Well, I think it’ll be hard to move a final, but I would recommend you to try to come up with some sort of schedule that doesn’t compromise your school work. You, along with everyone in your team must find a way to balance their school work with the amount of work that you have to dedicate to FIRST and building the robot. Make sure that you specify that to them that way, they are prepared for it when the time comes. 
Good Luck!! And AGAIN: WELCOME TO FIRST!! 
Well we’re not really in FIRST yet, you may have won me over but I have a class full of sceptics…
Moving a final really isn’t that hard actually, the school system here is very different than in the USA as far as I can gather, but I think I’m getting ahead of myself, enough research/learning 3d programs/looking at robot pics for today, I’m getting my hopes up a bit too high.
Going back to the time thing…
At 1293 last year, we met Tuesday nights 6-8 PM (ish), then Saturdays from about 9 to 5. The week of shipping, we did have a few later nights, but we were normally out by 10:00 PM (after starting around 4:00).
Would more time be useful? Probably. Would more time be necessary for the completion of the robot? Doubtful.
Yov,
We work on our robot every night after school and on Saturday. We have several students on our team, so we break up the work schedule so that students only work two nights a week and half a day on Saturday. This allows more students to have “hands on” with the robot. It also allows them time for their other classwork. Very few of our students ever suffer “burnout”. Most of the time the mentors need to force students to go home.
Ken
Ken
FIRST is like riding a bike. At first it may seem hard and confusing, but after a few tries you get the hang of it and its smooth sailing from then on out.
We also have finals. It normally happens the second week of build. We have a “The shop is closed for finals week” rule. This allows us to stay some what concerted on Finals and not robots.
What we do is quickly come up with what functions want to do. We break up into different groups and do designs and everyone has to have their Bill of Materials in the Sunday of Finals week. A mentor then orders all the parts on Monday and we have the parts Thursday-Friday and start to build on the Saturday. It really never has been a huge problem.
Most of the kids on our team puts in about 120 hours in during the 6 week build period. We do officially 6-9 Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and 8-4 on Saturday. Toward the end or if we feel behind yes we put in longer hours or extra days.
… Of course, you occasionally fall on your bum, or get a flat tire, but for some reason, you always get back on and ride.
Hey, I like that analogy!
Well for me, FIRST can’t be like riding a bike to me. I can’t seem to be able to ride it at all. I have borrible balancing and I get pretty scared when trying to move on a vehicle (other than a car). FIRST has to be something else for me… hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…
30 or so is a great start, especially considering half of them have some mechanical know-how. From my team’s history, we started as a garage team with very little funding and a handful of dedicated members. We learn as we go and are not expected to be perfect. FIRST is an excelent program to participate in, considering the amount of knowledge you learn from your own teammates and other teams. Good luck to your team!
_Alex
Well, tommorow’s decision day…
Wish me luck!
Good luck!!!
Well, our teacher kinda worked around the whole voting concept and decided to just do whatever he wanted to do- so we’re joining FIRST!
YAY!
Welcome!
Wetzel
congratulations, and welcome to the organization…enjoy these last 54 days of “normal” life. 
Enjoy?
I’ll be happy when I’m welding at 2 AM and forcing people to work when they don’t want to >: )
It sounds like you are ready for the FIRST season to get here, just like most of the other FIRST participants. And congratulations again!
Anyone who stays up until 1am or later to work on the robot has to be enjoying themselves, and would not be there unless they wanted to. You won’t end up forcing many people to work because they’ll already be there doing the work without being asked. Have a great season!
_Alex
Glad to hear you guys made your decision. Welcome to FIRST! Oh, and make sure you buy plenty of Mountain Dew (if you guys have it over there). It’s definitely the FIRSTer’s drink of choice at 2 AM. If you don’t, just substitute any beverage of high caffeine and sugar content. You’re gonna need it…
We have red bull 