7-Year-Old Vandan Patel Named Member Of American Mensa

India-West Staff Reporter

SAVANNAH, GA – Vandan Patel, 7, has been welcomed as one of the newest members of American Mensa. The bright first grader at Savannah Country Day School, here, demonstrates advanced understanding in multiple subjects and possesses a strong curiosity.

According to his father, Vandan’s intellectual curiosity extends beyond the classroom, encompassing interests in space, scriptural studies, and multiple languages.

Despite his exceptional intellect, Vandan’s parents describe him as a typical child who enjoys cartoons and laughter. “Vandan is fun, loving, smart, and silly,” said his mother, Rima. She added that he enjoys playing with his two brothers, spending time outdoors, video games, traveling, Snapology, and tennis. His future aspiration is to become an astronaut.

Youth membership is a significant growth area for Mensa, currently comprising about 9 percent of its members. The organization offers various programs tailored to the needs of gifted children, including the Mensa Honor Society, the College Readiness Series, scholarships, and the Mensa Foundation’s Excellence in Reading program.

American Mensa accepts approximately 150 different intelligence tests for children under 14, such as Vandan, administered by schools, testing facilities, or private psychologists. The same tests are accepted for older applicants, who also have the option to test directly with Mensa at private testing centers nationwide.

American Mensa is open to individuals who score in the top 2 percent on an accepted standardized intelligence test. The organization has around 45,000 members in the U.S. and over 140,000 members worldwide.