Hacker News Reader

Comment by orangecat | Hacker News Reader

I have to note that getting degrees has nothing (edit: very little) to do with IQ.

That's just not true, even with the edit. Certainly high intelligence by itself isn't sufficient, but you're not going to find many physics PhDs with a 90 IQ.

View on HN

I think it's worth considering though how much of that is pure problem solving ability, and how much is enthusiasm. I'd wager that the majority of academic programs could be successfully completed as long as long-lasting enthusiasm and time management are in place. Also worth considering is just how many factors can lead to a negative outcome.

I'd bet that physics PHDs get there with persistence, enthusiasm, and money. Intelligence barriers may not stand in there way but I don't think they're the determining factor.

Yes. You need human-level intelligence. The rest is personality characteristics (like slogging away for years), circumstances etc.

But this could be said for all intellectual achievement. I would go further, and say there are no geniuses, only acts of genius. Perhaps one person "could have done" it quicker than another... but the important achievement is that someone actually did do it.

Maybe, but you could easily get through medical school where rote memorisation, hard work, and diligence are more important. (In my country one pathway to medicine is a 6 year undergraduate degree you do straight out of highschool.)

I'm doing a double degree in elec engg and math, but I'm stupid as fuck and likely not going anywhere in life. (not being "falsely modest", I'm really struggling through my degree)

edit: I guess I should mentioned that I'm very close to finishing my degrees

IQ was devloped as a predictor of getting a degree. So it has something to do with it. At least historically.

I think the point stands. You don’t need a high IQ, just an average one.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com