DML Deadline(Almost)A Month Away:Start Your Application NOW!

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The Digital Media and Learning Competition closes on October 15 . . . that's a little more than a month away. My advice to anyone who is applying: register to apply NOW. You can start your application now, check out everything you need on the application form, fill out part of it, and come back to it later again and again. . .it will be waiting for you. You can edit and make changes. It's user-friendly that way.

But if you wait until the end, it might be too late to gather everything you need. So the big, sage, wise, voice-of-experience advice (I repeat): Start your application NOW at www.dmlcompetition.net.

I mean that. Last year we had about 350 applications the Sunday before the competition closed and then, by Monday night of the final day, we clocked in at 1010. But what made us sad was that there were an additional 3000 applications that were started but were not finished. Some probably were just left there because the applicant lost interest . . . but, for some, they ran out of time.

Why do this to yourself? We have created an online application system (go, Khai!) that allows you to register, to fill out parts of the application, to figure out what all you need to gather, what you need to do, what the scope is, what is required. You can register, and then go away--and come back again and again. Anytime you want. It will be there waiting for you. If you leave it until October 15, it's possible that you won't have everything you need to finish the application and then you won't be able to compete. That's ridiculous. You can avoid that by going into the system early and browsing around and coming back later to finish it.

What's the url again? oh, right: www.dmlcompetition.net

We gave the same warning last year and our big concern was bandwidth, the server, the Fast Aps system, all of that holding against an avalanche of applications. We ended up with some issues around recommendations, part system-based and part human error (meaning we had to be clearer about our instructions). We've fixed both. But are we still worried about bandwidth issue, servers, systems, all that if everyone files at once. Sure! Who wouldn't be? But that, for me, isn't the real issue. The real issue is that leaving an application until the buzzer means you won't write as good an application as you could. You will not increase your potential for winning if you leave it until the end.

Why not give yourself the best chance possible? So that is my single biggest piece of advice in THIS post (I'll give other advice later): register as an applicant now. It's not binding, no one will harass you. But it allows you to think about what you need for the application, to plan and revise, and it will allow you to submit your very best work. GOOD LUCK or, as we say in Japanese: Gambatte Kudasaii! That's what you tell a sumo wrestler who is about to go into the ring, or anyone facing a challenge, a great phrase that combines all the implications of good luck, work hard, you can do it, I wish you the best, I'm cheering for you, don't give up, the gods willing . . . all that. Gambatte kudasaii! www.dmlcompetition.net