Is Science Olympiad worth it?

[Kokonilly]

I wasn't going to respond, but here goes.

I see where you are going with the whole "hypocrite" thing. No, as a matter of fact, I most certainly am not a hypocrite. The only reason why I joined scioly.org was because I needed to talk to people who are doing the same events I am doing. A high school I am applying to requires that the student shows "interest in math and science." I am missing the science criterion. This is where Science Olympiad comes in handy to manipulate.

1. And here I was, doing Science Olympiad because I truly love it. You see it as one more thing on the resume, great. But don't insult those of us who actually like the activity.

Frankly, I am not going to learn anything from this competition. I mean, look at it. It is so unorganized. Every region test is different, every state test is different, and there is no proper way to do practice tests other than the 3 or 4 that some people have put on test exchange over the years. You have no idea what to expect on the test due to this.

2. Not all competitions are on the same day. If all of the tests were the same, it truly would be a cheating activity, as you so kindly put it. But it is not.
3. 3 or 4? This site is relatively new, and as it gains momentum more and more tests will be added. So jeez, impatient much? You can also find many more by individually asking people here; generally, people are too lazy to actually put up tests.
4. There's a thing called the rules packet. That is where you would see what to expect on the test. Some people have been unlucky and had a bad proctor, but in general that would list all of the information found on the test.

Placing first in the events at state would look great when I apply to the school, but they probably don't know that I can carry a binder packed with everything from the internet, have 8 pages of notes for Dyn.Planet, or just look up how to make a chart on Excel on Google the day of the test, considering Science Olympiad is a small competition. Honestly, placing first of 20 to 30 schools in state is NOT that big of an achievement.

5. So you got lucky at regions. Big deal. There are people here (like me) who spent hours and hours per day working diligently toward their event. You know how many medals I got at state? One. Out of three events. You know how my team did? We got second. So if you can breeze by at every competition, fantastic. But just keep in mind that many people here devote a lot of time toward their events and still don't get the desired results.

First off, I would like to point out that last year's State Meteorology winner and Ecology runner-up hated ever single moment of it. He believes in everything I am saying on this forum. All he did was print pages from Wikipedia and walk up to take his "much deserved, effort-necessary" medal, as all of you no-social-life people would say.

6. BUT THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. Good for him, but if a test is truly written properly you can't just win it with Wikipedia. That is the mark of a poorly written test. Not to belittle his achievement, but normally you can't just win a state tournament having swallowed Wikipedia.
7. As I've said, I've made very good friends through Science Olympiad. The two are not mutually exclusive.

No, it doesn't require any effort. The only think you seriously need to know how to do is find the page you want on Google, and press print. Oh yeah, sorry you needed the effort to have ink and paper. My bad. Apologies please.

8. Not every event lets you bring in a cheat sheet. Chem Lab, possibly the hardest event in C division, doesn't allow any resources.

I would like to point out that I have been a very successful person in my high school career so far, achieving countless trophies and medals in state and national math and geography competitions.

9. Wow... 'Countless'? Now you just sound like a jerk. Your bragging is not appreciated.

What's the difference between those competitions and Science Olympiad, you may ask? Well, they are competitions that High schools and colleges actually know about and acknowledge.

10. And Science Olympiad isn't? Last year, they gave out full-ride scholarships at the nationals tournament. I think colleges would pay attention to that.

Thanks for the advice though; I have stopped attending practices for SciOly, am still on the team, AND have been bumped up 5 seeds on my tennis team! Once again, thank you!

11. Fantastic! Well, we surely can't all be as perfect as you. You must also be so popular at your school.

[QuantumLeaper]

I'm not looking to get into it with anyone, but here is my opinion.

I agree 100% with Kokonilly. Science Olympiad is an amazing learning experience for the people who are in it. I plan on participating throughout high school (my middle school didn't do it, so now I'm looking to make up for lost time). It might not be for everyone, no activity is. But posting negative things about SO on an SO forum kind of invites people to oppose your opinion. Still, if you decide that you don't like Science Olympiad, accept that and then move on. I tried basketball a few years ago and hated it. I didn't come back for another season and still roll my eyes whenever we have to do so in phys. ed, but I don't go around attacking basketball players and insult a sport that they obviously devote a lot of time and effort to. It's all about respect for opinions you don't like. I don't care for negative opinioins about SO, but I respect that some people might have a different viewpoint than mine. You should do the same.

[yogoperson]

I'm not looking to get into it with anyone, but here is my opinion.

I agree 100% with Kokonilly. Science Olympiad is an amazing learning experience for the people who are in it. I plan on participating throughout high school (my middle school didn't do it, so now I'm looking to make up for lost time). It might not be for everyone, no activity is. But posting negative things about SO on an SO forum kind of invites people to oppose your opinion. Still, if you decide that you don't like Science Olympiad, accept that and then move on. I tried basketball a few years ago and hated it. I didn't come back for another season and still roll my eyes whenever we have to do so in phys. ed, but I don't go around attacking basketball players and insult a sport that they obviously devote a lot of time and effort to. It's all about respect for opinions you don't like. I don't care for negative opinioins about SO, but I respect that some people might have a different viewpoint than mine. You should do the same.

