Compete
Compete
How do I register?
Get your team together and register on myMIST! The early registration deadline is still yet to be announced, but make sure you give yourself enough time to turn everything in on time.
Can I be in more than one competition?
Yes, as long as the competitions are in different categories. So for example, if you want to do Prepared Essay (Writing & Oratory) you can also do 3D Art (Arts). But you cannot do Photography (Arts) and 3D Art (Arts) because both of those are in the same category. So even if you have a small team, you can manage it in a way to maximize the amount of competitions you’re in. One person can participate in up to seven competitions (one for each category). Refer to List of Competitions for more information.
Can I have non-Muslims on my team?
Yes. MIST accommodates everyone. It’s a nice way for non-Muslims to interact with the Muslim community and learn more about Islam.
Does MIST have any prizes for winners?
Aside from medals and trophies for each competition, MIST has trophies for its top overall individuals and teams. Additionally, the First Place Overall Individual receives a scholarship, which will be provided when the competitor graduates high school and provides proof of college enrollment.
(Scholarship is limited to expenses related to university only, and must be accepted within one month of graduation. All other prizes provided must be redeemed within one month of the tournament they are won at.)
Can eighth graders attend MIST?
MIST is a competition designed for high school (9-12) students. However, many schools, such as K-12 or 8-12 schools, include eighth graders who are talented and mature enough to compete alongside high school students. So if an eighth grader attending one of these schools would like to attend MIST, they must obtain a letter of recommendation from their principal or MIST Ambassador. Eighth graders will be allowed to participate in MIST only as an exception, so there is a limit of 2 per team.
Can I get a refund if something comes up?
Unfortunately, no refunds are allowed, even if competitors are improperly registered or must be dropped from the team.
What are the registration fees? What is the late fee?
If you register by the early registration deadline, the fee will be $45. If you register between then and the late registration deadline, the fee will be $50. You have until the late registration deadline to finalize all registration—registration will be closed after this date.
I just want to play sports, nothing else. Is that possible?
NO! Being a well-rounded student doesn’t mean being awesome at a sport and not being able to do anything else! Any competitor who participates in a sport must also compete in at least one other competition.
Don’t forget that a sports team must be made up of at least five or six participants, unlike the Group Competitions. Refer to Prospective Teams regarding coalitions if your team cannot procure enough people.
Also remember that Sports will be held on separate dates than MIST weekend. These dates have been released on our Instagram. If you are participating in a sport, you MUST attend both Sports Weekend, and MIST itself. Otherwise you will be deducted points and your sports team may face disqualification.
What is MIST Nationals?
MIST is made up of several different regions, one of which is Detroit. MIST Nationals is when all the regions come together to compete, with the top three, four, or five individuals from each regional competition being able to participate in Nationals. The more participants who attend from Detroit, the cheaper it is for everyone to go. More information will be posted about Nationals when it is available.
Can I bring someone who won’t be competing to MIST?
Yes, but they must register beforehand as a Guest. They must also pay the $45 early registration fee or the $50 late registration fee.
If you still have questions after reading this guide, feel free to email registration@mistdetroit.com!
Prospective Teams
Prospective Teams
Can I join another school’s team? I don’t have a team at my school.
Make your own team! The purpose of MIST is to get people motivated to do something fun and educational. Recruit members from your own high school. We can’t let high schools join together because we want to keep the competition at MIST as fair as possible.
We do allow coalition teams for Bracket and Sports category competitions on a case-by-case basis. There is no limit to the number of schools involved in a coalition as long as the number of competitors does not exceed the maximum amount for that competition among the schools participating. Coalition requests must be sent to registration@mistdetroit.com by the Early Registration Deadline.
We already have an MSA. What should I do?
Talk to your MSA board about MIST and setup a meeting for all MSA members exclusively about MIST. Fill out the School Visit Form so that a MIST organizer can come to your high school in-person or virtually and help you convince others in your MSA to participate in MIST. If the MSA as a whole chooses not to participate in MIST, the few members who want to join the tournament can still represent your high school.
We don’t have an MSA? What can I do to participate in MIST?
Try to form one! An MSA is an Islamic educational organization open to students and faculty of any religion, gender, or national origin in your high school. If you do not have one already, refer to Forming a High School MSA. Having an organization or MSA will make it easier to keep registration organized. If you can’t form a MSA, try going to a cultural organization, or even your student government to sponsor MIST.
You may still compete if your high school does not have a school-recognized MSA or Muslim club. Just gather the students who are interested in MIST, encourage others to participate as well, and if they meet the qualifications at the end of this page, you are ready to start registration! And remember that even if you’re not competing, you can register as a guest! Registering as a guest allows full access to everything that competitors receive—the only difference is that guests cannot enter into any competitions.
My school hardly has any Muslims in it, can I still make a team?
Of course! MIST is open to high schoolers of all faiths, to share in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood that makes the tournament amazing. Are you Muslim and have a bunch of friends who aren’t but would love to compete? Add them to your team! Not Muslim but interested in competing and learning more about Islam? Join your school’s team!
Also your team can be as small as one person. There are many individual competitions for you to compete in (and win!) if you are the sole person on your team.
I’m ready to sign up. What now?
Have at least one competitor. Can’t get anyone else from your high school to come? Email us at marketing@mistdetroit.com so we can come in and help you out!
Have 1-2 coaches over the age of 21. If you have competitors of both genders, you MUST have 2 coaches of each gender.
Have an Ambassador to run the team’s registration.
Have all competitors, ambassadors, coaches, and guests sign up on myMIST.