TL;DR – Key Takeaways
- Choosing a final year project that is too ambitious can lead to missed deadlines, unfinished work, and excessive stress. It’s crucial to assess feasibility before you commit.
- Warning signs of an overly ambitious project include a very broad scope, dependence on many new or advanced technologies, unrealistic timelines, or if mentors warn the scope is too large. These red flags indicate you may be biting off more than you can chew.
- It’s better to complete a smaller project well than to half-finish a grandiose one. Focus on a manageable core idea – you can always add extra features if time permits. Depth and quality impress examiners more than superficial breadth.
- If you realize your project is impossible to finish on time, talk to your supervisor immediately. Work on scaling down the scope to a “minimum viable project” that meets requirements. Prioritize core functionality and drop nice-to-haves to ensure you have something complete to submit.
- Case studies show that many students who chose over-ambitious projects struggled or had to change plans. For example, one student admitted “my project was too ambitious and was more suited to postgraduate studies” after months of effort led to an incomplete result
- Plan and choose wisely: Before finalizing a project, evaluate if it’s realistic within your time and skill constraints. Seek feedback on your idea’s scope. When in doubt, err on the side of simplicity – you can still achieve a high grade with a well-executed, focused project.
Final year engineering and CS projects are meant to be challenging, but there’s a fine line between challenging and unmanageable. Many students aim high with innovative, complex project ideas – only to find out too late that the scope is far beyond what a single student or team can accomplish in the given timeframe. This article addresses common questions students have about overly ambitious final year projects, how to recognize the issue early, and what steps to take to avoid or mitigate this all-too-common problem.
How do I know if my final year project is too ambitious?
It’s important to honestly evaluate your project idea at the start. Here are key signs that your final year project might be too ambitious for the time and resources available:
The scope is extremely broad or undefined
If your project attempts to solve a huge, multi-faceted problem or integrate multiple major systems at once, that’s a red flag. For example, trying to build an entire “next Facebook” or a full self-driving car system as a student project is unrealistic.
One university guide cautions that projects often “start out too ambitious for the time available and this can cause problems later.”
If your project proposal reads like a large commercial product or a graduate-level thesis, consider narrowing it. A project that could actually be two or three separate projects is certainly too broad.
You have to learn many new technologies or skills mid-project
Final year projects should stretch your skills, but there’s a limit. Needing to simultaneously master a new programming language, a complex AI framework, and advanced hardware integration (for example) all within a few months suggests the project may be overly ambitious.
Over-reliance on unfamiliar tech will slow you down. It’s better to pick a project where you at least know the basics needed, or can learn one new thing at a time.
If everything in your project is new to you, the learning curve could consume your entire schedule, leaving no time to actually build the solution.
Your timeline and tasks don’t realistically match up
A good feasibility check is to break the project into tasks and estimate time for each. If those estimates far exceed the weeks you have, or if you find that just setting up the prerequisites will take months, the project is likely too ambitious.
For instance, say you have 4 months and your plan requires building a custom hardware prototype, collecting data from 50 users, and coding a complex algorithm from scratch – it might not fit. Projects with unclear end-points or expanding features are dangerous. In
fact, “scope creep” (continuously adding features) is a common reason projects fail or miss deadlines.
Be wary if your project plan has many “if time permits, we will also add X” items – that’s often asign of over-ambition.
Mentors or past students hint the project is too large
Listen to feedback. If your supervisor or instructors raise concerns that the scope is too large, take that seriously. They have seen many projects and can recognize over-ambition.
Similarly, if you struggle to find any past student projects even remotely as extensive as yours, that’s telling. As one expert noted,
an overly ambitious topic can quickly become “unmanageable and stretch your resources thin”, often leading to an incomplete result. Early warnings from faculty or peers are there to save you from that fate – don’t ignore them.
Signs of an overly ambitious project (Checklist)
To recap, ask yourself these questions early on:
Problem Size:
Am I trying to solve a very broad problem with many sub-problems? (If yes, likely too ambitious.)
New Skills:
Do I need to learn multiple complex skills/technologies during the project? (If yes, risk is high.)
Time Estimate:
When I map out tasks, do they fit comfortably into the available weeks/months? (If no, scope may be unrealistic.)
Guidance Feedback:
Have professors or past students suggested scaling down? (If yes, I should heed that advice.)
