2010 National Tournament: University of Illinois

[EASTstroudsburg13]

This is now the place to talk about the upcoming national tournament.

[scienceolympiadist]

full-ride scholarship to Div C gold medalists...an incredible package. yet fewer than expected people express interest in it

[Deeisenberg]

fewer than expected people express interest in it

What makes you say that?

[fmtiger124]

fewer than expected people express interest in it

What makes you say that?

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1329
That thread

[scienceolympiadist]

and from talking to my teammates

[Celeste]

I don't see how people could NOT be interested in a chance for a full ride! It's a great opportunity for us!

[scienceolympiadist]

I know! Granted, so many of the Asians and Russian nerds on my team have higher aspirations than Univerisity of Illinois. However, 1) I'm an Asian myself. 2) Going to a free undergraduate school allows you to save the money to go to graduate school, in which you can still master what you aspire. 3) Illinois isn't a bad school- its engineering program is one of the nation's best.

[rocketman1555]

I don't see how people could NOT be interested in a chance for a full ride! It's a great opportunity for us!

Because if you are a senior you would have had to already applied and been accepted and said that you were going there before nationals actually takes place. So seniors would be gambling on the fact that they would get a gold medal and the full ride before the competition, so it doesn't really benefit them. It is nice for underclassmen though because it is a good school, and a full ride anywhere is usually worth it.

[scienceolympiadist]

There was an entire discussion about that too. You can commit to 2 colleges by May 1st deadline, and drop one of the commitment depending on what occurs at Nationals. You'll lose some money either way, but if you can win it, it surely is worth that little gamble.

[gyourkoshaven]

http://www.sont.illinois.edu/

[E Edgar]

Thank goodness we don't have another AP test conflict: last year was a little rough.

[gneissisnice]

full-ride scholarship to Div C gold medalists...an incredible package. yet fewer than expected people express interest in it

Boo, I got two 5th place medals and a 3rd place.
So close =(.

Now if the fossil test was actually FAIR, I would have gotten first, I know it.

[gyourkoshaven]

Do people usually get there Thursday or Friday?

[fmtiger124]

full-ride scholarship to Div C gold medalists...an incredible package. yet fewer than expected people express interest in it

Boo, I got two 5th place medals and a 3rd place.
So close =(.

Now if the fossil test was actually FAIR, I would have gotten first, I know it.

uh...genissisnice the full ride is for this upcoming nats comp at Illinois not from last years at ASU.

[Deeisenberg]

full-ride scholarship to Div C gold medalists...an incredible package. yet fewer than expected people express interest in it

Boo, I got two 5th place medals and a 3rd place.
So close =(.

Now if the fossil test was actually FAIR, I would have gotten first, I know it.

I agree that the test was poorly made and generally ridiculous, but given that it was taken by everyone, and the questions themselves were not that bad, it was (more or less) completely "fair".

Now if it were a GOOD test, I am sure the rankings would not have been the same. As it was, the outcome was largely (though quite far from completely) determined by test taking skills. This would include if or how the two competitors had broken up the test, techniques used on multiple choice questions that could not be completed in the given time (guessing), and sharing (or not) the binder between competitors. However no matter how well you handled the test, getting the correct answers was still mostly dependent on how much you knew. Normally the quality of the binder would also have a lot to do with it, and while it still certainly did, it was not to the same extent because you didn't really have much time to use the binder.

At any rate to say that you "know" you would have gotten 1st if the test was made well is quite a leap for anyone to make. Unfortunately it will never be known exactly how the results would have unfolded if the test were better made, however no matter how good you are, it is quite a stretch to assume that you would get first. I stand by that in (almost) any situation (the (almost) does not refer to myself). To assume that you would get 1st in any event in nationals is a bit egotistical.