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How to Join

We accept new members to the Society every semester! Fill out an interview card here

If you have any questions about the membership process, please contact our Membership Chair, Genevieve Forrer.

Students of every tenure, background, and ideology are welcomed. The Society does not discriminate in its membership or policies based on age, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or veteran status. 

Important Membership Terms

Probationary Member = a student who is in their first semester of the Society
Regular Member = a student who has successfully completed their Probationary requirements

The first step to joining is learning more about what JeffSoc is! You can do that by:

  • Seeing us at the Activities Fair on Monday, August 26, 2024 (only for Fall Semester)
  • Joining our Spring 2025 info sessions Monday 1/20 from 7-8pm and Tuesday 1/21 from 7-8pm
  • Checking out our website!

Attendance at these events will not be tracked and will not impact the results of the interview in any way.  If you are unable to attend or have more questions, please contact our Membership Chair, Genevieve Forrer. 

How to Interview

Fill Out an Interview Card

Interviews are not scheduled in advance. Please come to Jefferson Hall when convenient and you will be assigned the next available panel of Regular Members. Interviews will be conducted at the following times:

  • Monday, January 20th: 10AM-7PM
  • Tuesday, January 21st: 10AM-7PM
  • Wednesday, January 22nd: 10AM-5:30PM
  • Thursday, January 23rd: 10AM-6PM
  • Friday, January 24th: 10AM-6PM

We highly recommend interviewing as early in the week as possible to minimize waiting times. If you are unable to make the above listed times for any reason at all, please reach out immediately to membership.chair@jeffersonsociety.org to schedule an interview at a time that works best for you.

What is an interview?

To become a Probationary Member, students must interview with four to five of the Society’s Regular Members. Interviews are:

  • 30-45 minutes
  • Centered around three topics of your choice
  • A conversation that encourages you to defend your positions (make claims! defend them!)
  • The only criteria for becoming a Probationary Member

Interview Criteria

  • Passion: the conversation is lively and generally enjoyable
  • Logical coherence: the arguments are internally consistent and logically flow together
  • Respectful and friendly attitude: the interviewee is generally pleasant to talk with
  • Responsiveness and engagement: the interviewee is willing to wrestle with opposing ideas
  • Knowledge of subject: the interviewee demonstrates wide-ranging knowledge of their chosen topics
  • Effective speaking style: the interviewee is articulate and even captivating at times

How do I choose my topics?

The interviewee may choose any topic for the interview. There is no set of topics the Society likes to see, and we highly discourage interviewees from trying to pick topics that way. The Society looks for the ability to effectively articulate and defend positions, for deep knowledge, and for intellectual curiosity. Current members have successfully discussed politics, economics, superheroes, sports, pop culture, and literature, among many other topics, in their interviews. Pick topics you are passionate about and knowledgeable of. 

While interviewees typically frame their topics as arguments, discussions are also more than welcome. The purpose of the interview is to gauge the interviewee’s ability to respond to in-depth questions, demonstrate deep knowledge, and clearly articulate their point. As such, we also recommend that interviewees avoid picking broad topics and instead narrow their focus (Ex: instead of politics narrow the topic down to public school budgets).

Where is Jefferson Hall?

Our Open House is on Friday January 24th, 2025. Anyone interested in learning more about the Society is welcome to attend!

  • Sippers, our pre-meeting social event, will be held at Room 7, West Lawn around 5:30 PM
  • Our Open House Meeting will take place at approximately 7:29 PM at Jefferson Hall 

You will be notified of your interview result on Sunday January 26th, 2025 at 12:00 PM. 

If you do not pass your interview on the first attempt, we welcome you to try again. Many successful Regular Members were offered Probationary Membership after their second or even third interview.