Resource Needs:
Do I require special data, equipment, or access that is hard to get quickly? (Ifyes, the project could be impractical.)
If several of these apply, there’s a good chance your project idea is too ambitious as it stands. That doesn’t mean you must abandon it entirely – but you should refine and narrow the scope (more on how to do that below).
Why do students choose overly ambitious final year projects?
It’s a curious problem: if over-ambitious projects cause so much trouble, why do students keep picking them? Understanding the reasons can help you avoid the trap.
Pressure to stand out and impress
Final year projects are often seen as the capstone of your degree – something you’ll show to recruiters or use to demonstrate your skills. Students naturally want a project that sounds impressive or groundbreaking. In the quest to stand out, it’s easy to overestimate what you can achieve.
For example, you might think building a new AI-driven platform will wow everyone, whereas a simple web app seems too “boring.” This pressure can push students toward grand ideas that exceed what a student project realistically entails. Remember, a well-executed moderate project can be just as impressive as an unfinished ambitious one.
In fact, industry mentors emphasize that completing a moderate-size project fully is better than half-building something overly ambitious . Employers and professors value quality, reliability, and depth of understanding – not just big ideas with no results.
Underestimating complexity (and overestimating ability)
Students may not realize how complex their idea truly is. This is often due to limited experience – you’ve learned concepts in class but maybe haven’t managed a large project on your own before. It’s easy to say “I’ll use machine learning to do X” without seeing the hundreds of hours needed for data prep, model tuning, and testing.
Likewise, building a hardware prototype might sound straightforward until you hit unforeseen engineering challenges. Over-ambition often starts with optimism and confidence – which are good traits in moderation – but without a reality check, they lead to trouble.
As productivity expert Cal Newport observes, many students are taught to “follow their passions and change the world” without equal emphasis on realistically building the skills and executing projects step by step.
This can lead well-intentioned students to propose lofty projects before they’re truly prepared, thinking passion alone will carry them through. In reality, big ideas require depth of knowledge and lots of time – things undergrads are still developing.
Lack of guidance or research during topic selection
Sometimes students jump into a project idea without seeking enough input. You might come up with an idea and feel excited about it, and by the time you discuss it with a supervisor (or perhaps you don’t discuss it much at all), you’re already committed.
Without early feedback, it’s easy to choose something unfocused. Ideally, one should do a bit of research to see if similar projects have been done, and ask faculty whether the idea is feasible. If you skip this step, you might not realize an idea is unworkable until you’re deep into it.
Additionally, some students feel they have to pick a cutting-edge or extremely novel topic, and no one discourages them in time. Universities do encourage ambition and innovation, so it’s understandable – but there is a balance.
You have the freedom to choose your topic, but also the responsibility to ensure it’s within reasonable scope for an undergraduate in one year. If that balance isn’t clear, over-ambition can happen by mistake.
Fear of missing out on a “great” idea
Another subtle reason is that students sometimes fall in love with a project idea – perhaps it’s your “dream project” or something you’ve always wanted to build. Even if warnings pop up that it’s too large, you might push them aside because you really want to attempt it.
There’s a fear that scaling down means settling for less or that you won’t get another chance to do something this exciting. The irony is that sticking stubbornly to an unrealistic plan often means you don’t get the result you wanted at all. It’s better to be honest now than regret it later.
You can always pursue your big idea in the future when you have more resources; for your final year, a well-chosen manageable project will still allow you to learn and showcase your skills.
Bottom line: Students choose overly ambitious projects usually out of enthusiasm and the desire to excel, not laziness. However, without a reality check, that initial excitement can lead you down a difficult path. The key is to channel your enthusiasm into a project that you can actually complete and do a good job on. That will impress people far more than an idea that never quite comes together.
What happens if I can’t finish my final year project on time?
One of the biggest fears students have is failing the final year project. If you realize you cannot complete the project by the deadline, it’s a serious situation – but it’s important to know what can happen and what options you might have. Policies vary by university, but here are common outcomes and steps:
Potential academic consequences
If a project is not completed or is of very poor quality, you could receive a low mark or fail the project module. Since the final project often carries a lot of credits, failing it might mean failing the year or not graduating on time.
