Alpha Lambda Delta membership is open to all freshmen and transfer students who meet the following academic qualifications:

• the student must be registered for a full course of study leading to a bachelor's degree

• must rank in the top 20 percent of their freshman class

• obtain the minimum scholastic average required for membership, a 3.5 GPA

Eligibility for freshmen and transfer students is based on grades from the first semester, or on cumulative average of the first year in college (not transfer students); student must have completed 12 credits with no D or F in any subject. Once initiated, the student becomes a lifetime member of Alpha Lambda Delta. Members may remain active in the chapter throughout college. Offices are held by members while they are sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

How much does it cost to join Alpha Lambda Delta?

National lifetime membership dues are $20.  In addition, your local chapter usually charges local chapter dues ($5 - $30).  The local chapter dues pay for chapter operating expenses (mailings, refreshments, service projects, local scholarships).

What do the dues cover?

The national dues cover the cost of your membership certificate, a charm or lapel pin, and a copy of the national magazine, The Flame.  In addition, you are eligible to compete for 32 undergraduate scholarships of $1000 and 19 graduate fellowships of $3000 and the Maria Leonard fellowship of $5000.  The national dues also cover the cost of an annual leadership/activities workshop.

Can I lose membership in Alpha Lambda Delta if my grades drop?

No.  Although Alpha Lambda Delta encourages academic excellence throughout your collegiate career, once you have met the criteria for membership in Alpha Lambda Delta and have been initiated, your membership can not be taken away.  ALD seniors who graduate with the required GPA (usually 3.5) receive a senior certificate acknowledging their achievement.

Can I join both Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma?  What's the difference?

There is no conflict between membership in Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma; in fact, joining both honor societies will give you greater scholarship opportunities.  Both groups offer undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships.

The reason there are two honor societies for freshmen is that both were founded at the University of Illinois in 1923 and 1924 - one for women and one for men.  They remained single sex organizations until the mid 70's when Title IX came along and both became coeducational.  Both have grown nationally and agree not to compete on campuses where only one group exists.  There are 61 campuses where both honor societies still exist (Ohio State, Florida, Purdue - just to name a few).  If both exist on your campus, you have the privilege of joining both!  Congratulations!

I transferred to my college from a college that did not have an Alpha Lambda Delta chapter.  Am I eligible for membership?

Freshman transfer students from institutions that do not have an Alpha Lambda Delta chapter, to be eligible for membership, must have the required Alpha Lambda Delta grade point average on the courses taken during the first full curricular period in the institution to which they transfer.  In addition, the cumulative average of the grades of the student's transfer credits combined with the grades in the institution in which the student is currently enrolled must equal the Alpha Lambda Delta academic grade requirement.