[wireties]

Originally Posted by bduddy

This isn't the "real world", it's not even college! This is high school, and for many of these students (hopefully...), it's their first exposure to engineering in general.

With respect FIRST may not be the "real world" but it is certainly intended to mimic the "real world". And in the "real world" a solution that is over budget and/or over schedule (and not forecasted as such) is unacceptable. I know this is less true in high school but it is very true in college. The professors could care less if you show up and meet their schedules or not. They just take your money and fail you - the "real world" is coming soon for FIRST students, might as well get a taste of it now.