Think you're smarter than most people? Seriously, two percent of the population -- that's one person in every 50 -- scores in the top two percent of standard IQ tests, making them eligible to join an elite organization of brainiacs called Mensa.
National Mensa divides the country into multiple groups, and there are 700 members in the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan group. The Milwaukee area comprises the largest segment of the group -- most likely because we have the largest population -- and Madison as the second largest.
"You certainly don't have to be a traditional geek, nerd or dork to be Mensa material," says Milwaukee's Chris Cooper. "Many of us actually have very normal social lives that don't revolve around which pocket protector goes with which pair of broken glasses or getting home in time to TiVo 'Battlestar Galactica' reruns."
There are over 200 different tests that Mensa accepts for admission, including the ACT, SAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE and Mensa's own admissions test. The Mensa admissions test is similar to many of the IQ tests commonly found on-line and includes questions related to language, mathematics, spatial perception and memory skills.
Most "Mensans" take a pre-test first and then move onto an official test if they score well.
"I tested on a lark," says Cooper. "I took an online IQ test, did pretty well and thought I would give the 'real deal' a shot."
Cooper believes that most people know deep down if they are Mensa material or not. He says many members gravitate to a certain level of conversation, enjoy reading, love "Nova" on PBS or find themselves engrossed in puzzles, problem solving or trivia.
"But it's different for everyone," he says.
Mensa is an intellectual organization whose mission is to "identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity" but it has a strong social component as well. Mensa members often go to movies, games, bookstores, happy hours and restaurants where they place a plastic owl as the centerpiece. (Athena, the goddess of wisdom, considered the owl to be sacred.)
"Until we finally pass mandatory facial tattooing in our national charter, the owl is often the only way to get us into a group," says Cooper.
There is a subset within Mensa, called "the triple-nines," for people whose IQ falls in the 99.9th percentile. According to Mensa member Jennifer Heth, these are the groups' most genius members and you never know who might fall into this category.
"It is very likely that you might already know a member of Mensa and not even be aware of it or that you yourself could qualify. If you are at all interested in joining Mensa it never hurts to test," says Heth.
The Mensa Web site is wi.us.mensa.org/mowhome.html.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
