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I was under the impression that RSI does the same...
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<p>In a sense, although of course no one wants it called "spoonfeeding." In general, RSI doesn't seem to upset people as much, mainly because it's in theory open to anyone (based on "merit," however fair you want to call admissions), whereas people in areas without magnet schools/good public schools can get legitimately jealous about the opportunities in other areas :)</p>
<p>So here we have a prestigious program under the wrappings of one elaborate euphemism. George Orwell warned us of the dangers of doublespeak. And here we see these very dangers manifest themselves in the context of competitive academics for the youths, resulting in insidious dealings hostile to competition and education themselves, all under the pretense of a meritocracy no less.</p>
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Regional finals are fun. You sit through ten 12 minutes presentatinos (but they're good), with a 12 minutes break between each one (the Q&A session occurs in a private room for the group that just presented). This part is about 4 hours and is probably the most boring. You get to hang out with the other finalists in the area around the university. It's fun (but not as fun as ISEF).
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<p>How brutal is the questioning, if you don't mind explaining further?</p>
<p>Well it will probably have very little to do with your project. STS, for example, is dependent on much more than simply your project. I think Siemens introduces that "extra" element here. The questioning for us involved why chlorophyll has magnesium atom in the center of it rather than something else like calcium which also forms +2 ions (the project had nothing to do with magnesium or anything).</p>
<p>Keep in mind Kim, that (1) you will probably get regional finals, and (2) you are probably smarter than most judges.</p>
<p>Haha, so no clear ways to prepare besides knowing everything. Kind of like the fun questioning at RSI: "Sir, that's unrelated. But of course it's a very interesting idea, and I'm sure you could apply EF games to it if you were on the right drugs!"</p>
<p>Ah... just a week left 'til the announcement.</p>
<p>lol yeah, but actually, you can try to imagine, "If I were a University professor and I just watched a 12 minute presentation about something I don't understand, except for small piece X, I'm going to hella ask ALL the questions I can about X since I don't want to seem dumb."</p>
<p>Study the obvious stuff and make sure you understand everything about it. I know you do though, math kid.</p>
<p>Do you think they'd get upset if I refer to the Q&A session as an "interrogation" to their faces?</p>
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lol yeah, but actually, you can try to imagine, "If I were a University professor and I just watched a 12 minute presentation about something I don't understand, except for small piece X, I'm going to hella ask ALL the questions I can about X since I don't want to seem dumb."</p>
<p>Study the obvious stuff and make sure you understand everything about it. I know you do though, math kid.
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<p>Danke. Of course, making one's presentation understandable ought to work as well... but that'd be no fun :)</p>
<p>hahahahaha interrogation lol maybe. it was pretty hard.</p>
<p>It seems so few:</p>
<p>Only 5 individual and 5 team projects per region?</p>
<p>at the most. Last year we only had 4 team projects.</p>
<p>After looking at past regional finalists, it seems that your actual state of residence doesn't matter-- regional finalists from California were in the Southwest region and people from Texas were in the New England region. Why doesn't Westinghouse just select 30 overall individual and 30 team finalists and skip to nationals? That's what STS does.</p>
<p>Your state does matter. The reason that some finalists are reassigned is that they've done research at, or have family working at, the institution hosting their regional competition.</p>
<p>Is that true? I don't know. I think I remember one of the execs of the Siemens Foundation saying that they generally try to pick by region, but then if a region is not that good, they take someone from another region. Quality of projects is obviously very important to them.</p>
<p>hey zogoto, did they also post the regional finalists online last year too, or did they just call them up?</p>
<p>I called the Westinghouse people are confirmed the following:</p>
<p>Regional Finalists will be posted around 4 pm on the 31st.</p>
<p>Only West and Southwest regional finalists will be called before the 31st- the others will be called after the names are posted.</p>
<p>oh, are you sure?</p>
<p>That's what this Siemens representative said. I called the 1-800# on the website.</p>
<p>Everyone that gets called, please post it here!</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>oh thanks for finding that out...thats quite good news for me (midwest). now i won't have to be in suspense all weekend long. :)</p>
<p>Pizer, I hope to do battle with you at the regional finals... it'll be tutor group presentations all over again but with money involved, lol.</p>