Can people with average IQs become University Professor?

[darkw0rker]

After much contemplations, I have decided that a University Professor's lifestyle is what suits me. But, there is always a 'but' in every decision we make, my IQ, or a lack of high intelligence, is rather depressing. I am not brighter than an average Joe. From my experience University Professors are too intelligent, which is really scary for people like me.

Do average people, like myself, have a chance to become professors? Is it even realistic to pursue such a path? Am I simply in denial?

Thank You.

[Indiana]

Why do you want to become a university professor, and what field do you wish to specialise in? Why do you think you would be good at it?

It is not so much about IQ, which is tough to measure, but your ability to learn, consider and teach. Are you good at those things? Is there an area of academia that fascinates you enough to want to continue studying it through your life, and pass that knowledge on to students?

[darkw0rker]

Originally Posted by Indiana

Why do you want to become a university professor, and what field do you wish to specialise in? Why do you think you would be good at it?

It is not so much about IQ, which is tough to measure, but your ability to learn, consider and teach. Are you good at those things? Is there an area of academia that fascinates you enough to want to continue studying it through your life, and pass that knowledge on to students?

Well I believe that pursuit of knowledge and learning as a lifestyle is the best, not the easiest, for an individual, both for himself and the society he is placed in.

I am fascinated by physics, philosophy and psychology. And the major reason I wish to become a professor is intellectual growth. But I'm just a first year student so I do not know exactly in what specific filed I would like to specialize in.

My main concern is lack of ability. I'm afraid that I'm not good enough to pursue such ambitious career. Perhaps I should look for something less ambitious? A high school teacher for instance?

[Brutha]

My main concern is lack of ability.

Why do you feel that you have no ability?

Maybe you have just low self confidence. Maybe you lack good study techniques.

Do average people, like myself,

It's no good idea to think of yourself as average. Stop it.

[darkw0rker]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Why do you feel that you have no ability?

Maybe you have just low self confidence. Maybe you lack good study techniques.
It's no good idea to think of yourself as average. Stop it.

That is actually true. I have huge problems with low self-esteem! Can self-esteem be raised ? I know pop psychologists would confirm that but have you personally been able to see an improvement in your self confidence over the years?

[AngelPsychic444]

There's a book out called "Einstein Factor: Proven new method for increasing your intelligence" by Win Wenger. This book has been out for a while, but if you practice the simple exercises in it religously... your IQ will go way up!

Here's the book:

Amazon.com: einstein factor

Here's one of his methods from the book called "Image Streaming"... which is proven to increase your IQ:

Project Renaissance, Image-Streaming

[darkw0rker]

Originally Posted by AngelPsychic444

There's a book out called "Einstein Factor: Proven new method for increasing your intelligence" by Win Wenger. This book has been out for a while, but if you practice the simple exercises in it religously... your IQ will go way up!

Here's the book:

Amazon.com: einstein factor

Here's one of his methods from the book called "Image Streaming"... which is proven to increase your IQ:

Project Renaissance, Image-Streaming

wow really nice. Thanks!

[Entelechy]

While it does come with a fair amount of respect and prestige, becoming a university professor is hardly out of anyone's league.

If you're truly passionate about a subject, mastery of said subject is inevitable. Remember: passion is the genesis of genius.

Then, of course, teaching won't be a problem.

[yossarian]

You're obviously very concerned with your intelligence, both from what you've said here and past posts you've made.

Know this: You can definitely increase your intelligence. With effort, you can make tremendous gains.

The best way to gain intelligence is to study a subject and spend a lot of time mastering it. So basically whatever College classes you're taking, just really devote yourself to those. The more stuff you learn, the better you become at learning, and the smarter you'll get.

Most people do not change their IQ throughout their life, but it has been shown again and again that you CAN change your IQ if you want to, if you work at it.

From everything you've said I think you really want to, and so I have a lot of faith in you.

You can gain the intellectual skills you desire.

Don't sell yourself short. This is within your grasp. Keep your head down and focus on mastering your subjects. You can do it.

[Brutha]

Can self-esteem be raised ? I know pop psychologists would confirm that but have you personally been able to see an improvement in your self confidence over the years?

Yes.
The core is about investing time into a single skill that provides good feedback to become better than average.

Mnemonics is a good example. If you constantly practice mnemonics and perform a few stunts for your friends they will tell you that you have an awesome memory. We humans are social creatures. If we get those compliments our self esteem rises.

Dancing and martial arts are other good activities.

