Phi Beta Delta Rating, Reviews and Requirements. Is it worth it?

What are the requirements to be in Phi Beta Delta?

Undergraduate student members must have achieved a minimum 3.2 grade point average (GPA) and rank in the top 20% of their class; graduate students must have achieved a GPA of 3.5. For schools that use a different grade point average system, the school must verify that their candidates for Phi Beta Delta meet a GPA standard equivalent to that specified in this Section.

What is the history of the Phi Beta Delta?

Phi Beta Delta, founded at California State University, Long Beach in 1986, was established as an organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters, many of which had existed for a considerable time previously at the local level. It is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. As of December of 2012, 192 chapters have been chartered.

Phi Beta Delta traces its background to the eighteenth-century founding of Phi Beta Kappa. In the nineteenth century, Greek fraternities divided into the social, professional, and academic Greeks. 

What are the key benefits of being a member of Phi Beta Delta? 

• Establishes a world-wide network of individuals and institutions committed to promoting international education.
• Provides an appropriate vehicle for recognizing individual and institutional excellence in international education.
• Promotes scholarly research and writing in international education through its journal and newsletter.
• Encourages achievement and excellence through recognition and monetary awards on the local and international levels.
• Encourages joint research and writing by linking international scholars throughout the world.
• Annually brings together international educators and students for an exchange of research and ideas at its annual conference.
• Provides an often much-needed link among the various institutional offices and individuals involved in international exchange.
• Enhances the status of international education on the local and international levels by honoring achievement and excellence.
• Provides a means to more actively involve upper level administrators in international endeavors

Based on the information, here is our review:

Our first observation is: that this is one of the only honor societies identify itself as international.

Our second observation was: that this society uses its international status as a way to set itself apart from other societies

Our third observation was: because this society has set itself apart as international, it offers a unique network of members and alumni--one that many other societies may not be able to offer.