I am a PG(170-180 IQ)23 year old student wanting to obtain a Ph.D. in Cognitive psychology or Neuroscience. Do you think that it is appropriate to place High IQ groups on my graduate school resumes/CVs? These groups certainly have permitted me to meet others with similar interests; I also communicate with them and have lively, delightful, and inflamed intellectual discussions.

is it a good idea for me to list these High IQ groups (i.e. Mensa, Intertel, 4G) in the club/group section on my resume?

The reason I ask is because my GRE scores were not great--I was hoping that my membership in these societies might compensate for that. Also, these groups really HAVE been beneficial for me socially.
I just fear coming off as pretentious, gauche, or rude.

What do you think? Thanks so much!

It might backfire. It might make the entrance committee question even more why the GRE scores weren't higher.

I wouldn't, *especially* given that your GREs aren't great. I agree with 22B, it will make people wonder about the disparity, even if the GRE scores aren't a problem in themselves. Also, people have such different experiences of and opinions of high IQ societies that it's risky anyway.

I wouldn't either. Is there any way you can try to get your GRE scores up?

I am a University Professor and I would list them. It won't hurt. Just about everyone who is accepted into a legitimate PhD program probably qualifies for those societies and it shows that you are a collaborator which is good for a PhD. It would benefit you if you are a part of some subgroup that is relevant to your field of study or have some sort of role in the organization beyond just being a member.

I don't think you should list them unless you are active in some capacity like on a board, running some activities like a SIG group on a regular basis, etc. I don't think it shows a thing about collaboration; I am in Mensa, and I can tell you that some people I have met there would be good collaborators, and some would be awful -- it doesn't mean anything about your collaboration ability to be a member. You really can't offset a poor GRE score with these memberships, IMHO.

My background is that I did a Ph.D. in math. The academic communities that I'm familiar with don't have IQ on their radar, so I think that it would come across as a non sequitur. Relatedly, it might come across as resume padding. I don't think that it's a big deal either way, but I would guess that listing them would, on balance, have a negative impact.

No just do what everyone else seems to do - work through some GRE prep books which teach to the test and retake the GRE

You are all correct.

I came to a startling realization that I am an incredibly/tremendously lazy student sometimes--especially when I am not thrilled with the content or intellectually enthralled. I really do just need to sit down and study. That is all.

Thanks to everyone who commented on this post! I really appreciate all that you have to say!