American Sociological Association

[speechfan222]

I am enrolled in a graduate program in Sociology and am interested in becoming a member of the American Sociological Association. Are there benefits to joining now while I'm still a student, or will joining after graduation (this December) still be the same? Is the membership fee cheaper as a student? Are there any other benefits to joining now while I'm still a student?
 

Has anyone here joined the ASA already? What do you think? Do you like it? Is it worth it?

I just want to get some opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

[travelmug1Q84]

 Membership dues and benefits: http://www.asanet.org/membership/membership-dues-and-benefits

Yes, it is cheaper while you are still a student. The fee is annual.

You must be a member to attend the annual meeting, which you basically need to do until you're tenured. It is worth it, especially as an (I'm estimating here) social capital deprived grad student. I've been a member since undergrad and it has been very much "worth it." 

Join as soon as you've got the money to do so and attend every annual meeting you feasibly can. 

[speechfan222]

6 hours ago, travelmug1Q84 said:

 Membership dues and benefits: http://www.asanet.org/membership/membership-dues-and-benefits

Yes, it is cheaper while you are still a student. The fee is annual.

You must be a member to attend the annual meeting, which you basically need to do until you're tenured. It is worth it, especially as an (I'm estimating here) social capital deprived grad student. I've been a member since undergrad and it has been very much "worth it." 

Join as soon as you've got the money to do so and attend every annual meeting you feasibly can. 

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. 

I noticed the annual meeting is in PA this year and NY next year - both on the East coast. I am currently on the west coast and I think it would be too expensive to travel that far for the annual meeting. I'm able to attend once I pay annual dues as a member? I would definitely be interested in attending, but the cost is a barrier. 

How did you decide which sociology groups to select from when you joined ASA? Let me make sure I have this correct... I pay an annual membership and then I pay a smaller amount of each 'group' of the website, correct? I'm trying to decide what the benefits of the annual membership are.  

[travelmug1Q84]

On 4/13/2018 at 3:17 PM, speechfan222 said:

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. 

I noticed the annual meeting is in PA this year and NY next year - both on the East coast. I am currently on the west coast and I think it would be too expensive to travel that far for the annual meeting. I'm able to attend once I pay annual dues as a member? I would definitely be interested in attending, but the cost is a barrier. 

How did you decide which sociology groups to select from when you joined ASA? Let me make sure I have this correct... I pay an annual membership and then I pay a smaller amount of each 'group' of the website, correct? I'm trying to decide what the benefits of the annual membership are.  

1

You become a member of ASA and pay the annual membership. Then, as a member, you can choose to join sections. The sections help you network with other scholars in your subfield. Some sections have their own awards and the like. Joining a section is not as important as just being an ASA member, but if you choose to join a section, just pick based on your intended research area. Section membership dues (~$5 for students):  http://www.asanet.org/asa-communities/asa-sections/section-membership-dues

The ASA has some student travel funds http://www.asanet.org/career-center/grants-and-fellowships/student-forum-travel-awards but it is also likely that your program/department, school, and/or university all have funds to help students get to conferences if you ask around. Your department might even pay for your membership. My undergrad institution paid for mine while I was a student there.

The main benefits of membership are the annual meetings (networking), access to journals, access to grants and fellowships, and the jobs bank. Hope this helps.

[speechfan222]

4 hours ago, travelmug1Q84 said:

You become a member of ASA and pay the annual membership. Then, as a member, you can choose to join sections. The sections help you network with other scholars in your subfield. Some sections have their own awards and the like. Joining a section is not as important as just being an ASA member, but if you choose to join a section, just pick based on your intended research area. Section membership dues (~$5 for students):  http://www.asanet.org/asa-communities/asa-sections/section-membership-dues

The ASA has some student travel funds http://www.asanet.org/career-center/grants-and-fellowships/student-forum-travel-awards but it is also likely that your program/department, school, and/or university all have funds to help students get to conferences if you ask around. Your department might even pay for your membership. My undergrad institution paid for mine while I was a student there.

The main benefits of membership are the annual meetings (networking), access to journals, access to grants and fellowships, and the jobs bank. Hope this helps.

This definitely helps, thanks. I need to just join ASA and stop doubting myself about it. 

Thanks!