Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding the upcoming event.

• Can a single student sign up and be paired with a team? Or are they required to sign up a team of three to five students?
  Students can either sign up by themselves and the organizers will pair them with a team, or sign up as a team of three to five students.
• Do students need to be in a certain major or certificate to participate?
  All majors and certificates are welcome.
• Is there a certain software students should know for data analysis?
  Students can use any software program they are comfortable with, including (but not limited to) R, Python, MATLAB, SAS, ArcGIS Pro, PowerBI, and Excel.
• Do students need to be experts in data analysis to participate?
  No, all skill levels are welcome, including students who have strong oral, graphic, and written communications skills!
• Are there additional trainings during the event to help students with their skills?
  There will be optional training workshops during DataFest for upskilling on software programs and analysis, how to manage data, how to give an effective 5-minute presentation, and a few other topics.
• What if students get stuck on a problem and need help?
  There will be graduate students, faculty and staff mentors at the event to help students with their data questions.
• Will there be food at the event?
  Yes, plenty of free food and snacks will be on hand to keep participants fueled for the event!
• Are students required to be at the event venue the entire weekend?
  Participants are required to be at the Friday night kick-off event and the Sunday presentation and awards ceremony. Participants can come and go through the rest of the weekend. There will be a schedule for the weekend published in advance of the event.