Questions |
Answers |
What kind of competitions do your students participate in?
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We currently participate in VEX IQ Challenge and World Robot Olympiad (WRO).
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Does my kid have to be enrolled to be on a team?
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Yes. Only students of Great Minds Robotics can join our teams. |
Is my kid guaranteed to be on a team?
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Team size is limited depending on the rules of each competition, as well as our own restrictions. We do not guarantee placement on a team. |
Does my kid have to be on a team?
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Competition participation is optional. We definitely encourage students to give it a shot. |
Is there a cost to be on a team?
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All expenses directly related to a competition, such as team registration*, robots, practice mats and tables, robot game elements are sponsored by Great Minds Robotics. We ask that you pay for a team t-shirt and/or sweatshirt for your child. There may be a charge for competition training labs and some team meetings - details are provided to prospective team members. Most events are not held at our location. We do not provide transportation, lodging, and food. We do not cover the associated costs.
*Team registration refers to initial fees payable to the competition organizers to form the team. We may, at our option, cover event entrance fees payable to event partners. We do not cover these fees if they include lodging and/or food. We do not cover any fees for guests or parents, even if parents are required to attend the events. We do not cover any fees that are billed per team member (rather than a flat fee for the team) by the event organizer/partner. |
Is there a time commitment to be on a team?
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Yes. We train 4 - 6 times per week; training intensity increases as we get further into the season. Attending the training sessions is mandatory; students who are excessively absent will be dropped from the team.
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How does my kid join a team?
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Students can join our teams by invitation only. While we don't disclose our selection process, it is very much merit-based; therefore, we strongly recommend taking extra classes, as well as summer camps, in order to increase your child's chances of receiving an invitation. |
Can my kid change his mind and/or be removed from the team once selected?
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Yes. While we encourage everyone to participate in competitions, we understand competitions are not for everyone. Please keep in mind, however, that quitting the team during competition season affects the entire team. We may remove team members for various reasons, such as improper behavior, missing practice sessions, and failure to participate as an active member of the team. |
If we miss a practice session, is there a make-up session we can take?
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No. Missed practice sessions cannot be made up. |
My kid was on a team last year. Is she guaranteed a spot?
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We strongly believe in meritocracy over seniority, and therefore do not guarantee spots to prior team members. However, skills and experiences learned through participation in prior events may position your kid to be one of the top candidates for future competitions. |