Is debate worth it?

<p>I'm debating whether or not to do debate next year. At my school, to participate in policy debate, you must also be in the class. I did do debate this year, and it took up a lot of time and all my weekends in the fall. I'm fairly good (but not the best) in my year, and I don't know whether I should continue or not. Do colleges like seeing debate on applications (is it worth all the work and time)?</p>

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You have already begun walking your path, young grasshopper; now, you must recognize it.</p>

<p>Do debate if you like it, don’t if you don’t. When determining if it’s worth it, ask if it is worth it to you, and not if it is worth it for colleges. For down that path lay madness!</p>

<p>If you’re worried about prep time, I suggest you do a speech or debate competition that requires very little prep, such as parli or impromptu.</p>

<p>As for the college application process, I think it’s just a crapshoot. I know nationally ranked debaters that had very good grades and test scores and got rejected from Ivies and the such. </p>

<p>On the other hand, I also know other debaters that were not necessarily the best, but used it as one of their extra curics and got into Harvard. S&D may or may not have helped them, though. I can’t really say.</p>