<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>So I have a question about debate. I just lost in congressional debate at NCFLs. It was the preliminary round. Bummer.
But, my primary concern is how that hurts my chances at HYPSM. I was third in my state, first in NFL international extemp in maryland, second in domestic extemp in maryland. I don't know how I'll do at nationals for extemp, but how impressive or unimpressive is qualifying for ncfls and ranking like listed above in states?</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Please be honest. </p>
<p>To be honest, you’re wasting your time concentrating on congressional debate if you are just participating to put it on your college app. Colleges know that people do this and can see right past it. Unless you can qualify and rank high at the TOC next year, you can stop worrying about it, because you’re not going to get much better and colleges don’t care. Also, colleges don’t care much about debate except for policy, congress, and LD. This is generally people only do extemp and pofo to put on their college apps, and really don’t build research and critical thinking skills. You may disagree, but this is the general consensus. Also, if you can’t even break at NCFLs, you’re not that good anyway. Bottom line, don’t rely on your extemp career to get you into HYPSM, because it won’t. There are literally thousands of other applicants that are in more valued events and ranked higher (TOC, NCFL, CFL champions). That being said its still a valuable experience, but it won’t get you into college, especially at HYPSM.</p>
<p>@schlaag, I agree with your first two sentences but after that you get a little carried away with yourself. @dogsarecool123, you were obviously feeling depressed after not breaking at NCFL. If you enjoy congress and extemp, keep it up. If you don’t enjoy it, then quit. I agree with the prior poster to the extent that he says colleges see through it if you’re just joining debate to impress the HYPSM adcoms. My kid does some of the events that don’t count, according to schlaag, and like you has been very successful at the state level and qualified for TOC and Nats but not broken at them. My kid loves speech & debate and would do it no matter what. </p>
<p>Colleges don’t care how much you lose rounds. If you win a big tournament like TOC, mention it! But it you are a small time debater that never made it past local tournaments, that won’t hurt you. They just wanna see your commitment to it</p>
<p>Also, debate is debate. A college isn’t gonna look at an application and say “Wow! Public Forum!” And then look at another application and say “Boo! Oral Interp!” That’s not how things work lol. Just do your thing lol. :)</p>
<p>Also most kids can’t afford to travel to national tournaments. I’d like to think that adcoms are sensitive to that and don’t look down on kids who “only” succeed at their state level.</p>