Welcome to Chicago Area Mensa

Our Mission

Chicago Area Mensa is a welcoming organization that provides a framework for intelligent individuals to interact and pursue common interests in order to build a social community.

One out of every fifty people qualifies for Mensa...
Are you the one?
Join us!

Mensa fame:
Chicago won the Diamond Jewel Award in 2018, 2016 and 2014, the Sapphire in 2017, and the Emerald Jewel Award in 2015. Chicago is also the only nine-time GOTYA (now replaced by the Jewel Award) winner in Mensa.

Mensa was featured on CBS Sunday Morning (including notable Chicago Area Mensans!) a few years ago. See the show on CBS's YouTube channel:

Mensans come from all walks of life. They range from three to one hundred years old. They represent both sexes, all races, various professions, and many beliefs. In fact, there's only one thing all Mensans have in common: high intelligence. To qualify for Mensa, you must have scored in the top 2% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. There are many tests we accept. Once you've decided to join us, a world of social and intellectual opportunities is open to you.

If our local events don't keep you busy enough, there are many other opportunities to meet other Mensans from all over the globe. Each October, Chicago Area Mensa hosts HalloweeM, one of the grandest of all the Regional Gatherings. In the summer, Mensans from around the country get together at the Annual Gathering, which is a feast of presentations and activities for our omnivorous minds. There are also Mensa colloquia: "The Evolution and Revolution of Manufacturing" was the most recent one held this last July. Past topics included "The Nature of Genetics," "Between Science Fiction and Science," "Crime Scene Intelligence," "Social and Video Games", "Electronic Gaming and Its Impact on Society," and "Weather."

In a Twitter world, it's good to find some PBS minds. Come, see what we can do for you.

Participate & Socialize!

HalloweeM 43: Ready for Prime Time

'WeeM starts this Thursday! Join over 500 Mensans here in Chicago for an amazing, long, family-friendly weekend. Our Regional Gathering (RG) is the largest and the program offers plenty of variety to stimuate your mind, plenty of games and contests to challenge you, and many opportunitys to have fun, dance, converse and just enjoy yourself. Many of the pun-tastic costume parade entries will make you laugh (or groan). Meals, snacks, and beverages are included with the exception of dinner on Saturday. Click here for all the details.

Mensans, please come and register at the event if you haven't already done so. You don't want to miss the terrific program and this incredibly fun experience.

Volunteer now!

It's Halloween and you want to dress up and go to a party, of course. The stars have aligned this year and this is a fun opportunity to join the largest Halloween party by attending our RG Friday, October 26th . See great costumes, participate in the contest (best & worst pun, traditional, etc), enjoy a delicious meal, imbibe if you like, meet Mensans from all over the country (even some from across the oceans), and dance the night away. It's the perfect party!

"A Gathering of Gamers"

Games, games, and more games!

Only 93 days until AGOG. Join your fellow Mensans on January 25th – 27th for fun and games.

Save the dates!! Registration is not yet open but get all details now. You may register at HalloweeM or online starting Friday, November 9th!

Do you like games? Do you spend the entire WeeM weekend in the games room? Would you like to do again? No, we're not asking you to wait another year until WeeM 2019. Instead, we're saying you can do it again in January!!! Every winter, Chicago puts on AGOG — A Gathering of Gamers (this year, January 25th – 27th). It's a weekend-long gathering of just games. All the games we have at WeeM and more, because folks like you can bring your own to share. We provide food, non-alcoholic beverages and all the games you want for a reasonable price.