Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

Hey folks:

So I'm going to be moving on to college next year (don't know exactly where yet, we shall see), and I'm looking to bring FIRST with me. One of my major choices does not have a team nearbye, and I think it would be fun to start one. However, my idea for the team is a little bit different than most. I have a feeling I'm going to catch a good bit of flack for this idea, but I'd like to get a sounding of it.

The team that I may found would most likely require an application or interview process in order to join. The team would be a very fast moving, highly competitive environment, meant to simulate a real world business as closely as possible. In order to have a robot design approved, a member must "sell" it to the Board (which would be senior students and mentors). This would (hopefully?) make the team a VERY competitive team, that could be relied upon to bring a fearsome robot to each competition.

That idea being said, I was hoping to gather a bit of information on teams that may already have some sort of similar system in place. My main focus is currently on requiring an application/interview or not, and so it would help a ton if people knew of any teams that have this going already.

Are there any invite only, or application required teams out there?
If so, why do they only allow successful applicants on the team, and how does it help them?
Do they have a better chance in competition?
About how many members are part of these teams?

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

I know that we pretty much take who ever walks in the door and stays with us while being productive. It usually works out.

I am also curious about this kind of set up and I know I've heard of many teams having a selection process. Let me look around here.....

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

Our team has an application per say... but it's more like something that weeds out the students who don't even take the time to fill out a couple papers. Two teacher reccomendations are required but it's not like it's hard to get those. Our design process however is much more open. Only problem I can see with this is the quiet people who have good ideas, they might be a little too frightened to speak up in front of a board. This is my third year on the team and new members continue to shock me with good ideas.

And while we're on this subject of leaving for college and not knowing what to do with countless hours of time in Jan. and Feb., are there any teams in the Ann Arbor, MI area that could use a college student mentor?

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

840 technically does have an application, and it is a couple pages, but we always like to joke around that the only real criteria for being a member is attendance, and really the main purpose of the application is to determine whether you already are too busy to commit enough time to robotics. So I don't think we follow your criteria...

P.S.: I would have given you flack for this idea, but I understand this wasn't the purpose of this topic.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

In my opinion, FIRST was started to get people interested in science and technology. Making them apply to get on the team seems to counteract that idea. But, that aside, 190 runs pretty much that exact game plan (minus applications). We have several designs thought up by respective sub-groups, and then the whole team whittles it down to one (changing the favored idea to incorporate other ideas as well).

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

My old FRC team had an application and interview process for all new members. Those interested would submit an application with at least one teacher reference and skillset. A resume was highly recommended. I didn't like this system much because it added qualified people who just went to robotics to put it on their college application. However, I can't really think of a much better system.

In terms of the design process, it was basically whoever had an idea come up in front of the team and present their design. This worked well to some degree.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

We have an application system based on the college Common App. The students have to fill out a few short answers and then a longer essay about themselves. Programmers and PR must also full out supplements dealing with each department.

The thought process behind the application is that if you aren't dedicated enough to fill out the paperwork, you won't show up during build season.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

well i agree with above, as a one-man team i know that next year i need all the help i can get, even just for the competition

i think an application is kind of pointless because if they're interested in robotics they're generally gonna be a little above average intelligence :rolleyes: :D

i think one of the main points is attendace, St. Martins team last year had a really bad attendance record with the newbies so it was tricky during critical build time

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

Just from experience, I'd say you should focus on your own school work first. Starting a first team takes a lot of time and effort, and while it's a noble effort, your main goal should be to get through college.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

100% agree with this. I'm a first year in University right now and the work load is incredible. If you're not ready, the exams can sneak up on you, and with exams worth 50%+ of your marks, thats a big deal.

Now back to studying for midterm :p

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

I realize this fully. I'm currently enrolled in a high school alternative program that involves taking classes at the local college, so the college load is nothing new. The only real difference will be where I live, which should give me more free time, and more ability to help a team out.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

I second that.

Craig, if there isn't a team near you, don't start one. Or, if you must start one, get several helpers. There isn't enough time to do FIRST if you are involved on campus at all. (Other than checking CD:D... or helping teams during breaks.) Instead, find a college competition team. That'll take up enough of your time (I've a meeting for one in about 1/2 an hour...). If schoolwork doesn't take over your life, that is.

I'm not even trying to start a team here in Rapid City. I don't know where to start, the last team(s) in the area folded when NASA grants in the area dried up, and I got enough to do building airplanes. If there was a team within range, I'd be mentoring them if possible. There isn't.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

OK, so here's my "flack".

If you are looking to start a selective FIRST team for the sole purpose of creating a very competitive team, then sorry, you've missed the point of FIRST.

It ain't about the robots.

Wouldn't it be a better use of your VERY LIMITED TIME as a freshman, to get more students interested in STEM areas instead of limiting your team to only a chosen few?

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

Craig,

One thing to keep in mind is that when dealing with high school students what you see in a person at the beginning of the year changes significantly by build season. As Scott said above team 1155 has an application process aimed at filtering out those who will not be dedicated or are likely to goof off ( I can give anyone interested more details on our methods and the results we see) but we are often times wrong. High Schoolers are strange and sneaky beings and are not only willing to lie to get onto a team they think will look good an an application but are also capable of changing their minds as time goes on. We have on multiple occasions had students who demonstrated a deep interest at events before they even entered our school and appeared to be very promising in the first few months but later on for one reason or another stopped showing up by the middle of december.

Re: Elite (invite only) FIRST teams
 

Got to agree with the others... put FIRST on a back burner...its okay they'll understand. Deal with your school work. You can still be a help answering post on CD or doing some long distance mentoring via email or phone calls.
Your school work should come first... we' will all still be here when you graduate with your degree and you'll be welcomed back with open arms...

Good luck on you future endeavors. :cool: