that pushed them to choose to do a virtual induction ceremony instead, and it was more convenient than having to get the supplies to have an in-person ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there are still flaws in Gamma Beta Phi, it seems advisors are open to finding ways to improve it if students reach out and express their concerns. Devaney even encouraged students who have any questions or suggestions to email him \u2013 he vowed to take student suggestions to the board so they can make changes for the future. Another popular honors society offered at Pellissippi State is The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). When looking to join an honor society, one might wonder what makes NSLS stand out \u2013 according to their Vice President, Jake Smith, one big thing that sets them apart is that NSLS is the only accredited leadership honor society in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To join NSLS, one must have at least a 2.5 GPA, and if the college thinks there is leadership potential, they will recommend students for an invitation from NSLS. If you don’t get an invitation and would like to join, there is an application online to start the nomination process. To become an inducted member, there is a 5-step process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once inducted, members have access to over $400,000 in annual scholarships and awards, exclusive job boards to connect with employers, and personalized letters of recommendation. Some other perks that come with NSLS membership are discounts for insurance, electronics, Better Help therapy, Target, and many more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like any large group, experiences vary widely among members. While some members find NSLS to be supportive and engaging, one anonymous member interviewed for this story said it felt like a scam, as they sent out many emails soliciting recruitment and even resorted to the infamous \u2018This is your last chance to join\u2019 then \u2018the deadline is extended just for you\u2019 combo. Once NSLS had the money requirement, they didn’t seem to care if the person completed the process to be inducted \u2013 keep in mind that if you don\u2019t complete the process, the money is not refunded, it\u2019s just gone. This person continued to explain that the process felt very corporate and impersonal, which was not what they were looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If joining an honor society is something of interest to you, make sure to find the one that fits you and the level of involvement you’re looking for. NSLS is an active organization, and they put a lot of focus on leadership training and networking with like-minded people, building relationships, and creating positive change in the world. Even so, always make sure the vibe and time commitment of an honors society match what you\u2019re looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Gamma](\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Gamma_Phi_Beta.png\")
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The National Society of Leadership and Success <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phi Theta Kappa<\/h5>\n\n\n\n