Some universities allow a re-submission or extension in extenuating circumstances – for example, if you have a valid reason (like illness or resource issues) and your supervisor supports an extension request. In many cases, if you simply ran out of time due to a too-
large scope (which is within your control), you might be stuck with the grade you get and have to accept a delay in graduation or do a make-up assignment if offered.
This is why catching the issue early and talking to your department is crucial. They might be able to help before the deadline passes (such as adjusting the project expectations). It’s worth noting that “not finishing” doesn’t always mean an outright zero. Some projects are graded on what’s delivered.
If you submit an incomplete product, you may still get partial credit for what you did accomplish (with point deductions for missing features or weak analysis). However, the result is likely far below your potential. In a worst-case scenario, a completely failed project could require you to redo the project or an additional semester. Clearly, this is not a situation you want to be in if it can be helped.
Personal and professional impact
Beyond the immediate academic issue, there’s the personal toll. Working frantically on an impossible project often leads to burnout, anxiety, and a hit to your confidence. It’s tough to watch peers submit polished projects while yours might barely work.
This can also affect references – if your project goes poorly, your mentor may not be able to write a strong recommendation, and you might feel you can’t showcase the project in job interviews. That said, one “failure” is not the end of the world.
Many students have stumbled and still gone on to do fine in their careers, especially if they can articulate what they learned from the experience.
Employers understand that projects can go wrong. In interviews, focus on the problem-solving and perseverance you demonstrated rather than the fact that not everything was completed.
Still, it’s obviously better to avoid pushing a project to failure in the first place.
Communication is key if you’re in trouble
If you realize time is running out and your project is nowhere near complete, inform your supervisor or project advisor immediately. It may be tempting to keep trying in silence, but if the deadline is looming, transparency is usually better.
Faculty might offer options such as scaling down requirements or granting a small extension (if you have a valid reason and it’s allowed). At the very least, they can advise you on which parts of the project to focus on to maximize your partial credit.
For example, maybe you can’t implement everything, but you could submit a working prototype of the core feature and a detailed report on how you would extend it.
That might pass you, whereas trying and failing to deliver all features could leave you with nothing working at all. Do not be afraid to ask, “What is the minimum I need to deliver to pass?” – it’s a pragmatic question when time is nearly up. Also, check your university’s policies. Some programs allow a resit or second attempt for major projects, possibly over the summer, if you fail the first attempt.
There might be a cap on the grade for a resubmitted project (for instance, even if you do great on retry, they might cap it at a pass). Knowing these details can inform your decisions. For instance, if you know you can redo it, you might decide to take the hit and prepare to try again properly (though that means delaying graduation). If there is no second chance, you’ll want to salvage whatever you can now.
Learning from a near-failure
Lastly, if you truly cannot finish, treat it as a learning experience. Document what went wrong – perhaps in your report or personal notes. Universities often give some points for reflection.
Show that you understand why the project failed (e.g. “the scope was too large for a single year and single developer, given that implementing feature X and Y each took longer than expected”).
You might not earn much back immediately, but this reflection can turn a negative into personal growth. It will help you
immensely in future projects to not repeat the same mistakes.
In summary, failing to finish a final year project has serious academic repercussions, but by acting early and strategically, you may avoid the worst outcomes. The situation underscores why selecting a realistic project (or adjusting one) is so important. Next, we’ll discuss how to avoid getting into this scenario in the first place.
Has a final year project ever failed due to being too ambitious? (Real case study)
Yes – it happens more often than you might hear about publicly. Many students have faced project failure or last-minute scope cuts because they aimed too high initially. Let’s look at one concrete example as a cautionary tale:
Case Study:
A psychology undergraduate (we’ll call her Anna) designed an ambitious final project to study visually impaired children. She planned to build a special software and test it on 30 blind children as participants – a noble idea, but extremely challenging for a student project.
Anna underestimated how hard it would be to recruit participants. She started early, contacting schools and organizations for the blind. After months, she had only secured 2 participants.
With time running out, the entire project’s data collection was in jeopardy. She eventually had to abandon her original plan and drastically change the project to something feasible in the remaining time.
Reflecting on the experience, Anna said: “In hindsight, my project was too ambitious and was more suited to postgraduate
studies. If I was in the same position again I would definitely choose a less specialized population and save myself from months of added stress!”.
Her story highlights how even a well-intentioned, interesting project can collapse if it’s designed on a scope that an undergraduate cannot realistically manage alone.
