Last night, the Golden Key International Honour society inducted its newest members at a ceremony in Goddard Chapel. Over 250 inductees were recognized, from a pool of juniors and seniors with GPAs above 3.4. The society, which boasts over 1.2 million members in 280 chapters worldwide, is considered to be among the more prestigious post-secondary honor societies.
Though the seven-year-old Tufts chapter is relatively unknown on campus, chapter president Carol Chung says she is working to bring the society to a more prominent place in campus life. Tufts' Golden Key chapter has traditionally participated in a few events each year, but usually works in conjunction with other student groups or co-sponsors events such as the annual Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) semi-formal.
"I'm looking to get Golden Key on its own," said Chung, who is majoring in international relations and Chinese. "I think it would be great if we had our own semi-formal."
But Chung says she is interested in more than organizing dances. She wants service to be a higher priority for the group, an admittedly difficult task given that Tufts largest student organization has already dedicated itself to all forms of volunteerism and service. "It's kind of hard with LCS on campus to find something [for Golden Key] to do," Chung said.
Nevertheless, Chung has some projects in the works, including a plan to bring local high school students to campus for a day of "shadowing" society members. The Golden Key members would also provide support for the tedious task of applying to college.
Another problem Chung is facing is the unique dynamic of her group. While most student organizations are formed by students with similar goals or interests, Golden Key members have no such association. "General meetings are so hard," Chung said, "there's not really a common interest everyone shares, except maybe their GPAs."
Add to that a membership of over 600 students, and it's easy to see how difficult it can be to coordinate group efforts. But according to Chung, while Golden Key might not be able to do everything, the individual interests of its members can drive the organization to become a stronger campus fixture.
For example, smaller groups can be formed from the total member body to pursue specific interests or goals. And social events - like a semi-formal - could be organized to foster group camaraderie. Last year, Golden Key held a trip to Six Flags New England, and Chung hopes to continue similar activities during her term.
Although Chung's efforts may help expand the focus of the Tufts chapter, many see Golden Key as little more than an accolade recognizing their academic achievements, and an impressive line on a resume. Others mistake the honor society for Golden Light, the late-night Chinese restaurant in Davis Square, but these students generally are not accepted as outstanding scholars.
Golden Key is in part designed to grant distinction to high-achieving students. And while being in Golden Key alone does not guarantee members a job, it does have its perks. The international society provides $500,000 in scholarships each year to its members.
Junior Alex Goerl, a new inductee in the honor society, said one of Golden Key's bigger draws is the business connections it provides. Some companies and Golden Key sponsors target members during their recruitment events. Last year, Chung says, the investment bank Lehman Brothers came to Tufts specifically looking for Golden Key members.
But Goerl, a child development major, says she was satisfied just to be honored by his admittance in the society, and said she didn't expect her future to change drastically. "I don't think Golden Key has the power to get you a great job," she said.
Director of Career Services Jean Papalia agrees that honor societies, while they may help students network, probably won't sway a prospective employer. "In speaking to the employers interviewing on campus today, two of the three said they were not familiar with the different honor societies, yet they do look at GPA," Papalia said.
Papalia encourages students to join pre-professional organizations that relate to their major. These groups, Papalia said, provide another means of networking - in this case with professionals in a student's desired field.
Recruiters, much like college admissions officers, tend to look at prospective employees as a whole, Papalia said. "Overall, no one thing on a resume is going to make or break your application," she said. "Most employers look at the overall package: academic record, experience through work, internships or volunteer roles, leadership experience, skills, and how you market it all through your cover letter and resume."
