Every project needs a viable team
A project with one student can't run. You need a minimum, and a plan for the students whose project doesn't make it.
Capstone projects
Capstone and project teams formed from what each student ranked
Students rank the projects they want to work on. You set each team's size and the fewest students a project needs. PickAndRank forms the teams at once, and only runs projects that reach their minimum.
For University capstone courses · Final-year design and engineering projects · Hackathons · Research placements
The problem
What makes it hard today
Popular projects oversubscribe
Some projects get three times the interest. Choosing by hand who gets in is hard to defend.
Industry partners are waiting
Teams need to be confirmed quickly, with clear lists to send on.
How it works
From sign-up to final lists
Add the projects
Give each project its largest team size and the fewest students it needs to run.
Students rank
They rank the projects they want, and can change their minds until sign-ups close.
Place everyone
Teams are formed together. A project that can't reach its minimum doesn't run, and its students are placed elsewhere where there are seats they can take, with a reason.
Publish and export
Students see their own team. Export the teams to Excel or CSV for partners and supervisors.
Example
A typical setup
Pick the Capstone teams template when you create an event. It fills in the options, seats and ranking rules for you to change.
| Option | Places | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Project A | Up to 5 | Needs at least 3 |
| Project B | Up to 5 | Needs at least 3 |
| Project C | Up to 5 | Needs at least 3 |
One round
- Rank your top 3, all 3 required
Built in
The rules you need
Minimums
A project only runs if it reaches its minimum. If it can't, it doesn't run, and its students are placed elsewhere where there are seats they can take.
A reason for every placement
Each student sees why they're on their team, like "Your 2nd choice. Project A (your 1st) was full."
Hand adjustments
Move a student between teams after placing, and see straight away if a move breaks a team size or minimum.
A full change log
Every move, removal and replaced link is recorded, with who made it and when, and exported with the results.
FAQ
Questions
Can I make sure some students get a better chance?
Yes. Priority levels give some students a better chance of a higher choice, without guaranteeing it. Students never see their level.
Is it the same if I place everyone again?
With the same rankings and seats, yes. Ties are settled by a secure random draw fixed for your event, so nobody can keep re-running it until a friend gets the seat.
What if a project is cancelled?
Its students are placed elsewhere where there are seats they can take, as close to their choices as the seats allow, and each one's result says the project didn't reach its minimum.
Ready to try it for capstone projects?
Every event is free for up to 30 people. Set it up in five minutes.