Now consider a tech example:
A group of computer engineering students decided to develop a fully autonomous drone delivery system for their final year project. They were excited by emerging tech and wanted to integrate hardware, computer vision, routing algorithms, and a custom mobile app – all in one project.
As the year progressed, they fell behind. The drone hardware took far longer than expected to assemble and calibrate, and writing reliable vision algorithms was beyond their current skill level.
Two months before the deadline, the system was nowhere near functional. Their professors advised them to simplify, but even after cutting features, the team only managed to demonstrate a basic manually-controlled drone by the deadline, with none of the autonomy working. The result was a low grade and a lot of frustration.
One team member admitted afterward that they should have focused on just one aspect (like the vision system) rather than trying to do “the whole product.” This case isn’t from a headline news story, but it’s a composite of real scenarios students have faced.
The takeaway: over-ambition in a project can lead to an outcome where little is fully achieved, whereas a narrower initial goal could have succeeded.
These cases show that choosing an overly ambitious project can indeed lead to failure or incomplete results. The important thing is that you can learn from these examples. Next, we’ll cover how you can avoid falling into the same trap.
“I witnessed a classmate’s project fall apart because it was too complex. That scared me. Halfway through my own project, I realized I was heading down a similar path – I had proposed building a whole social network app by myself. I decided to scale it down dramatically. With my professor’s help, I focused just on the core feature (a working messaging system) and dropped the rest. In the end, I delivered a functional prototype and passed with a decent grade. It was nowhere near my original vision, but I’m glad I finished something. The experience taught me that it’s better to have a small success than a big failure.” – Alex, B.Sc. Computer Science 2024
How can I choose a final year project that’s realistic (and avoid
impossible ideas)?
When selecting your project (or refining an idea), the goal is to hit the sweet spot: interesting and challenging enough to motivate you, but feasible enough to complete within your limits. Here are strategies to ensure you choose a project idea that you can see through to the end:
Evaluate the scope against time and resources
This is the fundamental step. For any idea you’re considering, sketch out what major components or tasks are involved.
Then estimate how long each might take (be generous with time estimates; things often take longer than you think). Include time for learning, debugging, writing the report, etc.
Now look at your timeline. Do those tasks fit into, say, 6 months of work? If your rough plan already seems full or overstuffed, the scope is likely too big.
It’s wise to prune the idea down before you even begin. Consider doing one part of a bigger idea. For example, if you imagined making a multi-platform game with 10 levels, maybe scope it to a single-platform game with 2 levels focusing on the core gameplay.
You can acknowledge in your report what the “future expansion” could be, but keep the actual
deliverable realistic.
Feasibility is a key criterion for a good project – one academic source flatly states “a topic that is too ambitious may prevent timely graduation”, emphasizing that ideas must be evaluated for do-ability.
Set clear, achievable objectives
Define what “done” means for your project. Projects tend to become impossible when the finish line is fuzzy. Before you start coding or building, write down specific objectives (e.g., “System can classify images with at least 90% accuracy” or “Robot can navigate to three predefined points autonomously”).
Having concrete, limited goals helps keep the project in check. If you find yourself listing a dozen objectives, some of which sound like “stretch goals,” trim them down. Remember that overly ambitious objectives can be kryptonite for project timelines.
A good project usually has one primary goal and maybe a couple of secondary goals. You can use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) to sanity-check your objectives 10.
For example, “achievable” and “realistic” in SMART inherently question whether the goal fits the time and skills. This kind of upfront clarity will steer you toward a project scope that is reasonable.
Discuss ideas with a mentor or advisor early
It’s hard to judge your own idea’s ambition level in isolation. That’s why it’s highly recommended to run your project idea by a faculty member or an experienced mentor early on – before you fully commit. Explain what you intend to do and ask frankly if it sounds doable. They might point out hidden challenges or suggest a narrower focus. Don’t be afraid that they’ll shoot down your idea; if they do, it’s for a good reason. It’s much better to refine or change your plan in the first month than to realize in month eight that you’re doomed. Many times, an advisor can help you find the “core” of your idea that is worth pursuing and cut away the excess. For example, if you propose something like “I want to develop a new e-commerce website with AI-based recommendations and AR features,” your mentor might say “That’s actually three projects in one. Why not focus on the recommendation algorithm as the project?” – which is sound advice. Take advantage of their experience. (Pro tip: If you don’t have easy access to a mentor, even discussing with peers or searching for similar past projects online can give insight into scope.)