Here's one of his methods from the book called "Image Streaming"... which is proven to increase your IQ:

As far as I'm aware they claim that it will increase your IQ. They however haven't proven it.

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by darkw0rker

That is actually true. I have huge problems with low self-esteem! Can self-esteem be raised ? I know pop psychologists would confirm that but have you personally been able to see an improvement in your self confidence over the years?

Self-esteem can definitely be raised. I recommend going to the bookstore and picking up: Self-Esteem: Amazon.ca: Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning: Books

The most effective method to work on your self-esteem is to see a psychologist. There are specific targeted therapies that can be customized to fit you that will raise self-esteem, as well as helping you with lots of other challenges in your life.

What I really like about you is your sense of desire. You seem to be serious about self-improvement, and so I think as long as you nurture and cultivate that attitude you will be unstoppable.

[Experience]

Originally Posted by darkw0rker

After much contemplations, I have decided that a University Professor's lifestyle is what suits me.

Nothing else is suited to you. You will fail to become anything else.
You have no choice.
You die or become a university professor.

HOEDOWN

[insanezenmistress]

darkworker,

I have also been tossing this idea about. "could i be a professor-type or a professional student as long as the obama plan works for single mothers"

My reason is because i want to be a knowledge sponge. Why? Well the love of learning all mannor of seemingly useless bits of practical knowledge and vomiting them up in the middle of mundane conversation , has always been an annoying quality of mine.

There are a few other things that come into play wiht this idea. The biggest is my age, in relation to my retirement. The Boat has passed me by in terms of that PHD in forensic psychology, or psychological research, and Egyptology/arcehology.

This is not to day that I could not earn any of those degrees, it is that I would be 55 by the time my career gets started. And if I put in a HARD HARD 15 years ( and mt health stops deteriorating).maaaaaaayyyyybeeee I can still have my private practice and retire by 70.

OR....I could just be a student for ever. And the second best, I can pick a teachable topic that I like and know well and teach it among the company and friendships of other professors who know the other stuff I like. (swooning here).....

So how much does an anatomy professor make on average anyway? Might be easier done that physical theapy assistant and not as bad on my arthritis.

Are you, Darkworker smart enough to be a Professor? Of coruse you are, the really real trouble is figureing out what you wanna teach when you grow up, and if you will be able to support your other life stuff. After that it is to carefully learn your subject, the skill and style come with experience.

jessy

[CroMagna]

Anyone who works hard enough can teach at the university level.

But consider: do you like lecturing? To big groups or small groups?
Do you like writing books? Do you think you can get published?

Also consider: professors are shortstaffed right now. A lot people with PhDs are waiting tables. It's hard to land a job as a professor these days. Do you think that's something you can handle?

[persephonevii]

Originally Posted by Experience

Nothing else is suited to you. You will fail to become anything else.
You have no choice.
You die or become a university professor.

HOEDOWN

Indeedy!

So are you sure you are good for nothing else but a university professor?

But anyway, I really don't think you need to be a genius to be a professor. On my Orientation Day at Uni the professors there talked about how PASSIONATE their colleagues were about their areas of specialty/research. They only sound so smart and educated because they've invested the time and effort in their subjects plus they LOVE what they research.

[scotthegeek]

I think it comes down to having passion and have people skills and have mentors. I'm not sure if it was Einstein Factor which is bit old. but I lot of theory that have be taken as truth don't prove out when put to the test. Genes play a bigger part than once believed

Scott

[AlmostGodess]

Originally Posted by AngelPsychic444

There's a book out called "Einstein Factor: Proven new method for increasing your intelligence" by Win Wenger. This book has been out for a while, but if you practice the simple exercises in it religously... your IQ will go way up!

Here's the book:

Amazon.com: einstein factor

Here's one of his methods from the book called "Image Streaming"... which is proven to increase your IQ:

Project Renaissance, Image-Streaming

And from this book you will find that Albert Einstein was not even accepted at the University as all his professors considered him too stupid

Tell yourself you are smart. Tell yourself you become smarter and smarter everyday. Don't take IQ tests because this test will tell you just a number that does not matter much. I am sure most of University Professors of this world have not taken an IQ test. Or at least I hope they didn't

[chrisrushton]

There's a few things you need to consider here.

Firstly, whilst the IQ it's self shouldn't be a barrier, you need to be able to demonstrate that you're competent at what you want to do. Not only that you need to be able to prove that you're better than the other applicants to the job. Initially you need to be able to convince people that you're worth funding. In the UK this requires a 2:1 degree usually. You need to be good but you don't have to be the best undergrad.

