Dilemma. Science internship or prestigious conferences?

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
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<p>I'm facing a problem in deciding what to do next summer in terms of activities. I don't want to sound pretentious, but this just my personal evaluation of what I can and can't do next summer. </p>

<p>I'm pretty sure I can get a local internship with a professor doing research and whatnot, and I have the stats to be entered in the RSI/SSP/etc. lottery. IDK if I will get into anything really prestigious, but it is a possibility. This sorta thing will be rather singular, because internships tend to take up the entire summer.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I'm also pretty sure I'll qualify to go NFL (Speech and Debate) Nationals and I can reasonably see myself quarterfinal-ing (Top 30 in the nation in my event) there. I also have a place on my state's youth in government CONA (Conference on National Affairs) delegation. CONA is a fairly prestigious debate conference that each state sends a delegation of about 20 to. If I take this path, I'll probably run a debate camp in the summer for my upcoming freshmen to get them ready. </p>

<p>Which 'path' would you guys recommend I take? I'm equally interested in research and in debate, and I've been doing both for years now. It's more a matter of which would look better to adcoms and which would be more rewarding in terms of my learning.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>CONA is a joke. no college cares about that.</p>

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<p>out of curiosity-what event did you qualify in?</p>

<p>I went to NFL nationals this year as a junior-and it doesnt coincide with any internships. I would def suggest going to nationals if you are that confident in placing, because this is MUCH MUCH better than whatever CONA is. Also, if you get into something like RSI-GO, WITHOUT A DOUBT.</p>