Choose a project in a familiar domain (with a twist)
One way to ensure realism is to pick a project related to things you already know. This doesn’t mean it has to be trivial or something you’ve done before, but leveraging your strengths is wise.
For instance, if you have done multiple web development assignments and enjoyed them, a web-based project might be a safe and productive choice – you can then add one novel element to push yourself (like integrating a machine learning API or a new framework) without having to build everything from scratch.
On the other hand, if you try to do something in a completely new field (say, a CS student deciding to do a pure electronics hardware project without having that background), you’re likely to hit roadblocks.
Selecting a familiar context means you can spend more time on the interesting part of the project rather than catching up on basics. It’s about being ambitious in moderation: do something new, but not
everything new all at once.
Learn from past projects
A very practical step is to review examples of past final year projects in your department. Most departments keep a repository or at least titles of previous projects.
By examining those, you get a sense of what scope is typical. If all past projects in your field that got good grades seem much smaller than your idea, that’s a sign you should adjust.
Conversely, you might find inspiration on how to scale your idea. Perhaps someone did a project that is a subset of what you had in mind – you could expand a bit on it but not too much.
Some colleges also publish guidelines like “the project should be roughly the workload of one course per semester” – use those as a measuring stick. Seeing what others have successfully done can calibrate your ambition to a realistic level.
Lastly, remember that your final year project doesn’t have to change the world to be valuable. It is first and foremost a learning exercise and a chance to apply what you know.
A modest project that you execute well, document thoroughly, and understand deeply will earn you a high mark and valuable experience.
It’s fine to be a bit ambitious – that’s how we innovate – but always within reason. One Open University professor put it nicely: “Be ambitious but realistic:
You should push yourself… But be careful not to assume you can learn a whole new field… Projects often start out too ambitious for the time available, and this can cause problems.” . Use that wisdom when choosing your topic.
(Side note: If you’re struggling to come up with a feasible idea, consider reading guides like How to Brainstorm
and Choose a Feasible Final Year Project Idea on AssignmentDude’s blog. We offer step-by-step advice on
evaluating project ideas and avoiding common pitfalls.)
How can I manage or scale down an over-ambitious project mid-way?
Maybe you’re already in the thick of your project and alarm bells are ringing that it’s too much. Don’t panic – there are steps you can take to recover and still come out with a successful submission. Here’s how to manage an ongoing project that turned out more ambitious than expected:
Prioritize the core requirements (MVP approach)
Identify the absolute core functionality or research question of your project – the minimum that needs to be achieved to call the project a success. This is essentially defining a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for your project. Then, commit to focusing only on that core until it’s done. All extra features or “nice-to-haves” should be tabled for now.
For example, if your project was a mobile app with 10 features, pick the top 1-2 features that demonstrate your concept and make sure those work perfectly.
It’s far better to deliver a working prototype with one great feature than a half-baked app with many buggy features. By narrowing scope mid-way, you increase your chances of finishing something you can demo.
Many mentors advise students in trouble to “strip the project to its essence and get that working first.” If time allows, you can then add back some extras, but only after the core is solid.
Communicate with your supervisor and adjust expectations
As mentioned earlier, involve your supervisor in your plan to scale down. Explain which parts of the original plan you intend to drop or simplify. In most cases, supervisors will be relieved to see you taking a realistic approach.
They can also help redefine the project aims in official terms so that your assessment will be based on the adjusted scope. Get clarity: for instance, agree that “instead of building a full e-commerce site, the project will now focus on the recommendation engine module with dummy data.”
Having this in writing or email can protect you during grading, ensuring the examiners know that the scope was modified with approval. Your supervisor might also have advice on which sections to prioritize for maximum credit.
They know the marking scheme – perhaps a working implementation of core functionality plus a discussion of how you would extend itcan score enough points. Use their insight so you spend time on the most credit-yielding tasks given the time left.
Trim documentation and deliverables smartly
An ambitious project often comes with ambitious documentation plans – maybe you thought you’d write a lengthy thesis covering many experiments, etc. When scaling down the work itself, also scale down documentation accordingly. You still must meet the requirements (e.g., you can’t skip writing a report), but keep your report focused on the core parts you did.
