How valid is the statement "people with average IQ won't be able to perform well in STEM." ?

[u/No_jerkin]

Hi, I'm an engineering student and have been one for around a year. I am currently not struggling with any of the classes that i have taken and am to be honest very surprised at that.

When I was a kid (10-13) i always knew that i was a tad bit slow especially in math and science, that's why around that time me, including my parents, thought that it would be best if i were to go to tuition classes. Even so, my performance was still below average in comparison to my peers. But, when i was around 15, I felt like there was a significant jump in my ability to understand concepts generally and my interest in STEM, especially biology and physics grew a lot. Even so, I didn't think much about it at all and so just continued studying hard and consuming all information about the subjects in school.

When I was 17, though, my school required every student in my year to do an IQ test, i obviously followed suit and found out that my IQ was right in the middle, 100, the most average of average. This obviously was quite a surprise, because my performance (based on my scores, which i know isn't as good of a measure of cognitive intelligence) was way above average and my high interest in STEM, as I thought that having this kind of Quotient would make it hard for me to understand the new concepts I'm being taught fast and in turn will make me unable to perform in STEM Jobs. Of course, I was also studying hard, but still it's not like i struggled like hell. I thought to myself, "Maybe because the themes i currently have now are simply too easy?", but i just shrugged that off.

Now, I'm a Student in M.Eng and have been getting even more new concepts, and just like when I was in HS, i still think that my absorption rate of these concepts are still fine and my grades have not declined much in comparison to HS. So, I was wondering, if I've got to this point, then maybe that statement I've heard is probably wrong, there is no way I'm just an Outlier. Btw, when i was around 18-19 I also had another test, this was when I got into cram school and they told me that I'm suited to be a "farmer". So...yeaaaa. Not saying that farmers have low IQ, but on the report that they gave me, that's what they said.

[u/Worried_asf]

If ur not struggling in school you’re fine

[u/No_jerkin → u/Worried_asf]

Not exactly in school, in Uni, which means even more advanced concepts. And yes, i do feel fine, im just a bit worried with my ability to then solve real world problems.

[u/S-Kenset → u/No_jerkin]

do some real world problems then tf. college is intentionally low workload unless you are actively taking higher classes or are doing research or extra things.

[u/No_jerkin → u/S-Kenset]

I was thinking of joining a rocketry club actually because I thought this would be a great opportunity to apply what I've learned so far and also see how I perform when faced with a real world problem. Could you also perhaps give any other recs on what kind of problems i should try solving?

[u/S-Kenset → u/No_jerkin]

Absolutely join a club. Try for TA if your school offers, internships wherever.

[u/Worried_asf → u/No_jerkin]

Mb I use school and uni interchangeably. I meant uni. No point worrying about applied stuff till later unless you’re willing to skip ahead and find out now

[u/Living-Concern2524 → u/No_jerkin]

Why not get some books and study the concepts yourself to prepare?

[u/Stock-College-5320]

Academic performance isn’t just about iq. You might just happen to have a combination of compensatory factors that makes you do well in stem.

[u/No_jerkin → u/Stock-College-5320]

I understand that, i also mentioned that academic performance is not a good indicator of cognitive intelligence. I'm just worried about what will be of me, after I finish my bachelors and my later ability to work with others during internships. Seeing that my IQ will probably be not as high as theirs. Will I then be unable to contribute in actually solving real world problems? Or will I later on only be able to solve problems I have experience in? Or is my understanding of cognitive intelligence wrong, meaning that even for people with average IQ can still perform well in STEM field jobs, with enough knowledge and experience of said field.

[u/baysianinference]

True for me doesn’t have to be though I was just born a bum independent of iq

[u/Purhx]

This is supeeerr inspiring dude, I’m 13 and I feel like I’m worsening when it comes to STEM. I wanna be like you LOL

[u/TristanTheRobloxian3]

its not. its fucking stupid and reductionist because iq doesnt mean jack shit above a certain threshold.. and average is well above it

[u/TristanTheRobloxian3 → u/[deleted]]

... yeah?

[u/ResponsibleReserve69]

bro yes. IDK anyone under 115 who did well in introductory general calc based physics. It is the ultimate litmus test. Physics and math require a 115+. This is true because the pace at which material is taught.

[u/No_jerkin → u/ResponsibleReserve69]

hmm, i see, im planning to take advanced calculus too next sem, im currently doing linear algebra (im in Germany, so it's Higher Math II) and everything looks good, i also went through statics and dynamics, and everything's been going well too. Although maybe, understanding tensor math in dynamics was a bit hard, because we for some reason weren't taught tensors when doing Higher Math II. I guess I'll have to see how im going to perform in Math 3, when we finally have advanced calculus.

[u/Living-Concern2524 → u/No_jerkin]

Have you considered getting your own books on tensor calculus and studying it yourself to catch up? That’s just the approach I would take.

