Question for mechanical engineers.

[TNDemo]

My son is an engineering student and has been invited to join Pi Tau Sigma, which is an honor society for mechanical engineering students. He really knows nothing about it and said he was just going to ignore it, thinking they were just after membership fees, but I thought maybe he ought to check further into it. My husband is an engineer but was not familiar with them. Is this something worth joining? Do potential employers actually look at the list of honor students or is there further benefit to being on the roster?

[salmonhorse]

1. I suppose that one could wonder out loud:

How could fellowship be a bad thing? Still, I'd never heard of them and the engineers I've dealt with throughout never asked me if I were ever a member of: Pi Tau Sigma. Other societies, other fellowships, but not they ~

What will your son recieve for his dues?

[kcwayne]

2. I give these things no consideration

I have hired electrical engineers and computer science grads over the years, and have never considered the associations to be all that relevant to the candidate's potential.

But I could see where someone who had been in such an organization might put a higher weight to this, so if you felt like you would run into alot of these types of alumni over the years it may have a benefit.

I would say that in my 25 years in the industry, I have never once had a discussion with anyone (peer, manager, candidate) about one of these organizations.

[Robb]

3. Sort of depends

if your son is actually going to be one of the statistically insignificant number of ME's who actually go to work and use their ME degree. Myself I have yet to meet one! :) All the mechanical engineers I know have gone into other fields, most interestingly one who was hired by an investment bank as an "interpreter" to talk to the engineering companies.

Pi Tau Sigma is, I think, one of those things that are recognizable in a technical field, but elsewhere no one knows what Pi Tau Sigma is. Even inside tech, interviewers and recruiters might be stumped as well -- since they tend to be non-technical people.

I would file it under cum laude. Great to say, and may get a nod and smile from the interviewer, and if you're really, really a borderline hire, may push you over the edge towards getting the job.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Only if he plans on going to Harvard for an MBA

Or if he likes his ego stroked.

In my years as an engineer, and amongst my engineering friends, never heard anyone mention those "honor fraternities" except while we were actually in school.

it's definitely an honor, since it's merit based, but probably won't do anything for him, except on his application to business school.

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Absolutely yes!

I would say emphatically go for it, and maybe he'd ought to look at Tau Beta Pi, which is the general engineering honors society.

Employers recognize honor society students "the cream of the crop" and having that recognition will give your son leverage at negotiating a higher starting salary for his first job. His membership fee will pay for itself. IIRC student dues are not terribly high, probably less than 25/year.