I agree with QuantumLeaper. I'm sorry if I had said anything rude, it's just I put in a lot of time in SO and can't stand insults about it. Even though this forum is for posting your opinion on SO. I kinda expected to see all positive opinions, SO is awesome.

Though we DO have social lives.*rolls eyes* Please refer that term to people who shut themselves far from civilization and human contact.

As for busy, SO does take a lot of time, but it shouldn't stop you from social activities. I still manage after school programs after SO, Saturday SO and then tennis practice [yes i play tennis] and Sunday Vietnamese school from 7- 2:30. I have a life, everybody does.

[duhwinning]

If your team sucks, it's not worth it. If you have a good team, it's worth it as long as you're not sensitive to your team being made fun of at school.

[havenguy]

I don't care about trying to make counterpoints or anything, but saying things like that on scioly is just provocative.

Almost everyone on here loves scioly, and insulting it is not going to do a thing. You're just wasting your time.

[prelude to death]

If your team sucks, it's not worth it. If you have a good team, it's worth it as long as you're not sensitive to your team being made fun of at school.

You know, I really wanted to stay out of this discussion, but I gotta say: Even if your team sucks, it's totally worth it. There's this one school at my Regionals that got 10th last year. Out of like, 15 schools. They sucked. You know what they did instead of quitting and thinking that SO wasn't worth it? They studied harder and did their best this year. Did you know what place they got? 2nd. So you know, it's not like if your team sucks, then you should jsut quit. This year, my team got 5th in Regionals, and we barely qualified at State. However, that didn't stop us from getting 7th in State, and that's pretty good, considering it's only our second time going. But anyways, my point is is that no matter how hopeless your team seems, don't think that SO is worthless. Because it's not. You just have to pick up your feet and keep walking, because SO is always worth it. However, that is my majorly biased opinion, seeing as I pour my heart and soul into doing SO. And if you think SO isn't worth it if people have a sucky team, then you are entitled to believe in that. However, I refuse to believe it.

[yogoperson]

If your team sucks, it's not worth it. If you have a good team, it's worth it as long as you're not sensitive to your team being made fun of at school.

You know, I really wanted to stay out of this discussion, but I gotta say: Even if your team sucks, it's totally worth it. There's this one school at my Regionals that got 10th last year. Out of like, 15 schools. They sucked. You know what they did instead of quitting and thinking that SO wasn't worth it? They studied harder and did their best this year. Did you know what place they got? 2nd. So you know, it's not like if your team sucks, then you should just quit. This year, my team got 5th in Regionals, and we barely qualified at State. However, that didn't stop us from getting 7th in State, and that's pretty good, considering it's only our second time going. But anyways, my point is is that no matter how hopeless your team seems, don't think that SO is worthless. Because it's not. You just have to pick up your feet and keep walking, because SO is always worth it. However, that is my majorly biased opinion, seeing as I pour my heart and soul into doing SO. And if you think SO isn't worth it if people have a sucky team, then you are entitled to believe in that. However, I refuse to believe it.

Nice one, Prelude to Death.

I agree. Working hard pays off. It just matters how much effort you put in and if your heart's in there. Hard work solves every problem [brains are a given on here].

Though, I must say, chocolate does, too [solve any problem]. In my world.

[quadratic]

Yes its worth it, winning is no the heart of Science Olympiad. The point of science Olympiad is to learn and we all have learned from it. If you never get to state, but learn about science and the world. Then you have achieved just as much as a team that wins nationals. It also teaches patience. It takes lots of patience to come back every year if you don't win, and to study for hours only to get tenth in your event.
EDIT: drat, I should read the post in front of me before posting.

[Infinity Flat]

Yes its worth it, winning is no the heart of Science Olympiad. The point of science Olympiad is to learn and we all have learned from it. If you never get to state, but learn about science and the world. Then you have achieved just as much as a team that wins nationals. It also teaches patience. It takes lots of patience to come back every year if you don't win, and to study for hours only to get tenth in your event.
EDIT: drat, I should read the post in front of me before posting.

As my coach would say, Science Olympiad is about having fun learning to do science well.

Yes, it can be frustrating when 3 weeks before nationals, your team hasn't even started building the two instruments for sounds of music, or when your helicopter doesn't even go up the weekend before state.
Yes, sometimes having a weak partner in an event is challenging.
But you know what?
The hard times just make the good times that much better.

[yogoperson]

Yes its worth it, winning is no the heart of Science Olympiad. The point of science Olympiad is to learn and we all have learned from it. If you never get to state, but learn about science and the world. Then you have achieved just as much as a team that wins nationals. It also teaches patience. It takes lots of patience to come back every year if you don't win, and to study for hours only to get tenth in your event.
EDIT: drat, I should read the post in front of me before posting.

As my coach would say, Science Olympiad is about having fun learning to do science well.

Yes, it can be frustrating when 3 weeks before nationals, your team hasn't even started building the two instruments for sounds of music, or when your helicopter doesn't even go up the weekend before state.
Yes, sometimes having a weak partner in an event is challenging.
But you know what?
The hard times just make the good times that much better.

Exactly. Like when they say that when you are thirsty, water takes so much better.
Challenging things improve you, and it feels more fun, if you can think through the frustration.