Are I.Q. "societies" worth it?

[djwesp]

In December I took two I.Q. tests for a class... receiving the results this week. In no way is this a "chest thumping", but I know that many persons on tubenet are highly educated, extremely intelligent (many, much more than me); surely some are a member of some of these groups...


Is the membership really worth it? More to them than the pure resume materials? Does a certain society (mensa, perhaps?) have more notoriety than others? Should i join the highest society applicable, or stick with one of a name more notorious?

[Matt G]

Best answer:

Depends.

If you are going after normal jobs with a resume, Mensa is probably not the best thing to put on there. If you were going after certain Akademic positions, maybe.

It is a neat thing to have. If you think you will derive personal satisfaction that is greater than the value that it costs to join, then it is worth it to you. I have tested high enough to be in the "Triple Nine Society", but am a member of none.

[djwesp]

I'm an Emeritus member of DENSA.

...

Like this, pappa bloke?

http://www.pressanykey.com/cgi-bin/jquiz.cgi" target="_blank

[The Big Ben]

Just looked at the requirements for the "Triple Nine Society" and I guess I qualify using two of their measures. I've never been much of a 'joiner-inner' so I've never considered it. I've been a teacher for 28 years and every once and awhile, I get an invitation to join "Who's Who in American Education". A former student must nominate the teacher but, after that, the teacher has to pay for everything just to get their name in a book. Which they also must buy. I look at it as a complement but never consider it.

I remember what Mark Twain said: "I don't know that I would want to be a member of a club that would let me join.

If being a member does something for you, join up.

[iiipopes]

Again, it depends. Just like any organization, from little league to community band to country clubs to classic car clubs to Rotary International to the various and sundry other civic and fraternal organizations that exist and have their being in the USA, does it offer the social and intellectual discourse that you are looking for?

[Rick Denney]

I believe that "exclusive" clubs, honor societies, etc., play to our egos, and those who invent these things know that (as we spend money on cars/hair/clothes/jewelry/etc.) they will be able to cajole some people into paying for membership.

MENSA is probably a little more than that for some folks who participate, but they bring that extra bit with them, and they would not need to be a member to have it.

I like hanging around people who are interested in just about any given subject to the point that they become an expert. I don't much like hanging around people for whom being an expert is more important than the subject at hand. I realize that many would point that finger in my direction, but I hope it isn't true.

Rick "who doesn't qualify for the Triple Nine Society" Denney

[Dean E]

Mensa is a social group that relies on volunteers for a wide variety of get-togethers. Met all my exes in Mensa for about the last 30 years and highly recommend it. Rick, PM me and I can give info for the DC/Baltimore area events.

[Rick Denney]

Met all my exes in Mensa

That doesn't sound too hopeful to me!

Thanks for the offer, but I'm already tapped out for extracurricular activities. In fact, I'm pretty grossly overextended.

Rick "hence the late hour" Denney

[Dean E]

Met all my exes in Mensa

That doesn't sound too hopeful to me! . . . .

Nuff said. There are so many choices in life concerning relationships--quality, quantity, excitement, stability.

I like talking with very curious, mentally quick, and knowledgeable people without being worried about simplifying the conversation or translating down. Gatherings are wonderful. For example, there's nothing that compares with Chicago's HalloweeM, a four-day gathering launched by the foreplay party and concluded by the afterglow party.

One person in 50 qualifies (top 2%) for membership in Mensa, so members (Ms) are not all that different from the general population. Many people did not recognize their abilities until later in life. There are common stories of gifted children being forced to blend in and being mainstreamed by schools.

Common wisdom is not to list Mensa membership on one's resume, but to have the references mention it.

[MaryAnn]

The particular branch of Mensa whose meeting I attended a very long time ago, was populated with people who seemed to have little else to show for their intelligence: no high paying job, no fancy degree. Just an IQ and a need to talk about it. No offense intended to the poster who met his exes there....I'm sure the branch he went to was different. Like bands, I'd guess all the chapters have their own little sub-culture.

Once I started making a decent living I found plenty of intellectual stimulation from hacking away at solving real world problems. I still smile inside when I hear someone be impressed if someone else qualifies for Mensa. There are really a lot of people in that five percent or whatever it is; if you hang with smart people probably all of you qualify for Mensa. Even if you're a DENSA type, you'll hang with your own crowd anyway.

MA

[Dean E]

Mensa Testing Day
From American Mensa

Do you have friends that are Mensa smart? Make sure to let them know about Mensa Testing Day! This year it will be held on Oct. 17, 2009. They can RSVP to the event here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... 772&ref=mf" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

And can check out local tests in their area beginning Sept. 1 at http://www.us.mensa.org/mtd" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank.

Please let me know if you have any questions by e-mailing me at laurenf@americanmensa.org" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank.

Thank you!

Best,
Lauren Fernandez
AML Marketing Coordinator

Mensa also accepts test scores:
http://www.us.mensa.org/Content/AML/Nav ... Scores.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Qualifying test scores

American Mensa accepts scores from approximately 200 different standardized intelligence tests*. Often potential members have taken acceptable tests at other times in their lives and don't realize they may already qualify for membership. While the following is not a complete list, applicants often ask about the following tests. Please note that all documentation must be the original or a notarized copy of the original. Review of your qualifying scores may be delayed if your documentation does not meet this requirement.

