Is Joining a Student Chapter of a Professional Organization Worth It?

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SUMMARY

Joining a student chapter of the AIAA offers various benefits, including access to discounted resources such as Wiley books and Microsoft MSDN. However, the value of active participation in local chapters is debated, with some members expressing that it may not significantly impact future employment or graduate school opportunities. Personal experiences indicate that while membership can be affordable and provide resources, the time commitment for active involvement may not be justified.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of professional organizations and their roles in student development
  • Familiarity with AIAA and IEEE membership benefits
  • Knowledge of networking opportunities in engineering fields
  • Awareness of time management strategies for student involvement
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specific benefits of AIAA membership for engineering students
  • Explore the impact of professional organization involvement on career advancement
  • Investigate alternative networking opportunities outside of student chapters
  • Learn about effective time management techniques for balancing studies and extracurricular activities
USEFUL FOR

Students in engineering disciplines, particularly those considering membership in professional organizations like AIAA or IEEE, and individuals evaluating the benefits of extracurricular involvement for career development.

Angry Citizen
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I'm curious about my school's local chapter of the AIAA. However, I'm not sure whether it's worth the time commitment to join. What is PF's opinion on the value of organizations such as these?
 
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I was once a student member of IEEE.

Basically, the student membership was affordable and it had lots of benefits (Discount on Wiley books, Microsoft MSDN access, monthly magazine, and others).

So joining such an organization is not a bad idea, but being an active member of the local chapter at your college is different, the way I see it, a waste of time and no one will really care about it (be it employers or grad school). I am saying this from personal experience.
 

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