What is a hackathon?
It's a grand gathering of people to make their ideas come to life.
Think out of the box, try new technologies, ask questions, make
mistakes, discover a new language, and have fun! We will be
following Major League Hacking's
Code of Conduct . Check out their video explaining what a hackathon is
here .
What if I have no experience with coding or hackathons?
Don't sweat it! We've purposefully designed WHACK to offer an
encouraging and supportive environment. At WHACK, you'll quickly
learn from our workshops and army of mentors, as well as your team
members and other students. You're also welcome to take on
non-coding roles or create projects using low or no-code tools!
When do applications open?
Applications are now unfortunately closed. You can apply for our
waitlist ,
and if we are under capacity on the day on the day of the hackathon, we will contact you and let you know if you can join in!
Who can attend? Is this event only for women?
We welcome any undergraduate college student 18 or above to
participate in WHACK. It's important to keep in mind that we are
looking to create a welcoming and empowering space for women and
other underrepresented identities in tech. If you have any
questions about this, please contact us!
How will mentorship work?
We will have mentors available for everyone! They will be
available to help you both on-site and in a Discord channel just
for mentoring purposes. You will also be able to ask questions
directly in our sponsors' Discord channels.
How will hackers be accepted?
Everyone will be allowed to attend after filling out our
registration google form once it is out! However, hackers must be
present in-person during the hackathon.
How do teams work? Can I register solo?
Hackers can decide to register in teams of 2-4 people, but
everyone must submit individual applications. Members of teams who
apply together will all receive the same acceptance decision.
We'll also be facilitating activities before and during the event
to help you find teams. Although you're welcome to hack on your
own, only teams are eligible to win prizes.
What will I eat?
Trust us, you won't be hungry at WHACK! We'll provide all meals on
Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. We'll also have a
snack table, food surprises, and coffee throughout the hackathon.
We work hard to accommodate all dietary restrictions and make
healthy options available.
What if I can only come for part of the weekend?
If you have a special circumstance, please indicate so on your
application. WHACK is ultimately a resource for you to learn,
connect with others, and meet mentors in industry, so you'll get
more out of it if you can stay for the whole event.
Do I have to pay to participate?
Nope! WHACK is completely free for all hackers. However, keep in
mind potential costs for transportation and housing, as we will
not be covering those.