I'll tell you what happened. Progressivism. Progessivism happened.

Fans of Best of the Web Today--Michael Smith
"I've noticed that the AOC lovers are touting her credentials of intelligence - and if accurate, I will admit that they are pretty impressive.
Per Wikipedia:

• [In high school] She came second in the Microbiology category of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair with a microbiology research project on the effect of antioxidants on the lifespan of the nematode C. elegans.[21] 
• In a show of appreciation for her efforts, the International Astronomical Union named a small asteroid after her: 23238 Ocasio-Cortez.[22][23] 
• In high school, she took part in the National Hispanic Institute's Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session. 
• She later became the LDZ Secretary of State while she attended Boston University. 
• Ocasio-Cortez had a John F. Lopez Fellowship.[24] 
• In 2008, while Ocasio-Cortez was a sophomore at Boston University, her father died of lung cancer.[25][26] 
• During college, she served as an intern in the immigration office during the final year of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy's tenure.[27]
• She graduated cum laude from Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2011, majoring in international relations and economics.[24][28][29]"

OK.

If that is her record, that is her record. 

I disagree with her politics but for a young person, that sure seems to be impressive. 

I'll give her full credit for what she did.
Given that she has made some pretty stupid statements and seems ignorant of how things work, even to the point of questioning whether she attended her econ classes, the question really should be, "With those achievements and credentials, what happened?"
I'll tell you what happened.
Progressivism. 

Progessivism happened.
Progressivism is like Alzheimer's, it causes people to believe things that aren't true and see things that aren't there. 

It atrophies the entire left side of the brain (the center of logic and reason) and reduces the activity in the frontal cortex (where complex thinking is done) and inflames the right side (the emotions).
AOC might well have gotten off to a solid start in high school, but she is prima facie evidence of what progressivism does to a young mind."

But wait!

There's more!!

From the Comments:

• Eileen Priest Then why was she bartending? I know that bartenders can make good money especially tips but why didn't some Fortune 500 company grab AOC to score diversity points?
• Craig Werner There is also another clarification. By saying her degree is in "International Relations and Economics" most people assume that it is a double major in "International Relations" and "Economics." No, the economics courses that she took were not in the Economics dept, but in the International Relations program, more international economics, not as rigorous as formal economics courses.
• Rick Pisciotta Hmmmmm... yet, she was a bar tender prior to running for office. Granted, an attractive female bar tender can clean up big time at the right bars, given her supposed ultra intelligence and achievement, she should have been recruited to many a company, especially given her "diversity" attribute. Something about this smells fishy.
• Paul Weiss Like many of her peers (and those who taught them), she is highly credentialed and still uneducated.
• Brian Terwilliger Yet the best job she could get after college was bartender. Sounds like a lot of grade inflation, participation trophies and unearned accolades that were exposed in job interviews as no one wanted her.