A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO ...
It's hard being a beginner in Division C Science Olympiad. If you did Science Olympiad in most middle schools in San Diego, chances are that you had coaches, scheduled meetings/practices with the rest of your event teams, and so much more.
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Unlike those schools, many high school teams do not have coaches or scheduled meetings. All participants are expected to self-study -- and along with being in a new school, difficult classes, and adjusting to a higher workload, it can be daunting to get started. And that's why we've made a handy guide to getting started. Whether you've done SciOly for 3 years or 0, here's all the information you'll need to know!
... COMPETITION DAY
Competition day is coming up! You've studied for all your events, tested all your builds, and printed out your binders and cheat sheets. What's left for you to do?
Know where and when you're competing! Before competition day, we'll give you all a map of the campus and the timeblocks for each event. Know where you need to go for each of your events and when! If you have a build event, make sure to arrive early to impound your device and come test during your self-scheduled block.
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Know your team number! Most tests will require you to write down your team number, and builds will require you to specify your team number somewhere when you impound your device. Please memorize it! We'll make sure to give you all your numbers before the competition :)
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Assemble your materials! Obviously, you should make sure you have your binders, cheat sheets, and devices ready. BUT you also should make sure you have the correct calculator, pencils, and erasers! Pack all of this the night before, so you're not in a rush in the morning. For events that require safety goggles, lab coats, or stopwatches, make sure to grab them from our team base before your event begins.
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Show your school spirit! Wear your team shirts to the competition! This is REQUIRED, and it's a great way to represent our school at the competition. Be proud :)
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Stay energized! You have a big day ahead of you, and you'll need the energy to make it through all of your tests. Pulling an all-nighter is NOT recommended, and it will definitely affect your focus during the competition. Make sure to eat a good breakfast the morning of the competition, so you'll be awake in the morning!
Now that you're ready for the competition, do your best in all your events! It would be great if you came back from some medals, but that's also not the point of competing. We hope you all come out feeling accomplished, and that you learned something valuable from this experience :)