By Kanika Agarwala, @deca.kanika | Burlington High School, MA
Congratulations! You succeeded at the association level, but it’s almost time for ICDC. Here is an overview of what changes to expect at the International level.
Before You Arrive
First, download the DECA ICDC app.
Attire: You must wear your official DECA blazer whenever you are in front of a judge or on stage. These can be purchased from Shop DECA in the B Registration Hall in Atlanta. If you are participating in a leadership academy, an official blazer is not required, but still make sure to dress according to the official DECA conference dress code. There will be over 26,000 people at ICDC, so expect a lot of walking. Make sure to wear comfortable dress shoes. It may also be warm in Atlanta, so plan accordingly!
Bag Policy: Because ICDC general sessions are held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, all members will be screened upon entry. The stadium recommends that you do not bring a bag. However, if you need to bring one, make sure to follow the posted guidelines. The stadium bag policy can be found here.
Navigating the Conference
Schedule: The schedule at ICDC is likely different from your state conference. Make sure to check the program for an overview of your competition schedule. Your specific competition time will be available in the mobile app. There are also three general sessions to attend: Opening Session, Achievement Award Session (finalists and high scorers announced), and the Grand Award Session (Top 10 finalists and Glass winners!).
Exhibit Hall: ICDC will have a huge exhibit hall with over 85 college, career and business exhibits from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday and Monday (Hall B3). This is a great opportunity to learn about future career paths and colleges. You can ask any questions you have, and there are a lot of fun activities and free merchandise!
Pin Trading: A huge part of ICDC is pin trading. You will receive multiple pins from your state and can trade these with members from around the country. Pin trading starts before the Opening Session and is one of the most enjoyable parts of ICDC. It is a great way to network, and many members get very into it!
The Competition
Judging: You will be assigned a section with a certain number of participants with whom you will compete in the preliminary competition. Expect judges to be very qualified in your industry. Every judge has multiple years of experience and holds a very high standard for your role-play or presentation. Remember, you are competing against the best of the best.
Scoring: Your ICDC scoring rubric will look different from what you received at your association conference. At ICDC, you will receive a competitive event transcript after the conference. Here is an article that provides more information on understanding the DECA competitive event transcript.
Before Competing: You'll want to check the DECA Guide for the specific guidelines and rubrics that you will be scored on at ICDC. You can find the competitive events section in the DECA Guide at this link.
All of that being said, don’t stress too much! ICDC is a great experience and the epitome of the DECA year.
Best of luck at ICDC!