The path to becoming a University Professor in the UK looks like this

Undergrad (3 / 4 years) Masters (1 / 2 years) PhD (depending on subject this might not be needed but DEFINITELY needed if you want to be a Physics professor) Post Doc research position (maybe a few of these to get your publishing portfolio big), more permanent positions (tenured maybe? not sure of the word for this), Professor.

Note that UK professors and lecturers are not the same. you have to earn the right to be called a professor on academic merit, you don't just get it for teaching classes like you do in America.

Being a professor ISN'T about teaching. University is a business. It's about securing funding for your department. To do this you need to consistently do research and be published. If you don't do this then you won't last very long, no matter how good a teacher you are.

Remember too that most professors and researchers I know consider teaching a pain in the ass and something that gets in the way of their work.

What you need to be a good professor:

1) LOVE FOR YOUR SUBJECT. Without this you will get nowhere.
2) Ability to add value in your field. Teaching from textbooks isn't adding value. You need to be writing the books or the papers they're compiled from at least.
3) Some sort of intellect is required but you don't need to be a top 2% of the population in IQ to be successful.

When it comes to love for your subject, you have to be able to get up every morning even though there's noone on your ass forcing you to and do it. You need the resolve to overcome the technical issues you will face and not to let the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ that you often find in postgrad academia get to you. When I did my PhD I didn't have these things and I failed at it, despite being as smart as anyone (probably more than most) in my department. I just didn't want it badly enough. Also my supervisor was **** and the technical support was non-existent but that's another story.

[iatethewholewheel]

Just wanted to point out that having a high IQ does not necessarily correlate to being a good teacher...which is a very vital component of being a university professor.

Some of my most brilliant and genius professors, very well respected and innovative in their fields of research, were unable to convey what they were trying to teach in easy to understand terms. I'd say all of my most talented and high IQ professors were the most widely disliked by students - because they could not communicate information well... which resulted in bad grades received by most students ...which in most young adults minds leads to dislike and labeling as a "terrible teacher" and "idiot", and also bad evaluations.

Some of my most fun and best teachers were professors who were pretty smart, yes, but excellent at being social and relating and communicating. I do not think they had IQs that were out of the ordinary. They were just passionate about what they did and because of that, good at it.


The professors who were poor teachers were always kept on due to their innovative research (their primary interest and focus), but conversely the professors who were not as innovative in research were also kept around because they could teach. I am comparing across departments...I think each is slightly different in what it expects of professors (english versus physics for example).

Of course the field you are looking to go into will have some influence on the IQ needed...but passion, dedication and hardwork will help get you far

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by iatethewholewheel

Just wanted to point out that having a high IQ does not necessarily correlate to being a good teacher...which is a very vital component of being a university professor.

Some of my most brilliant and genius professors, very well respected and innovative in their fields of research, were unable to convey what they were trying to teach in easy to understand terms. I'd say all of my most talented and high IQ professors were the most widely disliked by students - because they could not communicate information well... which resulted in bad grades received by most students ...which in most young adults minds leads to dislike and labeling as a "terrible teacher" and "idiot", and also bad evaluations.

Some of my most fun and best teachers were professors who were pretty smart, yes, but excellent at being social and relating and communicating. I do not think they had IQs that were out of the ordinary. They were just passionate about what they did and because of that, good at it.


The professors who were poor teachers were always kept on due to their innovative research (their primary interest and focus), but conversely the professors who were not as innovative in research were also kept around because they could teach. I am comparing across departments...I think each is slightly different in what it expects of professors (english versus physics for example).

Of course the field you are looking to go into will have some influence on the IQ needed...but passion, dedication and hardwork will help get you far

No one keeps professors because they can teach.

If you want to be a professor you should not put any effort into teaching. It's a waste of your time. The only way to get and keep a job is through publications.

Teaching is for high school.

[James81]

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. -- Albert Einstein

I hear that you feel like your IQ is not high enough to be a college professor, or that you feel like your knowledge is insufficient and that you might not currently fit the mold.

That's a great assessment of where you are. Now, if you wanna stay where you are, go ahead and keep on believing that, brotha.

If your desire, however, is to be a professor, then it's going to be more useful for you to realize that despite where you are now, you can get where you truly want to be if you're willing to put in the time to work to get there. If that means doing studying on your own or taking classes to catch up, reading material on your own...whatever...that's what it means.

In other words, you can continue to make excuses for why you can't be a professor (excuses, I might add, that are actually more rooted in fear and insecurity you have about yourself rather than your actual skill level or ability to learn), or you can decide that being a professor is what you want to do and then make excuses to do whatever it takes to get you there.

