Student questions
Why is there a big gap between the submission date and the Finale? Can my team have an extension?
The judges need time to evaluate all of the amazing entries. The submission deadline is firm for all teams. We recommend submitting a bit before the deadline to avoid any last minute problems.
Will the judges give us feedback on our entries at some point?
Unfortunately, no they will not.
What do you mean by animation?
Your entry can draw on a number of animation conventions including but not limited to traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, and claymation.
My team and I want to participate, but we don’t have software for creative activities like animation or sound editing. Can you help?
Please check with your school’s library and IT group(s). You may find that there are licenses at the school level for creative software. And don’t let software access change your plans to compete in the Challenge: signal on the registration form that you might need access to creative software in order to compete. A limited number of accommodations can be made thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.
The name of the contest is Accelerator Rap. Does that mean submissions have to include rap?
No. The educational animated music videos that you submit to this Challenge do not have to use rap, but they do need to include music and lyrics of some kind. There are no advantages for using one kind of music over another.
Can my team include people from other universities?
Team members must be enrolled as undergraduate students at a US institution during the contest. Teams can include undergrads from more than one school.
Can I be on more than one team, or can my team submit more than one entry?
Yes.
University partner questions
Can we post images of participating teams at our school working on their videos or attending an Accelerator Rap event?
Yes: you can post images of the participating people on social media. Be sure to tag @AcceleratorRap and use the hashtag #ARapChallenge. However, you cannot post images of their emerging animations nor clips of their emerging beats and lyrics. Previews of work can lead to disqualification.
Can I offer tips and ideas to help teams at my school?
The work must be done by the teams and teams alone. You cannot give them direct suggestions of how to improve their work, but encouragement is, well, encouraged. (Think of Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame telling contestants to “make it work”.)
Can I host mixers and other events to help spark interdisciplinary teams across my university?
Yes! Please do. And please post images of the gatherings to social media.
Why should I encourage students at my school to participate?
The Accelerator Rap Challenge is a way to embrace active learning about diversity. Plus students will have a media piece for their portfolios that demonstrate their understanding of entrepreneurial concepts and their awareness of the importance of representation. These valuable outcomes matter in the near term and continue to serve them even after they graduate.