Mensa

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a child in Mensa in the NOVA or DC area? My daughter qualifies, but I'd like to hear if anyone has any experiences with the local chapters on whether or not it is worth the annual dues.

[Anonymous]

I'm an adult member of MENSA. I think the organization is a joke. Initially I signed up based on my LSAT scores because I thought it might be an interesting way to meet men. Wrong. The get-togethers and parties were the most awful boring men sitting in corners talking about the Ph.D. work. I have never taken the organization seriously and I really look down upon those who think membership means something (it doesn't) and put their diplomas on the wall. Membership is only $40.00 or so a year. It's too easy to get in. Unless you are desirous of attending meetings I see no point in joining. My daugher qualified with her ACT scores but MENSA just decided not to accept ACT scores anymore. There are MENSA facebook pages. But, seriously, those who really know about the organization are just going to roll their eyes behind your back if you say you or your child are a member.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. At my job, we make fun of those who were in it. It is very easy to qualify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an adult member of MENSA. I think the organization is a joke. Initially I signed up based on my LSAT scores because I thought it might be an interesting way to meet men. Wrong. The get-togethers and parties were the most awful boring men sitting in corners talking about the Ph.D. work. I have never taken the organization seriously and I really look down upon those who think membership means something (it doesn't) and put their diplomas on the wall. Membership is only $40.00 or so a year. It's too easy to get in. Unless you are desirous of attending meetings I see no point in joining. My daugher qualified with her ACT scores but MENSA just decided not to accept ACT scores anymore. There are MENSA facebook pages. But, seriously, those who really know about the organization are just going to roll their eyes behind your back if you say you or your child are a member.

What she said.

[Anonymous]

Oh God. Don't bother. What a joke. Please. Just get a big tag, write your IQ on it, and pin it to your chest. There -- feel better? Oh, it's your daughter's chest -- well in that case, pin it to her back. Egads. Really people. Calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. At my job, we make fun of those who were in it. It is very easy to qualify.

How do you which people at work were members? Did they say, BTW, I'm a MENSA member, just so you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. At my job, we make fun of those who were in it. It is very easy to qualify.

How do you which people at work were members? Did they say, BTW, I'm a MENSA member, just so you know?

People have put it on their resumes. We have a great time with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an adult member of MENSA. I think the organization is a joke. Initially I signed up based on my LSAT scores because I thought it might be an interesting way to meet men. Wrong. The get-togethers and parties were the most awful boring men sitting in corners talking about the Ph.D. work. I have never taken the organization seriously and I really look down upon those who think membership means something (it doesn't) and put their diplomas on the wall. Membership is only $40.00 or so a year. It's too easy to get in. Unless you are desirous of attending meetings I see no point in joining. My daugher qualified with her ACT scores but MENSA just decided not to accept ACT scores anymore. There are MENSA facebook pages. But, seriously, those who really know about the organization are just going to roll their eyes behind your back if you say you or your child are a member.

Even those who don't. this was my reaction to mensa for a long time. I met a guy who identified as a member and almost refused to date him based on that alone. Now that he's with me he's way less involved.

[Anonymous]

Do you think this is kind of like how some people who work in fields closely related to law say they despise lawyers and how they are smarter than them but secretly want to get a JD and join the ranks? Know several like this, asking whether the employer will pay for a law degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think this is kind of like how some people who work in fields closely related to law say they despise lawyers and how they are smarter than them but secretly want to get a JD and join the ranks? Know several like this, asking whether the employer will pay for a law degree.

No. It is really easy to qualify. Almost everyone I worked with in biglaw qualified based on SAT and LSAT scores.

[Anonymous]

But are the ones who qualify the elite top 2% of the population? So maybe you know many who qualify but that's because of your SES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But are the ones who qualify the elite top 2% of the population? So maybe you know many who qualify but that's because of your SES.

It makes you look totally tone deaf if you join. And like a jack a$$

[Anonymous]

OP here - I probably should have clarified her age. She's 7, almost 8. She qualifies based on her NNAT score.

I'm really looking for additional resources and maybe some other kids her age that are "weird" like her. While she has friends at school, she realizes that she's different and being called weird by the other kids is really starting to get to her. I'd like her to know there are other kids out there like her and I thought this might be a place to start. I'm not looking at it as a badge of honor or anything that I would even tell our friends about but just as a place to find some other kids her age that she can fit in with better academically.

Based on what is said on this board I'm not holding out any hope that APP, should she be accepted, will provide what she seems to need in a classroom setting. Again, thinking this could be a place where she can identify with other kids like her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But are the ones who qualify the elite top 2% of the population? So maybe you know many who qualify but that's because of your SES.

It makes you look totally tone deaf if you join. And like a jack a$$

Is it the same as joining a country club, DAR or Jack and Jill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I probably should have clarified her age. She's 7, almost 8. She qualifies based on her NNAT score.

I'm really looking for additional resources and maybe some other kids her age that are "weird" like her. While she has friends at school, she realizes that she's different and being called weird by the other kids is really starting to get to her. I'd like her to know there are other kids out there like her and I thought this might be a place to start. I'm not looking at it as a badge of honor or anything that I would even tell our friends about but just as a place to find some other kids her age that she can fit in with better academically.

Based on what is said on this board I'm not holding out any hope that APP, should she be accepted, will provide what she seems to need in a classroom setting. Again, thinking this could be a place where she can identify with other kids like her.

Is she on the spectrum? Girls are often high functioning, smart but a little socially odd, not as apparent as boys on the spectrum.