I have faith that if you were to decide to face your fears and be persistent and resilient enough to go over the hurdles and challenges that are before you, that you could emerge on the other side exactly where you want to be, doing the thing you want to be doing.

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by chrisrushton

Being a professor ISN'T about teaching. University is a business. It's about securing funding for your department. To do this you need to consistently do research and be published. If you don't do this then you won't last very long, no matter how good a teacher you are.

It's funny how most people seem to be talking about teaching here when being a professor is probably as you described; mostly about doing research and publishing it. In fact I've heard the same as you said that many see it as a chore that they have to do and would rather that they could devote a less amount of time for it.

[JSB]

This is a common misperception. Einstein was a very good student.

You're @ Science Maniac's "Physics"

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

And from this book you will find that Albert Einstein was not even accepted at the University as all his professors considered him too stupid

[AlmostGodess]

Originally Posted by JSB

This is a common misperception. Einstein was a very good student.

You're @ Science Maniac's "Physics"

I imagine some university professors have tough times accepting that Einstein did not look too bright to them

[holycrackers]

Originally Posted by darkw0rker

After much contemplations, I have decided that a University Professor's lifestyle is what suits me. But, there is always a 'but' in every decision we make, my IQ, or a lack of high intelligence, is rather depressing. I am not brighter than an average Joe. From my experience University Professors are too intelligent, which is really scary for people like me.

Do average people, like myself, have a chance to become professors? Is it even realistic to pursue such a path? Am I simply in denial?

Thank You.

Look--if someone with a two-digit IQ can become the governor of Alaska, I'm pretty sure someone with an average IQ can become a professor.

[Fendaril]

"Alas, Einstein’s childhood offers history many savory ironies, but this is not one of them. In 1935, a rabbi in Princeton showed him a clipping of the Ripley’s column with the headline “Greatest living mathematician failed in mathematics.” Einstein laughed. “I never failed in mathematics,” he replied, correctly. “Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.” In primary school, he was at the top of his class and “far above the school requirements” in math. By age 12, his sister recalled, “he already had a predilection for solving complicated problems in applied arithmetic,” and he decided to see if he could jump ahead by learning geometry and algebra on his own. His parents bought him the textbooks in advance so that he could master them over summer vacation. Not only did he learn the proofs in the books, he also tackled the new theories by trying to prove them on his own. He even came up on his own with a way to prove the Pythagorean theory."

20 Things You Need to Know About Einstein - Did Einstein flunk math? - TIME

Sorry to piss on the parade, but Einstein was smart.

I guess you have to actually work.

And that 'image streaming' technique will not boost your IQ. Win Wenger tries to say that Einstein formed greater pathways in his brain by using a similar technique, and quotes the "Einstein was bad in math" myth to back it up.

The truth is, if you actually practice this, you will just become more creative, you will not see an increase in your IQ.

For someone who could master Integral and differential calculus before the age of 15, I doubt he sat down and image streamed.

[Brutha]

Not only did he learn the proofs in the books, he also tackled the new theories by trying to prove them on his own. He even came up on his own with a way to prove the Pythagorean theory.

This isn't something very impressive. A lot of people prove the basic math theorems during their school time.
It's part of a traditional math education.

I think the reform math movement removed such activities from the US curriculum. I had a math education where we proved basic theorems ourselves.

No one keeps professors because they can teach.

Standford doesn't keep professors because they can teach. Some community college however might.

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by Brutha

This isn't something very impressive. A lot of people prove the basic math theorems during their school time.
It's part of a traditional math education.

I think the reform math movement removed such activities from the US curriculum. I had a math education where we proved basic theorems ourselves.

I've only encountered having to a prove a lot of mathematical conjenctures in a course I'm taking in college. I've never been taught it before, nor do I think it is part of the standard curriculum (high school or below) here.

[HiImJeremy]

Originally Posted by Entelechy

If you're truly passionate about a subject, mastery of said subject is inevitable. Remember: passion is the genesis of genius.

That there was so powerful. Seeing that quote was inspiring enough to do the very best i can! If you can imagine it, it is in some way possible....Some way... lol.

[Thales]

I'm in a similar situation, but it's all still a bit unclear at the moment. My score on the Verbal Comprehension Index on the WAIS was a 130 (doc said it was the highest he had ever seen on Vocabulary, and I think VCI in general). but my overall score was average because my poor performance on the other subtests dragged the whole score down. From the sources I've talked to, discrepancies of that magnitude are telling of something else and this is still under investigation between me and the doc.