Debate forum importance?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm a new CCer, so don't eat me please. :3 I just have a question about the relative usefulness of my new club on an application.</p>

<p>I'm a rising junior and I have come to the (for me, exceedingly tragic) conclusion that 90% of my school does not know anything about world issues. Or even domestic issues in the US, for crying out loud. I'll bet more than half of them couldn't name our state governor. It frustrates me. So, I put in a proposal at the end of the year for a new club called Forum. I haven't heard the official word back from my faculty moderator yet, but she said that the administration has been responding to it favorably, so hopefully we'll be able to start it up right at the beginning of the year.</p>

<p>This is my vision: </p>

<p>Metting #1. The club gets together at the beginning of the year. We pick a topic of relative importance to the world outside of our school that not many people know a lot about, and one that there is some degree of controversy surrounding.</p>

<p>Meeting #2. People who really care about the issue prepare a short presentation, presenting both sides of the issue, and we get as many people as we possibly can to attend, and hopefully get a guest speaker to come from time to time.</p>

<p>Meeting #3. Presumably people are informed about both sides of the issue by now. We split into sides and debate out different aspects of the issue in a fashion reminiscent of parliamentary debate. Hopefully we all come out intellectually refreshed and better off for the experience.</p>

<p>Lather, rinse, repeat, etc.</p>

<p>My question is this: how good will this look to colleges? I plan on investing quite a bit of time into it, but some of my peers (the ones not quite as braindead) have voiced concern that its hybrid nature (debate team meets advocacy group) is a major turn-off. This is something I really really want to do and am going to do regardless of how it will look to colleges, but if it won't count for very much I'll also try to do more stuff, too.</p>

<p>If you've read this far you are a saint. Help?</p>

2

<p>I think this sounds like a really great idea. It will definitely be an asset to your application. Make sure it actually happens though. It sounds like people aren't quite sure it will work. If you succeed, it sounds like an excellent EC to write about for the "most significant EC" essay.</p>

3

<p>When you guys ask this question about an EC I wonder what you're thinking. Anyone can start a club anytime anywhere. The issue is what it becomes.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the support. I do have a core of supporters who I know will work on it with me; it's just a few naysayers got me worried for a while. I'll make it happen or die trying. :)</p>

<p>And UCgradmary, I was just asking for an opinion on how meritorious the club will be if it works out the way I planned. Cheers.</p>

5

<p>It doesn't matter whether or not it will look good to colleges. I just hate hearing about people who want to know how a particular EC will help them get into college... but I'm glad you're really passionate about this problem in our generation. (I've noticed it too!) All that matters is the effort you put into it, and everything will fall into place after that, even if it doesn't succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Don't let doubters get you down, and just do your best to keep it alive. As for what looks good for college, just do everything you're interested in, and give 110% of your effort. Good luck!</p>