Thank you very much for your interest in Science Olympiad at MIT -- we're extraordinarily grateful for the trust and support. We've heard, loud and clear, the interest in a Division B invitational, and we continue to actively discuss ways to expand the reach of Science Olympiad at MIT without sacrificing quality. While hosting a Division B invitational could potentially align with this goal, we want to make sure, before committing to do so, that our funding and manpower is sufficient to maintain the quality for which we will always strive.Buckstops wrote:Sounds like Division C only for next year. We B division coaches and teams have not given up in our quest for for a B division MIT invite. Perhaps you could make it a true "invitational" by extending invitations to this year' top National finishers (with a back up list if some are unable to attend) and perhaps 2 local teams. You could run 1 block along side the C Division for most events, and many of the tests would only require minimal modifications. Please consider it - don't write us off yet.
If Science Olympiad at MIT hosts a Division B invitational, it will be open to all Division B teams. We're strong believers that exclusively inviting teams based on national tournament performance would lead to a "rich getting richer" paradigm not conducive to fostering the health and competitiveness of Science Olympiad nationwide. Though we're humbled and honored by the high caliber of teams that the MIT tournament attracts, the goal of our organization is not simply to cater to the top teams in the country. Rather, our goal is to run the highest-quality tournament in the country, regardless of the caliber of teams that compete in the tournament.
If you would like, I am happy to discuss by phone with you the philosophy of Science Olympiad at MIT and our considerations as we plan for next year's tournament(s). Just send me a private message and we can find a mutually-agreeable time. I will also be at the national tournament in a few weeks, so I would be happy to chat during that weekend as well.
