Division C Event Names

[Luo]

Awhile back there was a brief exchange regarding the merits of "serious-sounding" event names for Division C; for example, Thermodynamics instead of Keep the Heat. This allows accomplishments in Division C events to be taken more seriously on résumés, etc. Since Designer Genes is tentatively scheduled to return for Division C in 2012-2013 (according to the SOSI schedule), I was wondering whether there has been any discussion about changing the name of that event to something more serious-sounding, such as simply "Genetics." Could anyone in the know please enlighten me on this matter? Thank you very much.

[EpicFailOlympian]

Thermodynamics is a wide field of science, while all you're doing in Keep the Heat is pretty much as trivial as insulating a water bottle. You're overplaying the event's importance. The event names should stay what they are.

I also doubt putting that you did Science Olympiad will help you get a job.

[Littleboy]

Thermodynamics is a wide field of science, while all you're doing in Keep the Heat is pretty much as trivial as insulating a water bottle. You're overplaying the event's importance. The event names should stay what they are.

I also doubt putting that you did Science Olympiad will help you get a job.

might help with college apps though…

[rfscoach]

Thermodynamics is a wide field of science, while all you're doing in Keep the Heat is pretty much as trivial as insulating a water bottle. You're overplaying the event's importance. The event names should stay what they are.

I also doubt putting that you did Science Olympiad will help you get a job.

When high school kids talk about resumes, they are talking college apps and apps for selective summer programs, not employment.

[Luo]

Thermodynamics is a wide field of science, while all you're doing in Keep the Heat is pretty much as trivial as insulating a water bottle. You're overplaying the event's importance. The event names should stay what they are.

I also doubt putting that you did Science Olympiad will help you get a job.

When high school kids talk about resumes, they are talking college apps and apps for selective summer programs, not employment.

Yes, I'm referring to résumés for summer programs and for college.

[EpicFailOlympian]

Still, I don't believe they're going to be like "OMG he did the event Thermodynamics, which sounds so sciency and sophisticated, so we're going to accept him in [college/program]

[mnstrviola]

Still, I don't believe they're going to be like "OMG he did the event Thermodynamics, which sounds so sciency and sophisticated, so we're going to accept him in [college/program]

It could help get an advantage over someone who has relatively same qualities but did not do Science Olympiad.

[Frogger4907]

Still, I don't believe they're going to be like "OMG he did the event Thermodynamics, which sounds so sciency and sophisticated, so we're going to accept him in [college/program]

No but it makes you look more dedicated. And the event names SHOULD change to be more "serious" I would hate to tell someone I'm doing keep the heat, then explain that its actually Thermodynamics.

[Luo]

Still, I don't believe they're going to be like "OMG he did the event Thermodynamics, which sounds so sciency and sophisticated, so we're going to accept him in [college/program]

No but it makes you look more dedicated. And the event names SHOULD change to be more "serious" I would hate to tell someone I'm doing keep the heat, then explain that its actually Thermodynamics.

Exactly. Take a look at chalker7's post in the old 2011-2012 event thread: http://scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php? ... 37#p167037

There was a specific instance several years ago related to Reach for the Stars/Astronomy. I may be slightly off on the details, but essentially a student was interviewing for an elite university and mentioned how he was a national medalist in "Reach for the Stars." The interviewing committee assumed that this was not a particularly big accomplishment based off of the name, told him as much and he couldn't take advantage of his success.

This is why I brought up my concern with the Division C event Designer Genes; a name like "Genetics" would help make the event sound more serious and less frivolous. I think that the situation chalker7 described is very important to be considered when naming new events (or old events that are being brought back).

[fishman100]

Still, I don't believe they're going to be like "OMG he did the event Thermodynamics, which sounds so sciency and sophisticated, so we're going to accept him in [college/program]

If you win a national medal in an engineering event (say, Bottle Rocket) and then you apply for a technology-based school, such as MIT or Caltech, you can say "I won a national medal X years ago in engineering." Then, if you apply for a job with NASA, you can say "I won a national medal X years ago in rocketry." etc. (This is true for all events, not just engineering.)

Also, ""OMG he did the event Thermodynamics" sounds much more sophisticated and sciency than ""OMG he did the event Keep the Heat." (If you read the discussion in the 2011-12 events topic that Luo provided here, you'll see the one example where the applicant said he won a national medal in RftS, which sounded much less interesting and sciencey than Astronomy.)