<p>My grades for this quarter are pretty bad - mostly B's and two A's. Even though they are all AP classes, it shows a downward trend from last year. Since I'm applying early, my school (super selctive) will see these. I am thinking of changing something on my app - taking my Mensa membership off the list so they won't think I'm a slacker, what do you think?</p>
<p>In truth I am not sure Mensa buys you anything either way. But perhaps some others will weigh in on this for you.</p>
<p>mensa shows you're extremely intelligent though....</p>
<p>I'm mentioning my Mensa membership ... it's an achievement of a kind.</p>
<p>Don't put it. It shows nothing about you except something over which you have no control. It's like saying, "I was judged the most attractive by my school." The intelligence factor may be relevant, but you haven't had to work for it or anything.</p>
<p>P.S.: I am also a Mensa member.</p>
<p>
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mensa shows you're extremely intelligent though....
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IQ isn't well correlated with success at the level of intelligence of many mensa members so I'd argue it's a meaningless affiliation if not downright deleterious. My personal opinion is that people in mensa are stuck up on their intelligence otherwise they wouldn't have joined a society whose only requirement is money and a certain IQ.</p>
<p>This is a good question.
If a student is intelligent enough to be a Mensa candidate, yet does not have the highest of grades - what does that say about that person? (to a college admissions rep)</p>
<p>mensa does not show you are extremely intelligent. By paying someone to tell you you are smart, it shows that you really are quite stupid.</p>
<p>Therefore i say do not mention it no matter what. It'll harm your chances either way.</p>
<p>Mensa membership can be obtained by scoring at or above certain percentile on college entrance exams. Therefore, being in Mensa doesn't necessarily tell colleges anything about your "intelligence" that they could not already ascertain from your test scores. It's duplicative of information that they already have, in terms of what it means about your mental capacity. </p>
<p>What it tells them about your extracurriculars or attitude about Mensa is a different measure, and whether that is a plus or minus may depend on the reader and how that information fits in with the rest of your file.</p>
<p>You can no longer get into Mensa with standardized test scores. I don't know what people in Mensa do, but if it's anything worthwhile then you can have it as part of your ECs. To have it as an "award" is kinda stupid though, it could even backfire.</p>
<p>What's Mensa?</p>
<p>an IQ society</p>
<p>Honestly, I doubt that there are many people at HYPMS that wouldn't qualify for Mensa, so I don't see that it would set you apart. Mensa is only 1/50. If you were a member of a more selective society, adcoms probably wouldn't know what you the society is. So as I rule I wouldn't put high IQ societies on college application.</p>
<p>In your situation I don't believe that putting Mensa would have much of a positive effect on your application, but I can see an admissions officer being consciously or sub-consciously effected by it in a negative way.</p>
<p>i would put it... its definitely an achievement that not that many people have.</p>
<p>yeah, I dunno what sparks a rage among people here about Mensa. And in other countries you can't get in MENSA through scores on standardized tests. We're talking about Mensa international... If it's not an achievement. look at all things carefully, is anything an achievement at all? school tests u can learn and pass - doesnt prove you're an einstein. peace out - I'm putting it.. If adcoms want to view it negatively, i'll have to say they are quite judgmental and I wouldn't want to go to their college.</p>
<p>Spidey, Mensa is NOT an achievement. It's totally innate. Will colleges care that you one the prettiest face competition, the naturally smartest competition, etc.? No, because it shows nothing about how hard you work at all. You didn't have to do anything except pay $50. It shows literally nothing.</p>
<p>This coming from a Mensan.</p>
<p>Well just like debating skills and awards show nothing of how great a guy's career will be...
I'm putting it down, it cannot be seen negatively i'll say. Each man to his own opinion.
I gotta go now</p>
<p>I didn't say that it had no correlation with career. I said that it shows nothing other than how smart you are naturally.</p>
<p>How many debaters walk in unprepared and win? None. They need to work. Mensa requires no work. It's like winning the lottery in that you don't choose to be qualified. IQ is natural. It can easily be viewed negatively.</p>
<p>Use the CC search function to find the previous threads about this Frequently Asked Question. Short answer: mentioning Mensa membership alone will NEVER help, and might hurt, your application to a competitive college. (It will be irrelevant at a noncompetitive college.) IF and only if your Mensa membership included significant involvement in Mensa activities, and especially service to other people, then it would as worthwhile to mention as any other extracurricular activity, for the same reason any EC is worth mentioning.</p>
<p>what about just mentioning it in ur resume as a small extra point.. and not as an EC?</p>