# Getting started with AWS DeepRacer Student
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Use this tutorial to get started with AWS DeepRacer Student. The tutorial explains how to log in to AWS DeepRacer Student, update your profile, opt in to consideration for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship, start taking free courses in machine learning (ML) and reinforcement learning (RL), and create AWS DeepRacer models. If you don't opt in to the scholarship during account creation, you can opt in at a later time when you update your profile. 

**Topics**
+ [Prerequisites](#getting-started-prerequisites)
+ [Step 1: Sign up for AWS DeepRacer Student](#getting-started-step1)
+ [Step 2: Complete sign-up for AWS DeepRacer Student](#getting-started-step2)
+ [Step 3: (Optional) Read about and opt in to AWS AI & ML Scholarship consideration](#getting-started-step3)
+ [Step 4: Update your profile](#getting-started-step4)
+ [Step 5: Explore AWS DeepRacer Student from the **Home** page](#getting-started-step5)

## Prerequisites
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To access AWS DeepRacer Student and participate, you need: 
+ To be a student who is at least 16 years old and currently enrolled in a high school, community college, or college.
+ Or be an educator or event organizer for students in high school, university, or community college.
+ A valid email address.

## Step 1: Sign up for AWS DeepRacer Student
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You can sign up for AWS DeepRacer Student by using the URL provided in this procedure. When you sign up, you create an AWS Player account. This account can be used with certain other AWS services. If you already have an AWS Player account, you can use that account with AWS DeepRacer Student.

1. Open the [http://deepracerstudent.com/](http://deepracerstudent.com/) landing page.

1. Choose **Get started**.

1. On the **Sign in** page, if you don't already have an AWS Player account, choose **Sign up**. 
**Note**  
If you already have an AWS Player account, enter your information here. For more information about the AWS Player account, see [What are AWS Player accounts?](setting-up.md) 

1. On the **Sign up** page, enter the following information: 
   + **Email address** 
   + **Password**

1. Choose **Sign up**. An email with a confirmation code is sent to the email address you specified. 

1. In the pop-up that appears, enter your verification number and choose **Verify**.

1. On the AWS DeepRacer Student **Sign in** page, enter your **Email address** and **Password** and choose **Sign in**.

1. On the **Welcome to the AWS DeepRacer Student** pop-up, choose **Complete sign-up**. 
**Note**  
You can choose **I will do this later. Sign out for now** if you want to sign up at a later time.

## Step 2: Complete sign-up for AWS DeepRacer Student
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Complete the section to create your AWS DeepRacer Student account. All fields are required unless otherwise stated. 

1. Fill in the fields in the **Add your personal information to create your AWS DeepRacer Student account** section to create your account.

1. Select the checkbox to certify that you are a student enrolled in either high school or a university or community college.
**Note**  
If you are a high school student, do the following:   
For **School**, choose **Other**. Then, add the name of your high school to the field **Enter the name of your school**.
For **Current or prospective major,** choose **Undecided** or choose a possible prospective major from the list. 

## Step 3: (Optional) Read about and opt in to AWS AI & ML Scholarship consideration
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Read the information about the AWS AI & ML Scholarship and for whom it is intended in the **Do you want to be considered for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?** section. 

1. If you meet the criteria for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship, you can opt in to be considered. Choose the checkbox to confirm that you want to be considered for a scholarship. 
**Note**  
If you don't want to be considered for a scholarship or are undecided, leave the checkbox unselected and choose either **I will do this later. Sign out for now.** to sign out for now, or **Submit** to continue without opting in. You can also opt in when you update your profile.

1. (Optional) Use the dropdown lists to enter your information in the **Choose gender** and **Choose race (US participants only)** fields.

1. Choose **Submit**.

## Step 4: Update your profile
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To update your profile, use the **Your profile** page. You can also choose to opt in to the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program. If you receive achievements for your performance in AWS DeepRacer Student League, you can share them on social media from the **Your profile** page.

**To update your profile**

1. In AWS DeepRacer Student, in the left navigation pane, choose **Your profile**.

1. On the **Your profile** page, in **Racer name**, choose **Change your racer name**.
**Note**  
Your racer name can have between 2 and 24 characters. Letters, numbers, and hyphen (-) are allowed.

1. In the **Racer name** modal, enter your racer name and choose **Save**. If you decide that you don't want to change your racer name, choose **Cancel**.

1. In the **Your profile information** section, you can make changes to the following fields:
   + Name
   + Racer name
   + School name
   + Name of major
   + Year of graduation
   + Country of residency
**Note**  
 Selecting a country of residence is required so that you can enter AWS DeepRacer Student League virtual races and receive prizes. Once you submit your model to a race, your country of residence is locked in for the racing season. 

1. (Optional) In the **Do you want to be considered for the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?** section, you can view information about the scholarship and how to apply. 

   1. Select the checkbox to opt in for consideration in the scholarship program.

   1. (Optional) Enter your information in the **Choose gender** and **Choose race** fields.

   1. Choose **Submit**.

## Step 5: Explore AWS DeepRacer Student from the **Home** page
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The AWS DeepRacer Student **Home** page is the perfect place to start your exploration of all that AWS DeepRacer Student has to offer. From the **Home** page, you can do the following: 

**Get started learning the fundamentals of machine learning (ML)**  
You can use the free courses available in the **Learn** section of AWS DeepRacer Student. This robust offering helps you build a foundation for your machine learning journey with AWS DeepRacer Student. 

**Practice using your machine learning knowledge**  
After spending some time using the **Learn** courses, you're ready to create and train an AWS DeepRacer model. For more information, see [Training a reinforcement learning model in AWS DeepRacer Student](train-model.md). 

**Compete in AWS DeepRacer Student races**  
When you've finished training your first AWS DeepRacer model, you're ready to join a race. If you're racing in a student league monthly race, go to the **Open races** section and choose **Enter race**. When you've completed racing, check how your model did on the leaderboard along with data you need to make changes and improve your model. You earn points when you compete in monthly virtual races. These points determine your national and regional season standings. The top 3 racers for each month earn medals and prizes. For more information, see [Join an AWS DeepRacer Student race](join-race.md).

**Check model training hours**  
When you train and clone models, you use a portion of your free model training time. You can check on your model training hours remaining on the home page.

**Check the AWS DeepRacer Student racing calendar**  
View the racing calendar and start planning for your race day.

**Learn about the AWS AI & ML Scholarship**  
You can find out about the AWS AI & ML Scholarship and what you can do to prepare. For more information, see [What is the AWS AI & ML Scholarship program?](what-is-scholarship.md) 

**View other resources**  
You can discover other resources that can help you on your exploration of AWS DeepRacer Student, such as the Discord channel and AWS DeepRacer website. These resources help connect you to a community of racers and fans sharing tips and insights.