I don't understand the American fixation with being "smart". I have worked 15 years and coded low-level, applications and ops. I've always kept an interest in

I don't understand the American fixation with being "smart". I have worked 15 years and coded low-level, applications and ops. I've always kept an interest in this and keep a few side projects. But I am not smart. Anyone could do this, given the right training. If what you want in life is a science PhD, go get it. Anyone can do it. You may have to work more for it, but that's it.