Champions - will you go down in history too?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but we at Student Competitions believe that the champions are made of more than that. Are you the modern day champion?

Through the times, champions have always had a special status in society. There has been many faces of champions, often related to fighting in one way or another. Many of today’s champions don’t fight physically but mentally. At studentcompetitions.com, we are naturally great supporters of academic competitions, where you fight with knowledge and creativity, instead of swords and guns.

Gladiators

Often enjoyed many pleasures and benefits before they entered the Coliseums, where most of them then sadly died. Highly ranked gladiators could even be freed from their slavery, should they do a good enough job in the arena. (Now, we do not assume that you can get freed from the burden of school completely by competing, but hey, why not?)

Knights

In shining armors were revered and respected, even by the kings. They fought valiantly and were rewarded with land and other goodies for their bravery.

Adventurers

Discovering, exploring relentlessly and venturing bravely into the unknown. Every country has national heroes, who go down in history for their discoveries.

Athletes

Competing in sports can be seen every day on TV, They both get recognition, wealth, fans and probably groupies too.

Scientists

Thinking the unthinkable and fighting (even dying) to prove their theories. History is filled with heroic scientists who has discovered fantastic things that has made life better for billions.

And YOU.

The champion of today.

Participate in a competition and win fame and glory!

5 Tips to Win Business Plan Competitions

Do you want to increase your chances of winning business plan competitions? Watch and read as we bring you 5 tips to help you win the competition.
 

What are some of the things that participants overlook or miss out when taking part in a business plan competition? Watch as Student Competitions' co-founder Mr Gustav Borgefalk gives you insights into 5 tips to increase your chances of winning:
Want to know more? Read on!

TIP #1: READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

Read the instructions very carefully. All business plan competitions are different: they have different purposes, seeking different types of ideas. Make sure your idea is in line with the ideas they are looking for. Be specific about the details, look out for submission guidelines and adhere to them strictly. Be clear about winning and judging criteria, eligibility requirements, as well as submission deadlines.

These details may seem minor, but overlooking them may deny you entry into the competition. Do not let these details be the reasons for being unable to compete.

TIP #2:  LOOK FOR GOOD BUSINESS PLAN REFERENCES

Look at really good examples. There are many good examples that you can download from the internet, or in the libraries. You can cherry pick the parts that you should include, and which you should exclude. It is good to look at the differing types of presentation and infographics that they include.

Most importantly, look for winning entries of past business plan competitions, understand what works and what does not, identify what makes them stand out and incorporate these learnings into your business plan.

TIP #3: STUDY THE JURY

Judges are the only people deciding who the ultimate winner will be. Look closely at their profiles: are they entrepreneurs, VCs, or professors? They are your audience that you want to impress, so take the time to find out what interests them and what works.

Remember to write your business plan for that audience: take note of the technical jargon the jury is familiar with, and be sure to take note and include important terms in your business plan.

TIP #4: GET FEEDBACK BEFORE SUBMISSION

Once you are done writing your business plan and you feel contented with it, make sure that you run it through other people. Ask mentors, professors, anyone that can read through your plan and give you feedback.

It is always better to receive feedback before submission than getting it from the final jury: eliminate mistakes that you could have corrected before intense scrutiny by the judges!

TIP #5: THE MONEY IS IN THE DETAILS

Check all the details of your business plan, review what they are looking for, review the application details and eligibility criteria once more. Make sure that you answer all the questions and are aware of what they are asking for. Having an answer written down does not make it sufficient: be sure that your business plan addresses the root problem. Check that your business model is viable and workable.

Make sure that you have all the right statistics and numbers down, as well as the sources from which you have obtained them.

First impression counts; do not clutter your presentation with long descriptions that are repetitive. Make your point and move on to the next. Design your presentation to make it look professional and easy to read.

Make your submission stand out from the crowd.

Good luck!

Going Places With Social Science Competitions

What are some of the biggest, global, social science competitions that you can participate in? Start your competition journey with us at 
www.studentcompetitions.com

This week, we got a request from our student community asking 'How do you get better at social science competitions?' 

Before getting better in social science competitions, what are some of the largest competitions you can take part in this field?

Are you ready for the pandora box of opportunities that they bring you?



Most social science competitions take the form of essay competitions: where you have to express a view on certain social, economic, or political issue concerning people from around the world. It is easy to pen your thoughts down, but to be successful in social science competitions, you will need to learn the fundamentals of a good essay structure.

A good essay structure consists of three basic, but very important sections: Introduction, content, and conclusion.

A good essay will centre around a core argument, that is coherent and having links drawn between points in the essay. Your introduction should serve as a summary of what you are going to talk about in the essay.

Your content should not only be for your argument, but also demonstrating that you have considered the antithesis, and how your argument is stronger and better than it.


