6 ms·

It's nice that Apple offer scholarships for students wishing to attend, but it's unfortunate that they don't cover travel expenses. I would really like to apply

by ceeK 13y ago

It's nice that Apple offer scholarships for students wishing to attend, but it's unfortunate that they don't cover travel expenses. I would really like to apply to attend, but living in the UK and not having enough funds to travel such a large distance is preventing me. Guess I'll have to wait!

orta 13y ago
I went in 2007 as a (UK) Student and I'd really recommend trying to find a way to do it. It becomes prohibitory expensive once you're not a student.
- ceeK 13y ago
  Good point. I may apply and consider funding the trip if I do get the chance to go. Student overdraft might have to take a hit.
- prawks 13y ago
  Agreed, it was an amazing experience for me in 2011, and I'd love to go back but really cannot afford both the ticket and travel/lodging now. Apply and worry more about funding your travel once you get accepted.
- danpalmer 13y ago
  I was thinking of applying, but you have to apply by creating an app to show off your skills. Well that's so open ended, do I put in 1 hour or 10 hours? I really can't afford to put in much time with exams and coursework, so is it worth putting any effort in at all? Apple do this for at least some of their internships as well. I think it's a shame because I suspect it puts many students off from applying.
  - ceeK 13y ago
    I noticed this just recently. It's a shame really, they could have held the "competition" earlier in the year and given people more of a chance. People won't want to put the time in given how close it is to exam season.
  - owenfi 13y ago
    My first year (2008) I made a Mac alarm clock app with the unique twist that you had to enter random characters before it can be disabled. The following year I made a Mac app that lets you compare audio files side by side. These were apps I wanted to make anyway and I just timed their release with the application period. Those were the first years the conference was selling out, so I'd estimate that competition was far less fierce. Worth a shot, if you can afford the time, as the experience is exceptional! http://swingingsultan.com/Mac.html http://swingingsultan.com/Mac.html
bitcartel 13y ago
If Apple wanted to, they could offer free tickets to everybody. For example, 5,000 tickets at $1,599 each is just under $8 million, which is a drop in the ocean when you consider Apple has around $145 billion in cash. While shareholders are rewarded with dividends and share buybacks for taking on risk, developers have to pay to take on the risk of building Mac/iOS apps. $8 million represents %0.000055172 of Apple's cash. That looks to me like a pretty cheap way to throw a party for developers and celebrate all that they've done over the years.
- danpalmer 13y ago
  And how do they distribute the free tickets? By charging, and by charging a significant amount, they can be sure that only people who really want to be there will be there, and they can be pretty certain that the people coming are developers who will directly benefit from the talks and labs. That said, I do think they should have separate press tickets for the keynote, perhaps priced a little higher, but with priority entry or something. As a developer I'd like to see fewer tickets taken by the press, but really care about being in the main hall for the keynote.
  - bitcartel 13y ago
    At the very least, make the food better!
- madmoose 13y ago
  It surely costs Apple a lot more than $8 million to have so many of their developers engaged in WWDC, both during the event and before, preparing for it.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
chrislloyd 13y ago
I was fortunate enough to get two student scholarships to WWDC through the Apple University Consortium[1]. Unfortunately the AUC is no longer subsidized by Apple and doesn't issue scholarships. Both trips were life-changing. 2010 convinced me that I had to live in SF so I finished my degree to be eligible for a visa. In 2011 Dave (my now co-founder who was writing iPad games) and I hashed out what later became Minefold. Do whatever you can to go. If you need a place to stay I've got a free couch. [1]: http://auc.edu.au http://auc.edu.au
bnycum 13y ago
I got the scholarship in 2007 and 2008, it was a great experience. In 2007 they had a deal with a nearby hotel, maybe Pickwick? I don't think they did in 2008. I'd try to beg, borrow, and steal to get there if I were you for the experience.

by ceeK 13y ago

orta 13y ago

I went in 2007 as a (UK) Student and I'd really recommend trying to find a way to do it. It becomes prohibitory expensive once you're not a student.

ceeK 13y ago
Good point. I may apply and consider funding the trip if I do get the chance to go. Student overdraft might have to take a hit.
prawks 13y ago
Agreed, it was an amazing experience for me in 2011, and I'd love to go back but really cannot afford both the ticket and travel/lodging now. Apply and worry more about funding your travel once you get accepted.
danpalmer 13y ago
I was thinking of applying, but you have to apply by creating an app to show off your skills. Well that's so open ended, do I put in 1 hour or 10 hours? I really can't afford to put in much time with exams and coursework, so is it worth putting any effort in at all? Apple do this for at least some of their internships as well. I think it's a shame because I suspect it puts many students off from applying.
- ceeK 13y ago
  I noticed this just recently. It's a shame really, they could have held the "competition" earlier in the year and given people more of a chance. People won't want to put the time in given how close it is to exam season.
- owenfi 13y ago
  My first year (2008) I made a Mac alarm clock app with the unique twist that you had to enter random characters before it can be disabled. The following year I made a Mac app that lets you compare audio files side by side. These were apps I wanted to make anyway and I just timed their release with the application period. Those were the first years the conference was selling out, so I'd estimate that competition was far less fierce. Worth a shot, if you can afford the time, as the experience is exceptional! http://swingingsultan.com/Mac.html http://swingingsultan.com/Mac.html

bitcartel 13y ago

If Apple wanted to, they could offer free tickets to everybody. For example, 5,000 tickets at $1,599 each is just under $8 million, which is a drop in the ocean when you consider Apple has around $145 billion in cash. While shareholders are rewarded with dividends and share buybacks for taking on risk, developers have to pay to take on the risk of building Mac/iOS apps. $8 million represents %0.000055172 of Apple's cash. That looks to me like a pretty cheap way to throw a party for developers and celebrate all that they've done over the years.

danpalmer 13y ago
And how do they distribute the free tickets? By charging, and by charging a significant amount, they can be sure that only people who really want to be there will be there, and they can be pretty certain that the people coming are developers who will directly benefit from the talks and labs. That said, I do think they should have separate press tickets for the keynote, perhaps priced a little higher, but with priority entry or something. As a developer I'd like to see fewer tickets taken by the press, but really care about being in the main hall for the keynote.
- bitcartel 13y ago
  At the very least, make the food better!
madmoose 13y ago
It surely costs Apple a lot more than $8 million to have so many of their developers engaged in WWDC, both during the event and before, preparing for it.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]

chrislloyd 13y ago

I was fortunate enough to get two student scholarships to WWDC through the Apple University Consortium[1]. Unfortunately the AUC is no longer subsidized by Apple and doesn't issue scholarships. Both trips were life-changing. 2010 convinced me that I had to live in SF so I finished my degree to be eligible for a visa. In 2011 Dave (my now co-founder who was writing iPad games) and I hashed out what later became Minefold. Do whatever you can to go. If you need a place to stay I've got a free couch. [1]: http://auc.edu.au http://auc.edu.au

bnycum 13y ago

I got the scholarship in 2007 and 2008, it was a great experience. In 2007 they had a deal with a nearby hotel, maybe Pickwick? I don't think they did in 2008. I'd try to beg, borrow, and steal to get there if I were you for the experience.