I got in :)
Brief Longer-than-intended story:
About a decade ago, when I was 14, I sat the MAT through their group-testing option. Received a rejection letter a few weeks later; back then they included scores, so I saw I was barely above average on both the MAT and Wonderlic. Damn. I thought that was it, since the American Mensa test was a one-and-done deal at the time. (I knew there were alternatives, but I still felt bad about not getting in with their test.)
About six months later, I was semi-impromptu tested by my school with one of the “abbreviated” Wechsler tests; despite being really nervous, and there even being some miscommunication between myself and the psychologist, I managed to score ~124 overall, which was higher than I expected! I’m A(u)DHD, so I had quite a bit of trouble concentrating with nerves. I was given the option to take a full-scale WAIS test, but opted not to for this reason.
A few years later (2019-2020ish, don’t remember exactly), I got an email from Mensa saying they now offered retakes—I passed it up since I’d long moved on from the whole thing.
Fast-forward to a few weeks ago: I’ve been feeling pretty lonely and want to push my boundaries/comfort zone, especially since I’ve been very shut in since the pandemic. Randomly, Mensa popped into my head, and I was like huh, maybe I could try that again? Found some online tests, courtesy of r/cognitiveTesting, and did well enough that I decided to schedule the Mensa test for the hell of it.
I eagerly went with the private testing this time (I don’t think they offered it in 2016), since I’m much more comfortable with computer-mouse than paper-pencil. I knew I’d taken this test before (albeit on paper), but I couldn’t much remember any specifics other than thinking it was really hard, I didn’t even come close to finishing any sections, and that there was a random-knowledge section that would be a problem… (I’m terrible with history and trivia). Later, I was also a bit disquieted by the absence of the Wonderlic from the private testing battery: I’ve done some old Wonderlic forms online, and actually find them very comfortable for whatever reason, so I figured that was my best chance. I only realized its absence after I’d already scheduled everything!! The horror! Well, I supposed, I can try again after eight weeks via group-testing if needed, which would include the Wonderlic.
Test day came. I was nervous, insofar as the prometric receptionist clocked it as soon as I arrived lmao. I felt like an idiot when I left my ID in the locker after she’d already told me to bring it with me. In one ear, out the other, as it were. Anyway, I started up, (probably) bombed the general knowledge section, which was expected, then found the rest… surprisingly easy? I probably shouldn’t give specifics per the subreddit rules; nor do I want to sound arrogant or anything, but the math/number sections in particular were shockingly easy, it almost felt like cheating! I think I finished five or so of the seven sections, and was close on the other two. I walked out of there feeling confident, but also afraid that I still let it slip somehow…
Less than 24 hours later, today, I received the congratulatory email!!! Sitting here typing this, it’s still pretty surreal. I’m beyond stoked and even though I’m super introverted, I really look forward to exploring Mensa and possibly making some good friends here :)
Thanks for reading, especially if you read to the end! Didn’t mean to write this much haha