Phi Beta Kappa are the first letters of three Greek words: Philosophia Biou Kurbernetes. The literal translation is "Love of Wisdom (is) the Steersman of Life" so not "love for learning" as you claim. How do I know this? I was selected as a member in 1971 at my university. I was a Classics major (studying Latin & ancient Greek) and became a Professor of Classics teaching for 30 years. I also served on the committee of Phi Beta Kappa faculty which received a charter for a chapter at the university where I taught which is a very arduous year-long process. The video hints that students can seek membership. They can only do this by earning high grades and majoring in a field which is acceptable to Phi Beta Kappa. Students in professional schools such as business, engineering, even education are not eligible (unless something has changed since I retired). Students who meet the requirements are vetted by the resident Phi Beta Kappa faculty and accepted or rejected (if there is good cause to do so). Different chapters seem to have somewhat different traditions and initiation ceremonies can vary a bit. Finally, I disagree with your characterization of membership as some sort of entree into an arcane society which promotes the careers of fellow members. I have heard that the Masonic movement was something like that at least at one time. I am not a Mason so I do not know if that is still the case. I am not aware that my Phi Beta Kappa key ever opened any doors for me which I could not have opened without it, though I have always been proud to be a member and value it a great deal. It was a factor which I took into consideration when hiring new faculty members in my department, but I did not have the sole say in such matters and others who were part of the process may not have taken it into consideration. Generally it certainly does not hurt to have it on one's curriculum vitae although one might encounter someone who has a bias against Phi Beta Kappa because he or she is not a member. I can attest to having encountered such people.
Thank you very much for informational discussion.
Phi Beta Kappa are the first letters of three Greek words: Philosophia Biou Kurbernetes. The literal translation is "Love of Wisdom (is) the Steersman of Life" so not "love for learning" as you claim. How do I know this? I was selected as a member in 1971 at my university. I was a Classics major (studying Latin & ancient Greek) and became a Professor of Classics teaching for 30 years. I also served on the committee of Phi Beta Kappa faculty which received a charter for a chapter at the university where I taught which is a very arduous year-long process. The video hints that students can seek membership. They can only do this by earning high grades and majoring in a field which is acceptable to Phi Beta Kappa. Students in professional schools such as business, engineering, even education are not eligible (unless something has changed since I retired). Students who meet the requirements are vetted by the resident Phi Beta Kappa faculty and accepted or rejected (if there is good cause to do so). Different chapters seem to have somewhat different traditions and initiation ceremonies can vary a bit. Finally, I disagree with your characterization of membership as some sort of entree into an arcane society which promotes the careers of fellow members. I have heard that the Masonic movement was something like that at least at one time. I am not a Mason so I do not know if that is still the case. I am not aware that my Phi Beta Kappa key ever opened any doors for me which I could not have opened without it, though I have always been proud to be a member and value it a great deal. It was a factor which I took into consideration when hiring new faculty members in my department, but I did not have the sole say in such matters and others who were part of the process may not have taken it into consideration. Generally it certainly does not hurt to have it on one's curriculum vitae although one might encounter someone who has a bias against Phi Beta Kappa because he or she is not a member. I can attest to having encountered such people.
My school says it’s top 5%. Which is it?
Thanks for the video
Is there a Military person who's been a
big influence in your life?
Agrippa, Augustus Caesar’s lieutenant, is a good military influence
Drill sergeant Bradshaw nunnally