Prospective Members

So you received an invitation letter from the Golden Key International Honour Society...now what?

This web page will give you, a prospective member, a better idea of what Golden Key can do for you and why you should join. You will also find information about our annual induction ceremony below. This year's ceremony will be held on November 16.

If your questions still aren't answered and you would like more information, please feel free to contact our executive team members or check out the about us section on this website.

Missed the deadline to join? Don't worry. You can still join up to one year after you have received your invitation and you are welcome to attend next year's annual induction ceremony!

JOINING GOLDEN KEY

Q. What are the requirements for membership?
A. Golden Key membership is only available to the top 15% of undergraduate students from all fields of study, regardless of part-time or full-time status. The grade point average required therefore varies from faculty to faculty and from year to year.

Q. What if my GPA drops after I am accepted?
A. Once you become a member you will remain a member for your lifetime. Your membership will not be withdrawn for a decrease in grades.

Q. Why should I join Golden Key?
A. Membership in Golden Key International Honour Society is a prestigious opportunity for the top 15 percent of undergraduate, part-time and full-time juniors and seniors. The Society offers members a valuable opportunity to get involved in opportunities for individual growth through leadership, career development, networking and community service. In addition, a number of scholarships and awards are available for members to apply as well as special discount programs with participating vendors such as Princeton ReviewTest Prep and MBNA Financial Services. For specific information on membership benefits, please click here.

Q. Must I be involved in activities to be a Golden Key member?
A. No, Golden Key was founded on the principle that any student who meets the established academic criteria can become a member and access the many benefits offered. Participation is highly encouraged and purely voluntary. Golden Key does provide, however, one of the best networks of opportunities to actively participate at the local, regional, national and even international level. Thousands of Golden Key members have utilized the opportunities in Golden Key to develop their leadership skills, engage in community service, and enhance their personal network.

Q. Does it cost anything to join Golden Key?
A. Members pay a one-time membership fee of $90 CDN that provides access to a variety of benefits. $12 from each member is sent to the local chapter to support its activities. The balance is retained at the Golden Key headquarters to support:

• Induction ceremony and reception
• Local scholarships
• Publications
• Regional conferences
• International convention
• Local academic, service and social activities
• Headquarters support to chapters (staff visits, mailings, database, benefits development, public relations)

There is no fee to the institution for establishing and retaining a Golden Key chapter on campus.

Q. Is there an annual membership fee?
A. No. The Society and its chapters are funded by a one time only, lifetime membership fee administered when members first join.

Q. How is the membership fee used?
A. The membership fee is shared between the local chapter and the international headquarters. The one-time-only fee funds membership benefits and supports local chapters in a variety of ways including scholarships, induction ceremonies and receptions, publications, conferences and conventions, local academic, service and social activities and headquarters support to chapters

Q. How do I join?
A. Once you have received the letter of invitation, visit the Golden Key website at www.goldenkey.org, where you can join online. You must join by the deadline date in order to be recognized at the induction ceremony. However, if you do not wish to apply by this time, you can still apply within a period up to one year after you've received the invitation!

Q. What if I don't have a letter of invitation?
A. If you did not receive an invitation letter and believe that you have qualified, please contact us to arrange to fill out a request to review your status. We will contact the Ryerson Registrar on your behalf to see if you do qualify. Please remember that there is no specific GPA cut off, leaving acceptance only for the top 15% of your program.

If you received your invitation but have lost it please provide us with your full name, Student ID, mailing address and telephone number. We will verify your invitation and send you a replacement form.

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Q. What is the Induction Ceremony?
A. The Induction Ceremony is held every year to honour new inductees (members) and welcome them to Ryerson's Chapter of Golden Key. This year's ceremony was held on November 10, 2006 and was attended by GK representatives, Ryerson University administration and faculty, and honourary members.

Q. When should I get there and where should I go?
A. The ceremony will begin at 6:00pm sharp. Please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance. The ceremony will be held in the auditorium (RBB1-067) in the Ted Rogers School of Business Management Building.

Q. How long is the Ceremony?
A. The length of the ceremony depends on the number of new inductees, but expect the event to run for about two hours.

Q. What if I can't come to the Ceremony?
A. Information will be provided about where you can pick up your membership card if you can't come to the ceremony and would like to pick it up afterwards. Unfortunately, due to the number of inductees, we are not able to mail out unclaimed membership cards.

Q. What should I wear?
A. Dress to impress! Please wear anything you like in order to achieve a business-casual look. Please avoid jeans and casual clothing.

Q. When do we find out about the scholarships awarded to new Inductees?
A. All scholarship recipients will be notified during the first week of November.