If you score below 145 on an IQ test, you really shouldn't be in STEM.
http://www.iqtest.dk/
In 1952, psychologist Anne Roe administered a test to 64 scientists with the help of the ETS (the same people who design the GRE). The MEDIAN score was 152, and that's AFTER excluding the physical scientists from the math portion on the basis that it would be too easy for them. Even so, the MEDIAN math score was 154, with the highest score being 194. (!)
Let me repeat that, because I don't think you understand. One of the scientists (who was not in the physical sciences, mind you!) scored over 6 fucking standard deviations from the norm on math.
The median VERBAL IQ was 166, with a high of 177. (!!!)
https://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/Roe.aspx
And before you get hopeful about the Flynn effect, keep in mind that these scores indicate the percentage of the population capable of a career in science at that time. Also, the Flynn downgrades on that site are entirely speculative (the Flynn effect may have capped out as early as the 70s, in which case the point difference would be much smaller). In fact, it is probably HARDER to get a science career now due to international competition, greater nepotism and lock-in effects, the "everyone is a genius" mentality in education, and much lower demand for unskilled labor.
Working your ass off isn't enough. These scientists were geniuses AND worked their asses off AND lived during America's golden age.
If you want to be a scientist but don't have a >145 IQ, you are *fucked.*
http://www.iqtest.dk/
In 1952, psychologist Anne Roe administered a test to 64 scientists with the help of the ETS (the same people who design the GRE). The MEDIAN score was 152, and that's AFTER excluding the physical scientists from the math portion on the basis that it would be too easy for them. Even so, the MEDIAN math score was 154, with the highest score being 194. (!)
Let me repeat that, because I don't think you understand. One of the scientists (who was not in the physical sciences, mind you!) scored over 6 fucking standard deviations from the norm on math.
The median VERBAL IQ was 166, with a high of 177. (!!!)
https://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/Roe.aspx
And before you get hopeful about the Flynn effect, keep in mind that these scores indicate the percentage of the population capable of a career in science at that time. Also, the Flynn downgrades on that site are entirely speculative (the Flynn effect may have capped out as early as the 70s, in which case the point difference would be much smaller). In fact, it is probably HARDER to get a science career now due to international competition, greater nepotism and lock-in effects, the "everyone is a genius" mentality in education, and much lower demand for unskilled labor.
Working your ass off isn't enough. These scientists were geniuses AND worked their asses off AND lived during America's golden age.
If you want to be a scientist but don't have a >145 IQ, you are *fucked.*