Your conclusion should effectively sum up the points in your content, and link back to your introduction: showing how your content has justified your argument stated in the introduction.

Each point in your content should not only be your hypothesis on why your argument is good. It is easy to write down opinions, but most people forget to give evidence to justify them.

It is thus important to follow this rule when writing your content: description, example, evaluation, link.

Remember, that your essay should not be confusing, and in order to acheive that, linking your content together with your argument will always help to clarify your point. Examples such as statistics, quotes and citations are always favorable. They will make your content stronger, demonstrate that there is concrete evidence to prove your point, as well as provide credibility and make your essay more convincing.

Social science essay competitions are large-scaled competitions that receive thousands of applications. Catching the attention of the judges with flowery language and neat presentations are not enough. Your content has to look as good as your presentation does.

How do you make yours stand out? 

One Year On: MDH Create Your Future 2011 Winner's Experience in Sweden

Debajyoti Nag, winner of MDH Create Your Future 2011, won himself a chance to pursue his Masters degree in Intelligent Embedded Systems at MDH. Since starting school in August 2012, he has had a multitude of opportunities to grow and expand his horizons. Starting on his second and final year of study in August 2013, he shares with us about his experience in Sweden thus far.

What is the main difference between your studies back home and your experience in MDH?

I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Intelligent Embedded Systems, building on my Bachelors degree in Computer Science. The course at MDH is really good because it affords me the flexibility to choose between areas of interest that are not restricted to my course of study. This has given me the opportunity to delve into other areas of software engineering, which has enriched my experience and knowledge in the field.
At MDH, I have had the chance to work closely with companies at the industrial level. Last semester, my group did a project with Volvo CE to help develop a prototype for an equipment development system, with the guidance of our advisor, Mr Thomas Olson. In this project, we helped to implement a beta test system for a duration of 6 weeks.
Apart from being able to work closely with industrial players, the IDE Lab at MDH has also helped me to develop and start on my research ideas, giving me the option to continue even after graduation.
Through these projects, I have learnt a great deal about teamwork. MDH also offers courses on being an effective team player, and I have been able to incorporate the lessons into project discussions and working in teams.

Sounds like you have had a really enriching experience at MDH! How are you liking Sweden so far?

Sweden is beautiful, and I love the kebabs here! I have met many nice and friendly people. I have learnt so much about the new and intriguing Swedish culture, especially the concept of fika! It feels nice to have breaks in the day, I actually feel more refreshed after a break, and more productive too.
My favorite festival is Valborg, and the student life here is really fun! Back home in New Delhi, the campuses only offer student dormitories, but in Sweden, we have student towns and student activities clubs! Celebrations and festivals are a ton of fun here with the student towns.

How was it like to win the MDH Create Your Future 2011 Competition+?

I never thought that I would be here. Before taking part in the competition, I had no plans thought out about my future after completing my Bachelors degree in New Delhi. Winning the competition was very unexpected and for me, and since then, it has helped me learnt a lot, and made many good friends. When you meet people from different backgrounds, it gives you a bigger perspective on thing, allowing you to have greater understanding of diffences and therefore, a better appreciation.

What would you say to students looking at competing in the challenge?

Practically, be prepared to face the winter in Sweden!
I would say that taking the first step is the most important thing to do. If you never try, you never know. MDH is a really good school to go to, and if you have the opportunity to study here, you should grab it. Remember to apply beforehand, allowing yourself ample time to perfect your idea. This way, you wil have a higher chance of winning the competition. The competition was fun, and even if you do not win, it is a very good experience. I took part in Microsoft's Imagine Cup Competition and went through to the semi-finals twice. Though I did not win, I gained valuable experience and met new people.

What are your plans for the next semester?

I will be returning home to New Delhi for the first time since arriving in Sweden. I will be back visiting friends and family for two months before heading back to Sweden to start on my second year of study in August. I am taking part in Google Summer of Code this July and August, where I will be working with Ankur India on an open source project.

I will be working on a big course project next semester woth 30 credits. It lasts for the full semester of 20 weeks and I have already indicated my project interest with my course coordinator beforehand. We also have the opportunity to submit our own project for consideration.

How To Get Better At Competing

 What does it take to be a competition maestro? Watch as Student Competitions' co-founder and competition expert, Gustav Borgefalk, brings you tips and insights into winning your next competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3QF_R7_Qco 

Competing is a process that allows you to discover, develop and demonstrate your skills and expertise. Be it design, business plan, engineering, math or social science competitions, competitions allow you to hone your skills and become proficient with every competition you take part in.

 Along the way of developing specific skills sets in the competition field you take part in, how do you actually get better at competing?

 Getting better at competing allows you to improve your skills tenfold: winning is a process and not a destination alone.

Challenge yourself, challenge the world today!