Gifted Youth Benefits

To assist students in navigating the college application process, we've created a College Readiness Organizer.

Teams of up to five members, including Young Mensans, gather in their neighborhoods on a single day across the U.S. and Canada and, for 90 minutes, compete for cash prizes and cultural literacy bragging rights. 

Through the Excellence in Reading program, the Mensa Foundation offers gifted youth the opportunity to read a list of age-appropriate books and earn a certificate and free T-shirt. The books on each list are selected by librarians across the U.S.

Parents and teachers will find many lesson plans geared to gifted youth on the Mensa for Kids website. The plans are developed at a number of grade levels at which gifted youth can complete the lessons without adult assistance. Additionally, there are educational activity plans appropriate for use in school-based programs, as well as in the home.

The Mensa for Kids website features high-quality content and programs specifically designed for gifted youth, their parents, and teachers around the globe, regardless of Mensa affiliation. An outreach of the Mensa Foundation, Mensa for Kids encourages excellence in the service and education of intellectually gifted youth.

We share a number of resources for teachers, parents, and gifted youth on our Mensa for Kids Pinterest boards, created specially to highlight quality educational resources and fun activities.

The Mensa Honor Society is open to Young Mensans between the ages of 10 and 18 who have not yet graduated high school. The ideals of the Mensa Honor Society are integrity, intellectual curiosity, academic commitment and service.

If you want to raise your SAT score, having a solid study plan is crucial. Featuring an SAT Prep Quick Guide, Target Score Calculator, SAT Benchmark Progress Tracker, and more — this guide will help you
understand your SAT goals, build a study plan that works for you, and prepare for the SAT in 6
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The Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program awards more than $140,000 in assistance every year to college-bound students around the globe. YM’s are eligible for both national scholarships and the Mensa Member Scholarship program.

Young Mensans can connect with others of similar interests at local, regional, and national events.

American Mensa's Special Interest Groups offer members of all ages the chance to connect with other members who share interests. Many SIGs are open to and welcome Young Mensans. 

Mensa for Kids' TED Connections are short, easy to use guides that help teachers, parents and youth use TED talks in a classroom or home setting. Rather than a lesson plan format, they have a list of discussion questions, all at higher levels of thinking.

Consistent volunteer service is a great way for students to demonstrate their dedication and initiative, and show college admissions officers that they care about being a part of and improving their community. Looking for tips to encourage your students and make volunteer service more meaningful? Our volunteer help-sheet can help.

Free to download, it includes volunteer ideas and tips to get your students motivated and involved in the community, and help them stand apart on their college resume.

The Year of Living Poetically is a one-year program designed to help gifted youth and adults memorize quality poems, enriching their lives and minds.