Science Olympiad

While I’m working on school and a longer thought-piece, I figure I should give you an update without it being an update. So, here are some tips for Science Olympiad:

Join it! It’s a fun way to get interested in science, and you’ll learn a lot from participating.
Start your notes a while before, so you don’t end up doing all of them in one night.
Make use of formatting in Microsoft word (or your text editor of choice). Take up margins, use small but readable font, highlight key terms, etc. Cram up your notes.
Practice your builds if possible. This is a key to succeeding.
Read or find resources for the events you’re in. Go to soinc.org for links or handouts with information you’ll need, and scioly.org for help from other students.
Read the rules. You’ll find the guidelines helpful.
Do what you can – and stay away from doing six events. Even five is a tad excessive. Four is usually the baseline amount, but if you’re a beginner, try two or three to start.
Ask for help! Don’t be afraid to use the resources (and experienced people) around you!
FIND. RESOURCES. I can’t reiterate this enough. There is always information in the form of teachers, coaches, friends, or even a textbook. And there are the aforementioned links.
Make full use of a binder if you have an event that allows one. You have an unlimited binder full of notes! You could buy a four inch binder!
Color code.
Try to keep your events organized. Don’t be like me and leave your binder in a classroom and then try to retrieve it in the middle of testing. Don’t do it.
The rules may say that x topic is only covered on national tests but if you have the room on your notes, include that information. It’s highly likely info you don’t have will be on the test, regardless of whether or not the rules allow x topic to be on a test.
Read guidelines for builds really carefully. It’s easier to be disqualified than to stay in the event. I nearly got a fifteen point penalty for being a centimeter off.
There will always be something you don’t know.
Use practices to the fullest of your ability. Cram the earbuds in if you need to, because you don’t want to be making notes at midnight when you need to be at school by 6 am for a competition.
Go to practices if you can.
Science Olympiad is fun! Usually there’ll be people who are giant nerds around you at all times, and there ain’t no party like a nerd party.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not smart enough for SciOly. As long as you show up and put in a baseline level of effort, you’ll be accomplishing something.
Bring snacks. And money.
@competitions, make sure you have everything you brought. I lost my entire tin of colored pens at the last competition.
It’s okay if you don’t win! The goal is to become interested in science and learn something, even if all you learn is about making note sheets.