Registration

Why is registration limited to 225 this year?
Why is there a GPA requirement?
Can I register as a free agent and then move to a team later?
Can I still participate if I'm not a Kogod student?

Competition

What support is available to help prepare for the competition?
I'm a freshmen/sophomore... Do I have the business knowledge I need to participate?
How can I highlight the case competition on my resume?
What time commitment is required to participate?

International Teams

Why are international partner schools invited to the Kogod Case Competition?
Which international partner schools are invited?
How did Kogod decide which schools to invite?
Will all of the international partner schools send a team?
Who pays for the international teams to attend?
Are registration spots being reserved for international schools?

Why is registration limited to 225 this year?
Over the last few years, participation in the competition has increased substantially. In 2009, the competition was so popular that we had 275 competitors. We are thrilled that so many students competed, but we simply do not have the space, equipment, and time to provide a quality experience for 64 teams! Limiting the competition to 225 participants means that our networking events will be more productive. All students will be able to sit with a judge at lunch, hear the guest speaker, and network during the afternoon reception. Fortunately, students will have more than one opportunity to participate as this is an annual event.

Why is there a GPA requirement?
While the competition is only four days long, it does require a significant amount of time and energy. We determined that students who are on academic probation will not benefit from the competition in the same way that students who are in good academic standing will benefit. Undergraduate students whose GPA is below a 2.5 and graduate students whose GPA is below a 3.0 should focus on their coursework in the spring semester, trying to improve their GPA and looking forward to competing in 2013.

Can I register as a free agent and then move to a team later?
Absolutely. We recommend registering yourself as soon as possible to save a space. Of course, if you have a team formed, you should all register as soon as possible, but if you find teammates later, you can add them to your team. If you register as a free agent and would like to be added to a team later, just email kogodcasecomp@american.edu. Unfortunately, you can’t save spots for team members and we can not “complete” partial teams once the competition has been filled, so don’t delay!

Can I still participate if I'm not a Kogod student? Or, can I include students from other AU schools on my team?
Yes. The Kogod Case Competition has value for all students at American University. The event is open to all graduate and undergraduate students at AU. Students from all academic backgrounds and levels of experience will enjoy and benefit from the event. We have had all schools represented by competitors in the past and hope to do the same this year! The case that students will analyze encompasses communications, nonprofit management, public policy, and law, in addition to business.

What support is available to help prepare for the competition?
We provide several resources to help you be prepare for the competition. First, the Case Competition Blackboard site will be your “one stop” for case competition resources, including videos of past finalists and updates from staff. Additionally, a comprehensive workshop series has been developed to give you a “crash course” in case competitions. Visit the workshops page for details about the competitions available.

I'm a freshmen/sophomore... Do I have the business knowledge I need to participate?
We get asked this question a lot…and the answer is “Absolutely”! A big part of the competition is working on a team and learning how to analyze a business case from any level of experience. As a freshmen/sophomore, you will gain experience in how to manage your time during a competition and how to work on a team so that in future years, you will be able to focus more on the application of your business knowledge. In addition, the opportunity to network with judges could land you your next internship and give you a solid experience to highlight during an interview. Finally, the opportunity to interact and network with upper division Kogod students could help you make new friends and get connected with the Kogod student community.

How can I highlight the case competition on my resume?
The Kogod Case Competition is a great addition to your resume as well as integral to your interview prep. The KCCD staff is prepared to help you highlight this experience to fit the jobs/internships you are looking for. We hear time and time again that students have landed a job or internship because of the skills they acquired during the competition and/or the network they cultivated during the event.

What time commitment is required to participate?
You probably hear this saying a lot but “you will get out of the competition what you put into it.” Remember, the case competition is not required, but you are working on a team with peers who are committed to giving the case competition their best shot. So, you need to pull your weight. Although workshops are optional, they can often save you time in the long run by giving you tips and insider information about case competitions. Case competition isn’t an excuse for missing class, so make sure you plan accordingly and prepare class assignments and readings in advance so ease the workload that week.

Why are international partner schools invited to send a team to the Kogod Case Competition?
The Kogod School of Business values:

• its globally diverse student body and faculty
• partnerships with the people and institutions shaping international change
• educating its students to be competitive in the US and abroad
• offering exchange and study abroad opportunities
• educating students and institutions around the world about the Kogod School

Benefits of inviting international partner schools to the Kogod Case Competition include:

• providing AU students the opportunity to see how business students from another country conduct case analysis
• giving AU students experience competing in an international marketplace
• demonstrating Kogod’s value to an international audience
• strengthening the relationships between Kogod and its international partners

Which international partner schools are invited?

• ESCP-Europe in France
• Ceram Business School in France
• Rouen Business School in France
• The Helsinki School of Economics in Finland
• Universidad Pontificia de Comillas- ICADE in Spain
• The American University in Cairo in Egypt
• Universidad Adolfo Ibañez in Chile
• The University College Dublin in Ireland
• The Aarhus School of Business in Denmark
• The BI Norwegian School of Management in Norway
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong in China
• The University of Queensland in Australia
• The International University of Monaco in Principality of Monaco
• Kuwait University, College of Business Administration in Kuwait
• WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany

How did Kogod decide which schools to invite?
Kogod's International Programs Office worked with the AU Abroad office to determine 15 partner business schools.

Will all of the international partner schools send a team?
No. We expect just a few schools to send a team. Each school may only send one undergraduate team and/or one graduate team.

Who pays for the international teams to attend?
The international partner school is responsible for all expenses related to their participation in the case competition.

Are registration spots reserved for international schools?
No, students/teams from international partner schools must register in the same way that students at AU register. Like AU students, they will no longer be able to register once the limit of 225 participants is reached.