<p>This might be too specific for anyone on these boards to answer, but I am interested in debating for several of the institutions I'm applying too. As many are top 20 schools, they are obviously not easy to get into. I def. have a chance of getting into some, I have the stats. That said, I was wondering if debate coaches/instructors, can help an individual gain admission to a school in a similar way to athletic coaches. I don't think they can, but I was wondering if it was worth contacting coaches about this or not.</p>
<p>Debate is usually has club status. Therefore its sponsors wouldn't have much pull. However, if you can really emphasize your love of debate and your intentions to crank for the school's club, your file readers might consider THAT.</p>
<p>Debate (as far as I know) isn't something like the Orchestra or Women's Field hockey or Cross country</p>
<p>Certainly you should contact the Debate coach and have your coach perhaps send an extra recommendation. The type of debate you do will impact as not all schools do both Parliamentary and Policy. Naturally the type you do in High School will only have pull at schols that do your type.</p>
<p>Yes, as a former interper with lots of debate friends, I can tell you that debate can and does have major pull at some nationally competitive institutions. I have friends who have gotten decent scholarships for debate at Wake Forest, and the coaches definitely had pull with the admissions office. On a less selective scale, I know people who got full rides to Western Kentucky for speech and debate. If the schools you're looking at compete in the National Debate Tournament, there's a good chance it'll be considered. Now, that's only if you already debate now and you've got a long list of awards. Do you do VCX or LD? LD isn't an option at most schools. Some have public policy squads, but the biggest draw is CX. To be competitive for scholarships and admission preference you'll definitely need to have competed in your state tournament, and hopefully at the national level too. I'd contact coaches if I were you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Yeah I do policy. I've been top speaker twice in the state, won once, I qualified for nationals, and have had decent records with a little national circuit debate, haven't broken yet though, but haven't had many opportunities either. Hopefully coaches will recognize that. Wake is a school I'm considering, so cool. Does anyone know about Northwestern or Dartmouth? I highly doubt they can help you at Harvard, that's pushing it I'd say, but it's always worth asking since I do have really good stats, but at some of these schools I'm looking for that hook and this could be it I guess.</p>
<p>I know that all 8 Ivies are APDA members, so they do Parliamentary, which is closest to Public Forum on the high school level. </p>
<p>I don't know if any of them do other types of debate as well, maybe google "Dartmouth Debate" and see what you come up with. Send an e-mail to whoever is listed on the schools web site, I did this, and have been in touch with several schools. I'm not sure how/if it will affect my admissions or scholarships though.</p>
<p>If you Google Debate and the name of a school you will likely find their debate program. In general, policy is bigger outside the NorthEast and Parliamentary in the NorthEast.</p>
<p>The APDA and NDT both have websites that show the results of their tournaments this year so you can see which school entered into which type.</p>