A very intelligent male friend of mine has this problem. He is a nice man, but his lack of social skills turns off people in droves, and has gotten him fired from several jobs.
Social skills are skills. That's the key word
There aren't enough hours in a lifetime to become highly skilled in everything. People tend to pick what things to devote time to becoming skilled at. Some people pick karate, others biochemistry, others conversation and social skills
Your friend just didn't take the time to devote to studying social skills, and to see what worked and what didn't.
Good thing we're a bunch of idiots........
I get straight A's, but ask me to hold a conversation in a room full of people and I can't do it very well at all.
If it is one-on-one, I am fine, but big groups seem to frighten me or something.
I think there is something to the whole "geeks are socially awkward" thing because I sure feel that way sometimes.