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How does Cambridge view IQ?

The thing is you see it as an achievement, you haven't actually done anything because its natural ability.

They will be seeing how you can apply this gift I guess.

Reply 1

andyroo_g

14

JmsG

The thing is you see it as an achievement, you haven't actually done anything because its natural ability.

They will be seeing how you can apply this gift I guess.

Yeah, pretty much this: it's more about how you apply it (which will be demonstrated in all of the other methods of testing that they have) than your 'intelligence' itself.

Reply 2

Vivisteiner

Most of the guys who apply to Cambridge are extremely clever, and almost everyone who gets in (excluding me :tongue:

) is too. So I doubt they'd be wowed by the fact you're in MENSA. Then again, I doubt it'd hurt to put it down as testament to your intelligence, so long as you realise that it isn't really an achievement.

Reply 3

caroline147

14

MENSA is just a club for those with too much money and too much hubris. Plus, IQ is far from a definitive measure of intelligence.

I wouldn't mention it.

Reply 4

alex_hk90

19

Lola123

Bit of a weird question but the other day in maths class there was a discussion on IQ and this led on to talking about Mensa. Subsequently it came out that I'm a member of Mensa. It was embarassing but I think that it is an achievement and I'm proud of it. However my teacher told me that IQ is no more important that emotional intelligence and that I should not metion this to any university I apply to or any teachers etc. Cambridge as it is my first choice and I'm soon going to be starting the application process so I just wondered what the general opinon would be. :smile:

I'm not a member of Mensa (didn't see the point of joining) but I mentioned by IQ on my personal statement. Although I got five offers I doubt it made any difference either way. The academic aspect of the PS is generally accepted to be by far the most important.

Reply 5

Loeweloewe

this was the exact thing i've been battling with.

but i think it'd be better if you mentioned that you help out with Mensa activities, instead of just saying Mensa outright and risk coming across as boastful.

Reply 6

nuodai

17

I probably wouldn't mention it, lest you sound like you're bragging... I mean, having a high IQ is all very well, but Cambridge would be more interested in how you use your IQ to do useful stuff with your time. Cambridge doesn't want "clever" people, it wants people who will get a lot out of their education system and put a lot into it.

Reply 7

TheMeister

15

caroline147

MENSA is just a club for those with too much money and too much hubris. Plus, IQ is far from a definitive measure of intelligence.

I wouldn't mention it.

Reply 8

Mr FiX-iT

Anyway there isn't a accurate method to measure in intelligence (as someone mentioned earlier). The best chest players in the world dont have an outstanding IQ & chest is a taxing game because your constantly thinking ahead. :bird:

Reply 9

alex_hk90

19

nuodai

I probably wouldn't mention it, lest you sound like you're bragging... I mean, having a high IQ is all very well, but Cambridge would be more interested in how you use your IQ to do useful stuff with your time. Cambridge doesn't want "clever" people, it wants people who will get a lot out of their education system and put a lot into it.

Actually, they want both, but quite often they have to do with one or the other.

Reply 10

dougiemacs

yeh seriously, no offense, but putting your iq on your persona statement is a bit arrogant. plus if u say have an iq of 160 yet only got middle A's in your AS levels they will probably think that you dont work hard.

Reply 11

vhughes1

caroline147

MENSA is just a club for those with too much money and too much hubris. Plus, IQ is far from a definitive measure of intelligence.

I wouldn't mention it.

MENSA is not a club for people with money. I myself got accepted into MENSA but decided not to join, but members come from all walks of life, they make a point of that in their promotional material and is also demonstrated in the wide variety of interest groups they cater for.

Reply 12

dougiemacs

Mr FiX-iT

Anyway there isn't a accurate method to measure in intelligence (as someone mentioned earlier). The best chest players in the world dont have an outstanding IQ & chest is a taxing game because your constantly thinking ahead. :bird:

Pimps who bench press a lot?

Reply 13

Vivisteiner

Out of curiosity, what is your IQ?

Reply 14

faber niger

17

Well, I have a MENSA-applicable IQ (though I didn't join), and Cambridge didn't want me! :rofl:

(Correlation not necessarily causation, of course, though.)

What Oxbridge seem to want, quite rightly, is erudition rather than people who can do mental puzzles in the shortest amount of time! If you can, thus, link your membership to your boundless love for your subject, then it may be worth mentioning it in passing; otherwise, I think it just looks quite narcissistic.

Besides, as other people have mentioned, as much as MENSA would largely like to believe otherwise, IQ is not a stable indicator of absolute intelligence and is not necessarily linked, to any strong degree, to educational industry, creativity, knowledge or necessarily a great deal of things, to be honest.

:smile:

Reply 15

vhughes1

caroline147

MENSA is just a club for those with too much money and too much hubris. Plus, IQ is far from a definitive measure of intelligence.

I wouldn't mention it.

MENSA is not a club for people with money. I myself got accepted into MENSA but decided not to join. Members come from all walks of life, they make a point of that in their promotional material and is also demonstrated in the wide variety of interest groups they cater for.

Personally, I wouldn't point it out as I don't think it affects your suitability for Cambridge. I've got an IQ of 152 and I know that I would not have made a good Cambridge student. It's much better to show how you're hard working, ambitious and what you've acheived. I'm not particularly hard working or ambitious, I've just floated through life so far, but my intelligence has got me through and am now heading for a distinction on my Masters degree. IQ's not everything by any means, but it is good :biggrin:

Reply 16

Mr FiX-iT

dougiemacs

Pimps who bench press a lot?

yeah lol

Reply 17

Chewwy

17

as long as you give the secret mensa handshake at your interview, you're in.

Reply 18

caroline147

14

vhughes1

MENSA is not a club for people with money. I myself got accepted into MENSA but decided not to join, but members come from all walks of life, they make a point of that in their promotional material and is also demonstrated in the wide variety of interest groups they cater for.

You have to pay to be tested :rolleyes:

Reply 19

forsaken_earth

13

It's not actually your achievement dear. It's a bit like having talent... You can't really be proud of that.. but you can be proud of the great things you can do with it.

So yeah, dont mention it.

How does Cambridge view IQ?

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