Is it to ambitious to want to have a PH.D in physics or chemstry or other sciences with out the genious IQ?

A genius (not genious hehe) is defined as someone having an exceptional capacity of intellect, but there also has to be an exceptional desire – I’d say desire is just as important if not more important than having a great intellect (no matter how smart you are, if you don’t want to work hard and study, you’ll never obtaina PHD). This reminds of the Edison quote “genius is 1% inspiration and 99% and 99% perspiration”.

And to the first response – that “PHDs generally have IQs over 160” … HA!

Studying for a PHD I can tell you many professors of mine (when I ask them conceptual and critical thinking questions) aren’t likely to even be highly gifted… defined as an IQ over 120. They just work very hard, as a professor obtains tenure through research work – some of my professors are likely to work 15 hours a day doing research… something most people would not do.

Finally, to think most “PHDs” are geniuses… or to excell requires such a high IQ as 160 is ludicrious.

I have a problem with the whole concept of “I.Q.” based on standardized tests, and believe in the theory of multiple intelligences as put forth by Howard Gardner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences)..

Giving a number to an I.Q. is based on comparison of what the “average intellect” is; if you are 30% greater, say a 10 year who scores on an IQ test the same as an average 13 year old, would have a 130 IQ.

There is a table put forth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.Q.), that I’ve seen elsewhere stating that someone “extemely gifted” or 5 deviations higher than average, having an IQ 164-168 scores greater than ~99.999% and genius is greater than 170, scores greater than ~99.9999%.

This means that a “true” genius is 1 out of million! Meaning there are 300 True geniuses out there in the U.S… even if ALL the geniuses where PHD, that would be 1 out of almost 200 PHDs (just in physics and chemistry) would be a true genius. There was a comparison study showing that the average PHD has an I.Q. of around 120ish and Professors around 130 – or 30% greater than the average intellect… again this has to do with scoring on a test and does not have a direct correlation to your desire. So basically, though my ramblings I’m just trying to say most of physicists and PHDs aren’t actual geniuses (or Einsteins), but just try really hard. However, I do believe to have an exceptional brilliance and originality, there are only a few Einsteins out there, who change the way we see the world through their own wholly original thoughts and insights.

Too ambitious, no! I am finishing my masters in biology and going into a Marine Science PhD program next year. It is important to point out here that I barely passed high school bio.( I never tried) and am not much good in chem. or physics. I did graduate college w/honors in biology! :)I have been successful because I decided that this was something that I wanted. You just need to be determined is what I’m trying to say! I am teaching college labs now and I have to say, there are few professors that I really consider genius smart! I think you can definently do it if thats what you want!!

Well, I hate to say it, but people who have Ph.D. degrees generally–not always–have I.Q.’s above 160.

However, there are many fine M.D.’s who take physics and chemistry in high school and college, work like dogs at their studies, get straight A’s, do well on the MCAT’s and go to medical school.

Personally, I think that with interests such as yours, you should consider a career in medicine. You’ll do well financially, and have an opportunity to serve humanity.

Of course not. I’m getting a PhD in physics. I wasn’t the top of my class. Not even in the top 20. You just need to be kinda smart and ambitious. If I can do it, pretty much anyone can.

I see no correlation between high IQ and a PhD.If you are pretty smart,then you are smart enough to do it.It is not set up so that only a genius can do it.It is set up so that very good students can do it.

There is a stupid answer here but I won’t name names.