It’s acceptable to mention that certain planned features were dropped due to time constraints; frame it professionally as a scope adjustment. One tip: include any preliminary work or research you did for the dropped parts in an appendix or chapter on “Future Work.”
This shows you considered those aspects (and perhaps understand how to dothem if given more time), which can earn you some credit for insight, even though you didn’t implement them. It signals that you managed the project responsibly by re-scoping it, which looks better than simply failing silently.
Also, if you’re graded on an oral presentation, be upfront about how you focused the project. Emphasize the success of what you did complete, rather than apologizing for what you didn’t – confidence goes a long way.
Seek help or collaborate if possible
In some cases, you might be allowed to seek extra help. Check if there are any lab assistants, PhD students, or peers who can lend a hand in a crunch (without violating any academic integrity rules – always clarify that). Sometimes just consulting an expert for an hour can save you days of struggle on a tough problem.
If your project is solo and it’s really overwhelming, talk to your advisor about whether any aspect can be treated as a group effort or if you can make use of existing frameworks to lighten the load.
Using pre-built libraries or tools instead of reinventing the wheel can drastically cut down the work– it’s not cheating, it’s smart project management, as long as you document what you used.
For example, if implementing a certain algorithm from scratch is bogging you down, see if an open-source implementation exists that you can utilize (with credit given). The goal is to finish the project, not to get stuck in one subsection forever. Professionals use all the help and tools available; you can too, within the guidelines.
Adjust your time management and push through
Finally, when you’ve trimmed the project to a manageable size, make a detailed mini-schedule for the remaining time. Prioritize like crazy. It might mean some late nights and sacrifices, but short-term focus can get you to the finish line.
Use project management tricks: break tasks into very small chunks, knock out something every day, and keep track of progress visually (like a checklist or Kanban board). Celebrate small wins – each feature completed or each section written is progress.
At this stage, avoid adding anything new not in the plan. It’s common even after scaling down to get a bit ambitious again (“oh maybe I can also include a quick demo of X…”). Resist that urge unless you are genuinely ahead of schedule.
Stick to the basics and get them done. Also, take care of yourself during the final stretch – exhaustion can lead to mistakes and setbacks. Take short breaks to clear your head if you’re debugging an issue for too long. Sometimes stepping away for an hour can solve a problem faster than brute- forcing through tired eyes.
By taking these steps, many students have rescued projects that seemed destined to fail. It’s never too late to be pragmatic. Remember, the ultimate aim is to have a completed project you can submit, even if it’s smaller than you envisioned.
You’ll likely find that achieving a scaled-down goal feels much better than chasing an unrealistic goal and missing it. Plus, you can always continue to work on the project after grading, if it truly interests you – without the pressure of a deadline.
Conclusion: Balancing Ambition with Reality
A final year project is one of the most significant tasks in an engineering or CS student’s journey. Choosing the right project can mean a rewarding experience and a strong finish to your degree. Choosing an overly ambitious project, on the other hand, can turn that journey into a nightmare of stress and scrambling. The key lessons are: be bold and creative with your ideas, but also be brutally honest about what’s achievable in the time you have and with the skills you possess.
If you’re currently in the project selection phase, take the time to brainstorm ideas and then filter the through a feasibility lens. It’s not “playing it safe” – it’s being wise.
You can always make an idea more sophisticated if you find you have extra time, but it’s much harder to scale back once you’re deep in. If you’ve already realized you’re in over your head, don’t be afraid to course-correct. Almost every ambitious student project can be adjusted to a smaller scope that still meets the requirements.
Talk to your mentors, focus on the essentials, and salvage what you can. You’ll learn a great deal in the process, arguably more than if everything went smoothly from the start.
Finally, remember that help is available. If you need guidance on rescuing a tough project or want expert input early on, don’t hesitate to seek it out. For instance, services like AssignmentDude’s Final Year Project Help exist to assist students in planning and executing their projects successfully.
Whether it’s brainstorming a feasible topic, getting mentorship on coding, or just having a sanity check on your project plan, using available resources is a smart move – many top students do.
In summary, aim high but keep your feet on the ground. A successful final year project is one that is completed to a high standard, not one that remained a grand idea. With careful planning, ongoing reality checks, and the courage to adjust when needed, you can ensure your project showcases your best work without running into the impossible.