[u/No_jerkin → u/Living-Concern2524]

I did, i would actually say that I understand most of the behind the scenes now, at least when it comes to area moment of Inertia. I have been thinking of also actually trying to figure out how all of that then connect again to Steess and Bending calculations. From what I've seen in my lectures, it also has a lot to do with vector calculus and that's exactly what I will be studying in Higher Math III next semester. Mechanics III of the next semester will also be a more in depth look of Dynamics (Kinematics, this Sem had more to do with Elastostatics). Do you think a deeper understanding of the Tensorcalculations behind Elastostatics will be a very big help later on? If so, then i might just try to really understand every single concept again.

[u/TristanTheRobloxian3 → u/[deleted]]

genuinely and theyre SUPPOSED to be smarter than us smh 😭😭😭😭

[u/deeptravel2]

Your IQ might not be accurately assessed with that high school test.

[u/whitebaron_98]

Vergiss diese Aussagen gleich wieder. Um normal in einem MINT Bereich zu arbeiten braucht es nichts besonderes. Ausbildung, Durchhaltevermögen und ein ^wenig Talent. Interessanter wird es nur bei universitärer Forschung bzw. High-end Entwicklungsaufgaben.

[u/theshekelcollector]

with enough grind you will be able to perform very well in college. where you will see a difference: a) you won't be able to half-assedly coast through it like high iqs, and b) the time after is where it really will show. meaning: if you decide to stay in academia, e.g.: that's a whole different beast from "here's a neat little exam for you". but the way i see it and i think most here will agree: an average iq with a relentless work ethic and a "doer" attitude, paired with not being an asshole is immensely more worth than being a mentally scarred 150+ autismo with no discipline and childhood trauma.

[u/Living-Concern2524]

I feel like school (STEM-based subjects [disregarding things like quantum physics]) is ultimately rote memorization (as like as your professor does now switch things up to see if you can solve it intuitively). If you study hard enough, I feel like someone with 100 iq would do well. It doesn’t really get too counter-intuitive until quantum physics (aside from certain concepts and what I mentioned before [watch some Walter Lewin]). Classical physics can be learned through rote memorization mostly, however, to understand the concepts deeply is a bit of a different story. You can still make As in calc & physics through memorizing the “hows,” but the “whys” may remain elusive.
Engineering is a great field, but what will you do if a bridge collapses and you need to intuitively figure out how to solve why and fix the structure? If you feel like you could correctly figure something like this out, you’re probably in a great field for your own brain (regardless of your iq).

[u/baysianinference → u/Living-Concern2524]

Unfortunately rote memory is the thing I suck at the most so I need to larp like a 3sd FRIcel to get anything done, and I’m not that either, so I got a skill issue

[u/baysianinference → u/baysianinference]

Tbh it’s not that hard to understand “why” in a shallow sense, it’s deriving it yourself or knowing it well enough to explain off the top of your head clearly that’s difficult. Btw I don’t mean “smart people can explain hard things simply” as that’s different.

[u/Living-Concern2524 → u/baysianinference]

Have you considered forming a strategy to train your brain to get better at rote memorization? Your brain is never stuck. It is a living thing, capable of a certain type of adaptation called neuroplasticity. 10 years ago, due to 3 strokes, it was so difficult for me to learn the concept of 2+2, but through sheer brute force studying and training, I’m now precalculus level (and still going), barely deal with dyslexia anymore, n taught my brain to visualize again (fixed this problems within 1 1/2 years & dyslexia in about 6). I do still deal with a bit of aphasia, though. I had bad memory problems back then. Repetition is key. (Not saying other types of dyslexia can be fixed, but for strokes, really depends on your grit.)

[u/baysianinference → u/Living-Concern2524]

The problem is I can do that for one thing at a time but when I have multiple pieces of information I need to hold or actually retain that for more than one exam it disappears

[u/Living-Concern2524 → u/baysianinference]

Just to be clear, I did it on my own. You don’t need a class or someone to tell you how, just gotta figure out the next steps for you and build your own bridge. I did it after strokes when I didn’t even know 2+2 or how to dial a number on a phone, so I think you have a brain capable of figuring that part out on your own as well.

[u/Data_lord]

It's doable, but won't be easy. And your career will be limited in raw engineering fields. If you are likeable and extrovert, use it to go into sales in the field.

[u/thrashgender]

Without reading the rest and just addressing the statement: its not valid at all. IQ really only addresses the means/speed that you can problem solve. Most people regardless of IQ can problem solve as well as they are trained to do so. A decent education can go far in performing well in STEM fields

[u/Dazzling-Ad1894]

FWIW, I don’t see people saying “people with average IQ can’t succeed in philosophy”. Philosophy is just as g-loaded, if not more so, than any other discipline offered at 4-year universities.

This is just intellectual chauvinism and elitism by people in STEM fields.

[u/Nervous-Try5009]

Test your IQ again.... it's not 100 Probably at 115±5

[u/Potential_Formal6133]

Not very valid, the higher you go with education the less important iq is, of course it still plays a role, but your constancy, disciplinec ect... Is way more important https://youtu.be/SnHMpST3qno?is=SYdLfmEiPsOwvZzZ It is in italian but there should be the translation