Students who join any of these professional organizations will have good opportunities for professional networking and developing career contacts. Students who are APA and APS affiliate members receive a number of benefits: journals (APA - The "American Psychologist" and "Monitor on Psychology"; APS -- "Psychological Science" and "Current Directions in Psychological Sciences"); reduced rates for annual conventions; reduced rates for other psychological journals; opportunities for scholarships and awards; and discounts on books. Graduate students who become APA Student Affiliates automatically become American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) members.
Students should join one of the seven APA Regional Psychological Associations: Eastern Psychological Association, Midwestern Psychological Association, New England Psychological Association, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Southeastern Psychological Association, and Western Psychological Association. Each of the associations has an annual convention where students hear professionals from different fields present current research and can interact with these professionals at events such as poster sessions. The regional conventions are easier for students to attend because they are not usually as far as national conventions. The regional associations provide benefits to student affiliates such as reduced membership fees, reduced rates for conferences and opportunities for awards.
Undergraduate and graduate psychology students should join Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, provided they meet the requirements. Psi Chi has chapters in over 1000 universities and colleges. Each chapter is affiliated with the National Society which publishes a magazine, "Eye on Psi Chi," and a journal, "Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research." The organization nurtures creative development in the members, provides educational programs and encourages students in their psychological education.
Students, particularly graduate students who have determined the psychology field which they would like to pursue, should join one of the 54 APA divisions. Each of the divisions focuses on a specific psychology subdiscipline (for example, social, developmental, personality, health or counseling) or topic areas (for example, social issues, creativity, rehabilitation, or psychology and law). Most divisions allow student memberships and provide a number of benefits for the students. Graduate students who join the division in their area of pursuit will advance their professional development.