So I joined PTK…what’s next?
Congratulations on joining Phi Theta Kappa at Bergen Community College! Here are some things to know about your new membership:
Your membership does not require service hours or meetings. This means that you can join PTK and immediately take advantage of all its benefits including special scholarships, transcript notation, and online resources without having to commit to volunteering or attending regular meetings. You can do as much or as little with your membership as you would like.
After one semester as a PTK member, you are eligible to apply to a student leadership position on our Board. Our PTK Board consists of student leaders who design, plan, and execute PTK initiatives at BCC including service opportunities, social media, fundraising campaigns, and fellowship events. This leadership experience looks great on resumes and college applications, and you make a lot of friends along the way. Contact Anna Gergen for more details.
Stay in touch with us via our Weekly Email and social media accounts. The Weekly Email, entitled “Honors & PTK News” in the subject line, is sent to all PTK and Honors-eligible students at BCC. It contains extremely helpful information about upcoming events, scholarship deadlines, workshops, volunteer opportunities, internships, and so much more. Our social media accounts include Instagram and TikTok with more to come. Please follow us to stay up to date on all the latest happenings at PTK!
Discover transfer scholarships. Use PTK Connect to research schools that offer scholarships. Pro tip: If a school has the PTK golden key symbol next to its name, a PTK scholarship for members is offered to its students! You can also research scholarships by searching through transfer schools’ websites. For more tips check out our scholarship page.
Complete the PTK Edge courses. These optional, self-paced online courses cover subjects like college transferring, gaining employment, research, and healthcare. You can put the course badges on your LinkedIn profile, and you’ll receive a certificate for each course, too! Some colleges like Thomas Edison and SNHU even offer credit for course completion.
Join us for a service event! Our PTK chapter loves to volunteer! Whether you’re painting a mural at a local elementary school, or making sandwiches for a homeless shelter, or doing farmwork at MEVO Freshroots Farm, PTK has a service opportunity to fit your schedule and interests. Participate in as many as you’d like — the best part is that they are open to all students campus-wide.
Boost your resume. Make sure to list Phi Theta Kappa membership on your resume, and take advantage of free professional development courses through PTK Edge and Leadership Development Studies. Each course will earn you a certificate you can include on your resume and in applications!
Wear the official PTK stole. This golden stole embroidered with a blue PTK logo can be purchased from store.ptk.org or by renting it directly from our office. A month before graduation, please be on the lookout for an email which will outline details about renting stoles other important announcements.
Once you are a member, you are a member for life! As long as you maintain a 3.5+ GPA while at BCC, you will retain your membership for life, and can continue to take advantage of PTK’s many benefits, including a vast alumni network.
