Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to campus?
For Sunday: wear nice school clothes and bring comfortable shoes as there will be some walking on Sunday and Monday.
For the judges on Monday: since this will be a presentation in front of business leaders, we recommend business attire or business casual.
Business attire: suit or sports jacket, long-sleeved shirts with collars, ties for males; tailored dress or pant suit, two-piece dresses, skirts of moderate length for females
Business casual: long-sleeved shirts (tucked in) with collars, optional jackets or blazers, dress slacks or Dockers®-style/casual-dress pants for males; same as above for females(Not appropriate - sun dresses, long/baggy dresses, leather/vinyl, tight dresses/skirts, hemlines inappropriately short, bare shoulders or midriff, no ball caps, no flip-flops, no tennis shoes)
For the banquet on Monday night, please wear business attire.
What else should I bring to campus?
Don't forget to pack your sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, shower shoes, and alarm clock.
Check the weather before you leave! You'll be outside a lot, so bring an umbrella or a coat if the weather seems inclement.
How do I prepare for the judges' interview?
You will meet with all the judges in a room for about 15 minutes. The judges will be familiar with your business, but don't expect them to know everything. This is your chance to sell them on your business and what makes it special.
Plan to tell them your story in about half of the time to allow time for Q & A in the other half. Here is a suggested outline; this is only a guideline, every situation is unique, and you may have other things you want to say:
- How and why you got started
- How you measure success. Update your financial picture as the judges only know what you put on your application as of last November.
- What challenges you faced and how you overcame them
- What makes your business unique
- Your current and future plans for the business
You should rehearse your presentation to meet the time guidelines and so you are comfortable with what you want to say standing in front of the judges. Those that rehearse and prepare, do well. With preparation, you will be more natural and yourself in front of the judges.
For Sunday: wear nice school clothes and bring comfortable shoes as there will be some walking on Sunday and Monday.
For the judges on Monday: since this will be a presentation in front of business leaders, we recommend business attire or business casual.
Business attire: suit or sports jacket, long-sleeved shirts with collars, ties for males; tailored dress or pant suit, two-piece dresses, skirts of moderate length for females
Business casual: long-sleeved shirts (tucked in) with collars, optional jackets or blazers, dress slacks or Dockers®-style/casual-dress pants for males; same as above for females(Not appropriate - sun dresses, long/baggy dresses, leather/vinyl, tight dresses/skirts, hemlines inappropriately short, bare shoulders or midriff, no ball caps, no flip-flops, no tennis shoes)
For the banquet on Monday night, please wear business attire.
Don't forget to pack your sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, shower shoes, and alarm clock.
Check the weather before you leave! You'll be outside a lot, so bring an umbrella or a coat if the weather seems inclement.
How do I prepare for the judges' interview?
You will meet with all the judges in a room for about 15 minutes. The judges will be familiar with your business, but don't expect them to know everything. This is your chance to sell them on your business and what makes it special.
Plan to tell them your story in about half of the time to allow time for Q & A in the other half. Here is a suggested outline; this is only a guideline, every situation is unique, and you may have other things you want to say:
- How and why you got started
- How you measure success. Update your financial picture as the judges only know what you put on your application as of last November.
- What challenges you faced and how you overcame them
- What makes your business unique
- Your current and future plans for the business
You should rehearse your presentation to meet the time guidelines and so you are comfortable with what you want to say standing in front of the judges. Those that rehearse and prepare, do well. With preparation, you will be more natural and yourself in front of the judges.
You will meet with all the judges in a room for about 15 minutes. The judges will be familiar with your business, but don't expect them to know everything. This is your chance to sell them on your business and what makes it special.
Plan to tell them your story in about half of the time to allow time for Q & A in the other half. Here is a suggested outline; this is only a guideline, every situation is unique, and you may have other things you want to say:
- How and why you got started
- How you measure success. Update your financial picture as the judges only know what you put on your application as of last November.
- What challenges you faced and how you overcame them
- What makes your business unique
- Your current and future plans for the business
You should rehearse your presentation to meet the time guidelines and so you are comfortable with what you want to say standing in front of the judges. Those that rehearse and prepare, do well. With preparation, you will be more natural and yourself in front of the judges.
