Getting Started

Before you access the data challenge, we want to ensure you have a general sense of what to expect, how to submit, and what resources you can use.

We also suggest you set up your baseline materials (reference section 4 below) BEFORE starting the challenge and as outlined below. ‘

Direct questions to admissions@marcylabschool.org!

  • Our Admissions Data Challenge consists of 3 parts:

    1. Interpreting & Analyzing Data - we’ll give you a set of data to analyze (using guidelines we provide) and questions to answer. This section helps you - and us - understand how you work with quantitative data. You will use Google Sheets for this section.

    2. Presentation Creation - after completing your data tasks, you’ll create a brief presentation (using a Google Slide template we provide and guidelines we share) to outline your key insights and recommendations. This section helps us get a sense of your communication skills.

    3. Written Reflection - lastly, you’ll provide a brief (~250 word) written reflection to share what you liked, found challenging, and would do differently if you had more time. This section helps us understand your general impressions of the exercise and how you make meaning of your work and your efforts.

  • Before starting the data challenge, please complete the following set-up:

    1. Set up your data pack

    • Click on this link to make a copy of the Google Sheet:
      Marcy Market Data Pack(you need a google account to do this).

    • Make a copy of the Google Sheet when prompted.

    • Change your copy’s name to YourFirstName_YourLastName.MarcyDataPack (ex: John_Doe.MarcyDataPack).

    • Share your copy with admissions@marcylabschool.org and ifeoma@marcylabschool.org. Give both editor access.

    2. Set up your Presentation Template

    • Click on this link to make a copy of the Google Slide Deck:
      Marcy Data Challenge Presentation Template

    • Make a copy of the template when prompted.

    • Change the document name to FirstName_LastName.DA_Presentation (ex: John_Doe.DA_Presentation)

    • Share your copy with admissions@marcylabschool.org and ifeoma@marcylabschool.org, providing both with editor access.

  • Approved Resources:

    Feel free to use any of the following to complete your data challenge:

    • resources on this website

    • our office hours (click the dates to access them - Wednesday 07/01 5:00-6:00pm ET or Wednesday 07/08, 5:00pm-6:00pm ET)

    • support from friends, family, teachers, mentors, Marcy alum - as long as they don’t provide you with answers

    • resources, OTHER THAN AI RESOURCES, you find through Google (or a comparable search engine) or YouTube (or a comparable video platform)

    • textbooks

    • online tutorial sources like Khan Academy

    Prohibited Resources

    • Please do not use any generative AI platform, including but not limited to ChatGPT, to work on your data challenge. The answers these platforms provide can be wonky. Additionally, using these sites could inhibit you from learning, retaining, and applying the concepts you need to know to navigate your final interview or our Fellowship.

  • Once you’ve completed your data challenge, you’ll submit in SMApply, the same platform you used to submit your initial application. Specifically, you’ll:

    1. Log back into your 2026 Data Analytics Fellowship portal in SMapply.

    2. Click the green “start” button on the 2026 Data Analytics section of your portal. You should be taken to a new page that has “Data Challenge Submissions” under the application portion of “your tasks.”

    3. Click the right arrow on your Data Challenge submissions tab. This will take you to a new page with a Data Challenge Submission Form.

    4. In the spaces provided, paste the links that take us to your work for Challenge 1 (Data Tasks) & Challenge 2 (Presentation).

    5. Paste, or write, your Data Challenge Reflection in the space provided.

    6. Hit the green MARK AS COMPLETE button.