National Qualification

[sisomg11]

What I think was meant was that schools who were good enough would not need to attend the extra wildcard round, since they would already qualify by winning their state

[E Edgar]

Well, of the 60 teams at nats, 50 would not have to go to a region tournament.

I am sorry if everyone seems to think that I'm being condescending to many schools but that was not the way the original post was intended. The only schools who would need to go to this competition would be schools that rarely make nats anyway and would jump at this extra chance.

It would also be a back-up competition for those schools who definitely should be at nationals but because of unforeseen circumstances (like elevators not working...) did not make it through state.

Finally, our school actually provides $0 for Science Olympiad and yet we never have what I would call financial trouble. We get all of our funds through car washes, candy sales, donations from businesses, and donations from parents.

Again, if I have offended anyone, please reread my original post because I was not intending to.

[Friedoyster3]

Yeah Wilbur Wright for making it to nats for the 3rd time in 18 years

[sciolyandmathcounts]

WWMS is on an upward trend. We've made it to nats 3 times in the past 5 years. Maybe we'll beat TJ one day.

[kjhsscioly]

Well, of the 60 teams at nats, 50 would not have to go to a region tournament.

I am sorry if everyone seems to think that I'm being condescending to many schools but that was not the way the original post was intended. The only schools who would need to go to this competition would be schools that rarely make nats anyway and would jump at this extra chance.

It would also be a back-up competition for those schools who definitely should be at nationals but because of unforeseen circumstances (like elevators not working...) did not make it through state.

Finally, our school actually provides $0 for Science Olympiad and yet we never have what I would call financial trouble. We get all of our funds through car washes, candy sales, donations from businesses, and donations from parents.

Again, if I have offended anyone, please reread my original post because I was not intending to.

I agree with Phenylethylamine. Our team is quite competitive, and we usually place 3rd at state, but we have made it to nats. Our district doesn't fund us at all, and we couldn't find anyone to sponsor us. Our usual state winners have a $10,000 budget for SO, and t schools with budgets like that are at a clear advantage.

[sciencegeek100]

Two problems with 2 for each state: that ends up in 90-something teams, which is way too much. Plus, do you want a state with about 15 teams to have the same teams as one with 300? There has to be some difference, even if it's the same we have now. Personally, I thought the ideas with bonus teams were good, just a little confusing.

if it was based on competitiveness... california south should get 2 by itself, they are 4 or 5 teams in that location who had teams in the last 5 years that would probably get top 10 at nationals, however the 60 best teams in the country would come from a total of about 15 or 20 states so i guess thats why they dont do it by like 60 best scores or something... LOL

[cypressfalls Robert]

however the 60 best teams in the country would come from a total of about 15 or 20 states so i guess thats why they dont do it by like 60 best scores or something... LOL

wouldn't that in itself be a nationals competition

[SO4L]

From Illinois:

New Trier High School
Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Marie Murphy Middle School
South Middle School

[EpicFailOlympian]

I agree with rocketman said. I do think, however, that larger states (size-wise) should get additional spots (as I believe they do). It's not fair to have a state with 50 teams send the same amount as a state with 300 teams.

But how do determine how many teams?

[sciolyandmathcounts]

I think the system is decent as it is, but we should give a few more slots for two teams for competitive states like New Jersey that usually don't get a second slot.