Tests commonly administered by school districts
College preparatory tests
Tests administered by private psychologists
Tests administered by the military

Tests commonly administered by school districts

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
SAS or CSI (IQ) 132
Differential Ability Scales (DAS)
GCA 132
Otis-Lennon Tests
IQ 132
Otis-Gamma Test
IQ 131
Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT)
Individual and Multilevel Forms
Ability Index Score
of 130 or above
Stanford Binet
IQ 132
Stanford Binet 5
IQ 130
Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities
(not the Woodcock Johnson Achievement Test) IQ 132
College preparatory tests
ACT Composite
prior to 9/89
effective 9/89
29
N/A
GMAT
(Percentile rank of
verbal + quantitative)**
95
GRE prior to 5/94 (quantitative + verbal) 1250
from 5/94 to 9/30/01
(quantitative + verbal + analytic) 1875
taken after 9/30/01
N/A
Henmon-Nelson
132
LSAT*** prior to 1982 662
effective 1982
(total percentile rank)
95
Miller Analogies Test (MAT) prior to 10/04 (raw score) 66
after 10/04
(total group percentile score)
95%
PSAT (taken in junior year) prior to 5/93 180
effective 5/93
N/A
PSAT (taken in senior year)
prior to 5/93
effective 5/93
195
N/A
CEEB prior to 9/30/77 1300
after 10/1/77 N/A
SAT prior to 9/30/74 1300
from 9/30/74 to 1/31/94 1250
after 1/31/94 N/A
Tests administered by private psychologists
California Test of Mental Maturity (CTMM)
IQ 132
Cattell
IQ 148
Differential Ability Scales (DAS)
GCA 132
Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales
IQ 132
Stanford Binet
IQ 132
Stanford Binet 5
IQ 130
Wechsler Adult and Children Scales IQ 130
(WAIS and WAIS-R, WISC, WISC-R, WISC-III, WISC-4th
Edition, WPPSI™)
Note: Short form not accepted
Tests administered by the military ****
AFQT
prior to 10/80 98
Army GCT prior to 10/80 136
effective 10/80 N/A
ASVAB
not accepted
GT
prior to 10/80 136
Navy GCT prior to 10/80 68
effective 10/80 N/A
* * * * *
N/A
These tests no longer correlate with an IQ test. Note that the acceptance date applies to the date you took the test, not the date you join Mensa. You can still join Mensa by using older scores.
*
Many intelligence test scores will qualify you for Mensa, but Mensa's supervisory psychologists will have to individually appraise the documentation. Almost any test with "achievement" in the title is not acceptable for Mensa admission. American Mensa does not accept unsupervised testing as proof of eligibility, specifically unsupervised testing administered electronically or via Internet-based tests.
**
Unlike most tests, the qualifying score for the GMAT is based on the percentile of the total score. There are three columns on the score report, each with a numerical score and a percentile. You're looking for the percentile next to the score in the "total" column — if it's 95 percent or greater, the score qualifies you for Mensa.
***
Submitted documentation must be an original copy mailed from the testing agency, LSAC. Printouts from Web sites or PDFs will not be accepted.
****
The new military tests are vocational aptitude tests and are not suitable for Mensa admission.

[Tuba Guy]

Just wondering, what happens if you are accepted into one of these societies, then hit your head or drink too much alcohol and can no longer think at that level? Is it one of those things where once you're in, you're in; or can they kick you out again if you no longer meet their qualifications?

[MartyNeilan]

Unlike most tests, the qualifying score for the GMAT is based on the percentile of the total score. There are three columns on the score report, each with a numerical score and a percentile. You're looking for the percentile next to the score in the "total" column — if it's 95 percent or greater, the score qualifies you for Mensa.

Sorry, but to me a score in the 95th percentile (1 out of 20) is not very "exclusive." MENSA membership does little to impress me. Seems to me, to win a big orchestral job these days, you have to be 99.5 percentile (1 out of 200) or higher.
The two times I took an IQ test I scored a 148 and a 144. In the real world, that means absolutely JACK.

[windshieldbug]

The two times I took an IQ test I scored a 148 and a 144. In the real world, that means absolutely JACK.

You still played the tuba, didn't you!?

[pwhitaker]

I.Q.'s are like opinions and rectal orifices ....

[Dean E]

Unlike most tests, the qualifying score for the GMAT is based on the percentile of the total score. There are three columns on the score report, each with a numerical score and a percentile. You're looking for the percentile next to the score in the "total" column — if it's 95 percent or greater, the score qualifies you for Mensa.

Sorry, but to me a score in the 95th percentile (1 out of 20) is not very "exclusive." MENSA membership does little to impress me. Seems to me, to win a big orchestral job these days, you have to be 99.5 percentile (1 out of 200) or higher.
The two times I took an IQ test I scored a 148 and a 144. In the real world, that means absolutely JACK.

Marty, you are right. IQ tests are limited generally to only two scales: (1) verbal ability and (2) abstract reasoning & math. They do not check for musical ability, artistic ability, athletic ability, social ability, or leadership. IQ tests are limited and biased along language and cultural lines.

95th percentile on the GMAT (standardized with grad school hopefuls) correlates with 98th percentile in the general population. Mensa accepts the top 2% of the general population.

Check out Intertel, accepting only the top 1%. http://www.intertel-iq.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Intertel's site lists other high-IQ societies.
http://www.intertel-iq.org/links.php" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Søren]

I do not believe that an IQ measurement is a definitive test of intelligence. As with everything else, the more you practice these kind of IQ tests - the better you become at solving them -> and you become more "intelligent".

And as also said in some of the other postings, there is certainly different kinds of intelligence. If somebody was smart enough, they would make an unbiased "overall" intelligence test.

[Kevin Hendrick]

... as also said in some of the other postings, there is certainly different kinds of intelligence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_ ... elligences