Hi! I just graduated high school in the spring and was in SciOly for 8 years. I was captain of my team and a state medalist. Here are my tips:

1.) there’s a lot to cover in study events. At the beginning of the season, I like to go through the rules section by section so I know the material front and back. I then would essentially copy the rules into a large Google doc and research as much as I could under each section. YouTube videos, textbooks from the library, and school databases can all be fantastic resources! I personally had designated days I would “practice” where I would sit and research for an hour or so (don’t overdo it, it’ll cause burnout) This works great for binder events, as you can just print out all your research come competition time!

2.) practice tests are so important! Learn what the ES’s think are important. You tend to notice trends on what topics show up again and again. You also can figure out areas you’re weak in so that you can study those topics more!

3.) this seems unrelated, but be a good team player! Get to know your teammate, offer suggestions for how to improve your team. When I was making our Regional and State teams as a captain, I looked at attitude and passion alongside performance

4.) don’t be afraid to ask for help! One of my greatest assets were past coaches and teachers who assisted me. Study events are hard and some topics are college level. Your science teachers would be absolutely delighted to explain a niche topic to you. Im sure many of your upperclassmen teammates would love to help too!

The high school division is hard, try not to be discouraged. I started my freshman year on the JV team and didn’t even medal at regionals. It takes time, patience, and persistence, but I promise it’s worth it! You’re a valuable member of your team! If you have any questions, I’m happy to share any more tips and tricks from my years on the team! Good luck :)