On 03/03/2014 05:27 AM, Sumana Harihareswara wrote:
https://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/document/show/gsoc_program/google/gsoc2…
"Can a group apply for and work on a single proposal?
No, only an individual may work on a given project."
Some Google Summer of Code mentoring organizations are fine with accepting
multiple duplicate proposals (Student A and Student B separately implement
the same functionality). Wikimedia is not fine with that and will only
accept one proposal for a particular project idea.
So if you and another student are interested in the same topic, I suggest
that you TALK with the other student, talk with the mentor, and figure out
which student done more preparation and is more interested in that idea.
The student with less preparation and interest should choose a different
topic.
This is the rational approach, indeed recommended.
Then some students opt for another approach, which is to run after the
same project in pure competitive spirit. This is also allowed by the
GSoC rules, although it is a risky game (you get all or nothing).
Also a note to mentors: don't assume that the first student knocking
your door is going to be the best one, or the one that deserves a
priority. The advantage of early birds is to have more time to speak
with mentors and prepare the project, which is indeed an advantage.
However, considering your first student as selected while the deadline
for submissions is still open might not be the best idea.
Also note that even when a mentor consider a student selected, none of
them should assume that the project will happen. Even in the best case
scenario we will get a limited amount of slots, and other projects might
end up filling all the seats.
Therefore, mentors should treat all candidates as... candidates. Work
with them and help them finding the best venue for them and for
Wikimedia. Having two great students fighting for the same spot while
there are other projects waiting for someone is a situation we should avoid.
--
Quim Gil
Technical Contributor Coordinator @ Wikimedia Foundation
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/User:Qgil