I’m a very passionate debater, and I want to debate for Harvard in the future. I was just wondering if it would increase my chances of getting in if I did competitive policy debate for them.
No
@skieurope Why not? Say that @harihakumar were a top 5 debater in the country this year, would that not be as impressive as, say, placing in the top 5 at Siemens for a kid applying for chemistry or biology?
@SouthernHope Nowhere does the OP state that s/he is nationally ranked, although I don’t know that would make a difference. The OP asked an opinion. I gave mine. That’s all it is. Nobody outside admissions knows the real answer.
However, I am of the opinion that Harvard views all EC’s, with the exception of recruited athletes and perhaps orchestra, as pretty much equal. At least with the recruits, they have a Harvard employee (the coach) as an advocate. I do not believe that the Debate Union coach has anywhere near that type of pull.
If the OP’s dedication comes through in other ways, and is also reflected in the essays, than that will help. But simply being a debater, no IMO.
I know a few students who were top ranked debaters having qualified for and competed in Worlds. I’m sure it helped them in getting in to places like Harvard, Princeton, as would a lot of activities where one could claim to be one of the best in the world. How much of a pull? Who knows?
If you are an average debater, I don’t think it would help at all. I’m sure Harvard has no shortage of applicants with debating experience.
@skieurope, you think orchestral musicians get an extra tip? That’s interesting. I think if I were adding on to sports it would be kids who have done significant service. Please expound. I do agree that lots of strong debate kids apply to Harvard. A lot of violinists do too, however.
@harithakumar : Yes. I think it can help. Does the coach know your name? Has he judged any of your tournaments? Have you been to the ToC? The debate teams do not get “slots” the way athletics does, but my sense is that the coach can put a thumb on the scales and give your application a boost. It may not count for anything more than another super recommendation, but it’s at least as good as that. D was told by the Harvard coach during a campus visit that he really wanted her (even though, being very realistic, I’m not sure she was even in the top 100 in the country) and would do what he could to help her application. Yes, that was a masterpiece of ambiguity, but she was admitted to Harvard (as well as Dartmouth), and we will never know how much debate played a role. Of course, then she quit debate for rugby, but that’s another story. Bottom line? The top schools in policy are always on the lookout for talent, and, if you have debated on the national circuit, it will be a definite plus – and, in my personal opinion, is probably worth more than some other ECs, since the research & reasoning skills you will have acquired translate readily into academic excellence.
No
Policy debaters are taught (and required) to support their assertions with evidence.
@eastgrad I said it’s possible, depending upon the instrument. I don’t know for sure; none of us do. However, the HRO is a well-regarded orchestra, as is its director, Federico Cortese. As he is also a full-time Harvard employee (unlike the debate coach), he might have some sway if he needs an oboe player. He probably has zero sway on a dime-a-dozen instrument.
That said, in no case will an orchestra “recruit” get admitted if the rest of the application is weak.
Bumping this-- I disagree with skieurope. Policy team has def pushed to get people accepted/off of the waitlist before. Also, the HCDU is different from the Harvard Debate Council, which has more pull. HDC is well funded, the coach is an employee here.