Read our in-person event wellness policy and pre-event self-check.
Candidate Information
Congratulations to those of you who are already candidates to join our organization, as your high academic standing allows us to consider you for membership. To those of you who are not yet candidates, we encourage you to continue your studies and look forward to meeting you in the future.
Academic standing alone does not guarantee membership; our other key requirement is exemplary character. Your participation at various events throughout the semester and the relationships you build with members and other candidates will help us in evaluating your character. We encourage you to attend an informational meeting (see the calendar) to learn more about what Tau Beta Pi has to offer and how you can join.
Basic Requirements for Membership
There are two main requirements for membership in Tau Beta Pi:
- Distinguished Scholarship
- Exemplary Character
Distinguished Scholarship is determined as a percentage of each class. For Juniors, this is the top eighth (1/8th) of the class. For Seniors, the top fifth (1/5th) is eligible. Graduate Students are also eligible (after completing 50% of their coursework), and must be in the fifth (1/5th) of their class.
If you're scholastically eligible, you will be considered a candidate and invited to join us.
Exemplary Character is evaluated by the chapter during the course of your candidacy. It is important to interact with members and candidates, so they can get to know you.
Near the end of the semester, our members will vote on each candidate to elect them to membership.
Next Steps in the Membership Process
- Confirm your eligibility.
- The eligibility list can be found on our eligibility page, in addition to being posted throughout the Engineering building on campus.
- Candidates were also sent a letter in the mail to the address the school has on file.
- If you believe you are eligible, and are not on the list we receive from the college, contact us and we should be able to determine your eligibility.
- Attend an Info Session.
- Info sessions are held at various times throughout the week of January 31st through February 6th and will cover the steps to becoming a member as well as provide an opportunity for you to get any questions about Tau Beta Pi or the process answered.
- Exact dates, times, and a zoom link can be found on our calendar.
- If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, please send us an email and we can schedule one for you.
- Complete the Additional Membership Requirements listed below.
- The coffee break feedback slips, community service, and event proposal forms are due by April 9th, 2024.
- Event attendance must be completed prior to the end of the semester.
Additional Membership Requirements
- Attend all of the required events:
- Complete a chapter interview.
- Attend bent polishing.
- Attend one of the chapter mixers.
- Attend your initiation.
- Attend at least four (4) additional events prior to the end of the semester.
- Complete the following:
- At least four (4) hours of community service on your community service form
- Take at least four "Coffee Breaks".
- One with an officer, one with a member, one with a fellow candidate. The others have no restrictions.
- Coffee breaks are recorded using a feedback slip (see below for links).
- The event proposal form
- These three activities are recorded on candidate forms, to be completed and returned by April 9th, 2024. See below for more details.
- Pay a one-time initiation fee of $125. This includes fees to headquarters, certificate, an engraved pin, 6 inch mini-bent, a chapter shirt, a four year subscription to "The Bent", a membership card, and various meeting and activity expenses.
While this may seem a bit daunting at first, we offer a wide variety of events at various times. We are engineering students too and we understand how busy your schedule can be. Please let us know if you are struggling with the process and we will do our best to help.
Candidate Forms
Forms can be handed to an officer at an event or emailed to the officers. The coffee break feedback slips, community service, and event proposal forms are to be completed and returned by April 9th, 2024.
- Community Service Form (download form in word or pdf format)
- Community service does not need to be done through a TBP event. We've compiled a short, non-exhaustive list of external organizations providing opportunities. We are in the process of adding online opportunities.
- Any TBP events used for community service hours will not count towards your event attendance requirement.
- Feedback Slip (download form in pdf format or submit online)
- Each particpant in a Coffee Break completes a Feedback Slip to receive credit.
- This slip just asks two questions about your impression of the conversation, not a play-by-play; you shouldn't feel like you need to take notes!
- The slip is available as a printable PDF (download) (two slips to a page), or you can submit your feedback slip through an online form.
- Event Proposal Form (download form in word or pdf format)
- Your proposed event may be an online/virtual event, or an in-person event.
Coffee Breaks
- Coffee breaks are short, ten-minute freeform conversations between you and a member or candidate outside of chapter events.
- Three of the breaks are targetted: one with an officer, one with a member, and one with a candidate (these can be completed in any order).
- Some resources will be provided to assist you in scheduling these with members and candidates throughout the semester.
- Each participant fills out a Feedback Slip (see above).
What to Bring to the Interview
- An up-to-date resume, this will be provided to companies who approach our Chapter. It should not be TBP specific, and you can update this resume later as it changes.
- An unofficial copy of your transcripts.
- A cover letter to your resume. While your resume is not TBP specific, your cover letter should be. We're not asking you to write a huge essay, but it should cover the following:
- Why do you want to be in Tau Beta Pi?
- What can you offer Tau Beta Pi?
- What is something you find interesting either inside or outside of school?
- You should know the answers to the following questions:
- Where, when, why, and by whom was Tau Beta Pi founded?
- Who was the first member?
- Approximately how many collegiate chapters are there?
- Approximately how many alumni chapters are there?
- Which alumni chapter is closest to where you grew up?
- What is the symbol of Tau Beta Pi?
- What is the name of the chapter at SDSU?
- When was our chapter founded?
- What is our national (ordinal) chapter number? (i.e. "Our chapter was the st/nd/th chapter founded.")
- Your initiation fee of $125. This can be paid by check or cashier's check, online via credit card or paypal, or cash. If none of these works for you, let us know and we'll find an alternative method. Make check payable to "Tau Beta Pi".