Weird IQ and Learning Disability>> Engineering PhD?

<p>Hi, my situation is a bit weird. </p>

<p>I am applying to an Engineering PhD program (Harvard SEAS - Environmental track). My IQ is above 140, but I also suffer from dyscalculia (they are linked in women). I conceptualise Maths differently: I won my country mental arithmetic contest 8 years in a row, but I need more time to solve spatial and geometry problems and I get lost pretty much anywhere (libraries!). I can use coloured overlays and bigger fonts to read numbers almost normally. However, I was not allowed any arrangements by ETS and my GRE maths score is only 640.
Should I mention theses factors on my application? Would my IQ counterbalance the learning disability? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Add: I did research internships at UC Berkeley, University College London and Harvard.
Does it prove that "I can science" ?</p>

<p>Excuse me for sounding a bit bitter, but in my thread everyone seemed to agree that if you mention IQ in your application, the university will hire a mobster to visit you and beat you (even if you are a girl), and broadcast to the whole nation that this applicant is a total moron, who should not be admitted anywhere.</p>

<p>Also, you didn’t state the SD with which your IQ is calculated, but of course over 140 is good or great with all of the common ones.</p>

<p>I also have read here and elsewhere that mentioning a learning disability can be a red flag to the admission committee, but I’m not an expert on that.</p>

<p>Research experience should be very helpful, but still I’d advice you to pick other schools in addition to Harvard.</p>

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<p>No, the point is that you shouldn’t have to mention your IQ. It should be obvious. And yes, it will come across as arrogant if you mention it in an application that has no space for it. </p>

<p>Katanaji, you are in a slightly different situation, although you shouldn’t mention your IQ, either. However, you are applying to programs that expect near-800 in the GRE quantitative with a score considerably below that, making your learning disability a factor. I really think you need to talk to your advisor about what to do. William is right; one usually doesn’t want to mention learning, psychological, or physical disabilities in a grad school application.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your answers. My dyscalculia was actually discovered after the IQ test when I achieved top scores in every category but completely underachieved in the spatial exercises. I had no idea I should not mention my dyscalculia in my application, I had imagined universities would be supportive of that sort of things. Should I just attribute my poor quantitative score to a bad day? I got 580 on the vocabulary part though… Flash Flu! :smiley: I read in another post that low GRE scores and high GPA make the admission committee think that your course is easy… Oooooh… :S</p>

<p>You must talk to your advisor about this! He/she may think that it’s worth mentioning in the SOP. Or maybe it’s something that should go in an LOR. </p>

<p>Don’t rely on information here since your case is an unusual one.</p>

<p>You should talk to the disabilities department/coordinators at your school. They’ll probably be somewhat familiar with problems similar to yours and how to deal with them in an application.</p>

<p>What are your other qualificaions? I think that is the key here. As for your question, I do not think it is ever advisable to put IQ on any kind of application for anything. It is not relevant to anything, ever. If someone is qualified for pHd programs, you can safely assume their IQ is as high as yours and/or their work is as good or better than yours.</p>

<p>Is this a recognized disability? As far as legal ones are concerned? Is it real in the Psych comunity?</p>

<p>I posted some facts on another thread about IQ, including numbers with various IQs. Definitely discuss with professors you have worked with- they can tell you chances as they both know your work and the competition, and they will be writing your letters of recommendation. Especially at the grad level they don’t need to consider you if they can find better qualified candidates.</p>