Too late for 2004?

[Rich Wong]

Originally posted by KenWittlief
I think you would be in way over your head trying to start a new team while you are a freshman in college.

you have to find a HS to agree to have a team, and that school has to find 1 or more teachers to put all that time and energy into it

THEN you have to find a company with engineering resources and $$$ to sponsor the team

for one person this would be a full time job. There is no way you could do this and get your class work done too.

Best advice I can give is to see is there is a local team in your area, and volunteer to help them out, or maybe to get the engineering department in your college to work with a local team.

It usually takes about a year to start a new team - its a lot of work.

I agree, for most college freshmans starting a new FIRST team is a lot of work; SCHOOL first, FIRST second. (sorry, for the play on words)
I mentor several the Polytechnic University Polybot students who mentor the local HS FIRST teams so I know a little about the relationship between college/HS FIRST teams. And I mentor/coach many NYC teams the pass 5 years with NYC-FIRST. With rookie teams, you have to give 100% commitment or none. Most college freshman do not have the time, especially engineering student. Join a veteran team first, and then start a team next year.
It's your call. Good luck.