FAQs

Hopefully you will find your questions answered here. If not, please Email Us.

What are the dates for the 2025 competition?
The dates are as follows...
Senior Division - March 15, 2025
Junior Division - May 3, 2025

What is the deadline for registering?
Senior Division - January 24, 2025
Junior Division - March 15, 2025
$50.00 late fee per team postmarked after registration deadlines.
No registration will be accepted after January 26, 2024 for the senior competition and March 15, 2024 for the junior competition.

How do I register for the 2025 Great Computer Challenge?
Registration will open on December 13, 2024. Follow the Registration Process here.

Can I pay with a P.O.?
Yes. Please include a copy of the P.O. with your registration form.

Who do I make my check out to?
WHRO/C.I.I.

How can I order extra t-shirts?
Your registration fee pays for t-shirts for the students participating, but not the alternates or the coaches. You can order them ahead of time on your registration form.

What is needed to compete?
~Computer with keyboard (multiple keyboards are not allowed)
~Access to internet
~Specific software for competition

Does each team have to bring a computer?
Yes. One computer per team. A spare computer can be brought to the competition, but it cannot be in the room.

Can I enter a team with only one student?
Yes. For Levels 1-3, teams can have 1-3 students. For Level 4, teams can have 1-5 students.

How much time do the students have to work on their problems?
Level 1 (grade K-2) - 1 hour
Level 2 (grades 3-5) - 1 hour and 45 minutes
Level 3 (grades 6-8) - 2 hours
Level 4 (grades 9-12) - 3 hours

What if I don’t have the students' names yet? Can I still register?
Yes. Please email, fax or call the names in when you get the students lined up. We need to know your category, level and t-shirt sizes by the deadline. The students’ names do not affect our pre-planning.

Is food provided?
No. Food is on your own. However, several ODU restaurants will be open and there are many others within walking or driving distance.

Can parents come?
Parents are more than welcome to come support their child. They will not be allowed in the rooms during the competition, but they can attend the awards ceremony.

Can I set up the computers the night before?
No, there is no guaranteed security of the equipment. We recommend that you bring support to help you set up in the morning if you have several teams competing.

How many teams can we bring?
Each school may enter one team per category, per level except for the categories listed below.

Level 3 (grades 6-8)

Integrated Applications
Music Composition
Programming-Object Oriented Business

Level 4 (grades 9-12)

CAD
Cyber Security
Integrated Applications
Music Composition
Programming-Scientific/Non-Business
Programming-Object Oriented Business

What if the grades of my students cover more than one competition level?
The highest-grade student on a team determines the level.

How do we prepare for the competition?
Check out our Past Problems page. You can use these problems with the students prior to the competition to expose them to the types of problems they may receive. They will receive a problem or problems the day of the competition to work on, one which they will have never seen before.

Is there grant funding to pay for the Great Computer Challenge registration fees?
No, sorry. You or your school will need to pay the fees.

Registration Fee
Your school division must be a C.I.I. Member or C.I.I. Service Participant (click to see the membership roster) to participate in the Great Computer Challenge. If you are not a member and would like to find out how to become a member, please contact angela.franklin@whro.org.

Levels 1, 2, & 3

$45 (C.I.I. Member)
$85 (C.I.I. Service Participant)
$50 late fee per team postmarked after registration deadlines

Level 4

$55 (C.I.I. Member)
$95 (C.I.I. Service Participant)
$50 late fee per team postmarked after registration deadlines

What is the C.I.I.? How do I know if I am a member? Who are the C.I.I. Service Participants?
If your school or school division is listed as a C.I.I. Member on the membership roster, then you are considered a C.I.I. Member and eligible for discounted fees. However, if your school or school division is listed as a C.I.I. Service Participant on the membership roster, you will need to pay the C.I.I. Service Participant fees for the Great Computer Challenge.

What is the cancellation policy?
A full refund will be issued up until the following dates:
Senior 2025 - January 31, 2025
Junior 2025 - March 21, 2025
Please send an email to gcc@whro.org to let us know you need to cancel your team registration. After these dates, no refund will be issued.

What are the categories that we can register for?
(Click on the category title for full details.)

Level 1 (grades K-2)

Level 2 (grades 3-5)

Level 3 (grades 6-8)

Level 4 (grades 9-12)

What software are we allowed to use?
There are no limitations on the software you can use at the competition.

Which categories need printers?
Printers are no longer needed for any category.

Can I use the Internet?
Internet access is optional to access additional clipart, use web or server based software, or to download sponsor logos (WHRO, ODU, C.I.I., Bay Diesel). Teams will be given the wireless credentials and instructions during team setup and can test connection at that time.