EH? Mensa Members???!!!

It all started yesterday when i peeked at my friend's Personal Statement as she revealed herself to be a Mensan (ok Linguists don't laugh, i know what it means!).

I'm shocked! After years and years (i.e. 7 yrs of School with her!) i never knew...

If there are any mensans here - why the hell do you guys keep it a secret?

Oh yea and did you put it into your PS (I mean doesn't it sound a little snobish?) :biggrin:

(p.s am not a member, puzzles were neither my hobbie nor something i can do...)

Reply 1

cheapaschips

there are a lot of people with IQs who simply don't join. it costs money, and there is a perception of it as being self-serving and smug, existing solely to gratify the egos of high-IQ people who are insecure about themselves. at least, this is what i was told by a friend who used to be a member, though of course i don't know how true it is or not.

if it was on a personal statement i'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but remember that the PS is supposed to advertise your curiosity, aptitude, potential, etc, rather than a raw statistic. remember as well that IQ points are solely a measure of your ability to analyse statistics/think scientifically, so may not be the most relevant if applying for an arts subject.

still, no harm in putting it down. it's just something that people tend not to shout about, i guess.

Reply 2

Traum

OP

cheapaschips

there are a lot of people with IQs who simply don't join. it costs money, and there is a perception of it as being self-serving and smug, existing solely to gratify the egos of high-IQ people who are insecure about themselves. at least, this is what i was told by a friend who used to be a member, though of course i don't know how true it is or not.

if it was on a personal statement i'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but remember that the PS is supposed to advertise your curiosity, aptitude, potential, etc, rather than a raw statistic. remember as well that IQ points are solely a measure of your ability to analyse statistics/think scientifically, so may not be the most relevant if applying for an arts subject.

still, no harm in putting it down. it's just something that people tend not to shout about, i guess.

Hmm, weird......why bother paying all that £££ for something that most people don't even know!

Expect extra grilling at Interviews...lol

Reply 3

silence

16

i went to one of their tests after doing one at home, but it was an utterly shambolic experience. i'm no way xenophobic, but the test was conducted/invigilated by a woman who's english was rather poor (and the test was being held in central london). when asking questions about what to do etc, she couldn't reply. not only that, but my and other people's question papers had answers written on in pencil. anyway, so many people complained that the tests of all those whom participated on that day were voided - thus meaning that it would be a two year wait until a test could be retaken (because that's how often they change the question papers). i never bothered with it though.

Reply 4

Traum

OP

silence

i went to one of their tests after doing one at home, but it was an utterly shambolic experience. i'm no way xenophobic, but the test was conducted/invigilated by a woman who's english was rather poor (and the test was being held in central london). when asking questions about what to do etc, she couldn't reply. not only that, but my and other people's question papers had answers written on in pencil. anyway, so many people complained that the tests of all those whom participated on that day were voided - thus meaning that it would be a two year wait until a test could be retaken (because that's how often they change the question papers). i never bothered with it though.

Retakes.....gosh....does it really matter that much? I mean its not like Giga society or anything

Reply 5

Rofl

8

My friend's was also a 'Mensan', and he was hiding it all these years too. If you think about it, if you're like the only guy in it in the entire school, you would feel pretty alienated if you told others. Best is to keep it quiet. He said it was a waste of money, and my teachers say that it isn't actually that hard to join.

Reply 6

Tomorrow2Day

Never met a Mensan I'd consider even remotely intelligent myself. I think the real test is whether you can work out that paying money to be part of a group of people who passed a fairly simple test and paid money to join a group of like-minded half-wits is actually failing to demonstrate intelligence.

Reply 7

maxwelledison

I did the kiddie test but never got round to the real thing. I doubt it'll ever come down to it that someone says "Hey, this girl with a degree in Physics from Oxford isn't in Mensa? She can't be that bright!"

Reply 8

Tomorrow2Day

I always got the feeling MENSA members were hoping the inverse would one day be true, "Hey, this socially inept guy with a third class American Studies degree from Lunn Polytechnic is in Mensa? He must be incredibly bright!"

Reply 9

KuinKra

1

As far as I'm concerned, an Oxford degree shows intelligence far more than the mensa qualification test.

And I doubt it'll help the application at all. The interview and college tests exist so that the tutors can find out how capable you really are.

Reply 10

Traum

OP

What i on't get though is why some people would pay however much it is...and stay silent about it for years and years...

I mean if she really did it just for the Uni, she could have like waited 'til last year and join or something...but she's bee a member since 14 or something...

Weird and wonderful people...

Reply 11

gazzag

Traum

What i on't get though is why some people would pay however much it is...and stay silent about it for years and years...

I mean if she really did it just for the Uni, she could have like waited 'til last year and join or something...but she's bee a member since 14 or something...

Weird and wonderful people...

Im not a member of mensa, cos i prefer not to waste money but i do enjoy a good brain game, and thats what mensa is about, some people enjoy being a member and enjoy the activities even if they dont wanna shout the aliegences from the rooftops

Reply 12

SlyPie

12

gazzag

Im not a member of mensa, cos i prefer not to waste money but i do enjoy a good brain game, and thats what mensa is about, some people enjoy being a member and enjoy the activities even if they dont wanna shout the aliegences from the rooftops

Brain games? Like what? Trying to figure out where their senses of humor are or where common sense is located in Mensa members?! That actually would be quite difficult...

Reply 13

El Stevo

11

SlyPie

Brain games? Like what? Trying to figure out where their senses of humor are or where common sense is located in Mensa members?! That actually would be quite difficult...

i'm in mensa - never been stigmatised for it. and K, you've already told me i have common sense and a sens of humour. so muh.

Reply 14

SlyPie

12

El Chueco

i'm in mensa - never been stigmatised for it. and K, you've already told me i have common sense and a sens of humour. so muh.

Really? YOU are? :eek:

(But you worked a job requiring physical labor and actual moving!!!!??)

Yeah, I was either delusional or trying to make you feel better about yourself. That's the kind of nice person I am.

Maybe I simply called you 'common' Stev... :biggrin:

Reply 15

Drogue

19

I used to be. Some people enjoy it and get a lot out of it, there's quite a large social side. I never found it worth the money, personally, though if you took advantage of some of the activities and enjoyed them it would be :smile:

Reply 16

Isaiah Berlin

4

It's remarkably similar to the Union in this respect isn't it?

Reply 17

RxB

1

i'm not sure you can hack mensa...

Reply 18

cheapaschips

and there's less port, i imagine

Reply 19

Traum

OP

SlyPie

Brain games? Like what? Trying to figure out where their senses of humor are or where common sense is located in Mensa members?! That actually would be quite difficult...

whoosh thats pretty harsh... My friends does have a sense of humour, infact she is really outgoing and funny...never thought she was the "mensan type" if you know what i mean (no offence mensans... :wink:

)

EH? Mensa Members???!!!

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