Hello,
I will be an incoming freshman this fall and I intend to use this opportunity to try things I have never done before. Two of the ECs I would love to try the most are Model U.N. and debate. Unfortunately, since my school schedule is pretty packed and the fact that both of these are pretty time-consuming, I do not think I will be able to participate in both. For those who are in Model UN and for those who are in debate, can you list what you like the most about it? Are there any downsides to either of these ECs?
Thanks!
I actually started competing in both ECs my freshman year! I really wonder if it is possible for you to do the same, my schedule was also really packed, but I was able to do both! For starters, would you be doing independent events in debate (like extemporaneous speaking, prose poetry) or policy? I personally do extemporaneous speaking, and honestly it’s a love hate relationship. I never knew I could hate something so much but love it at the same time!
Personally, I really enjoyed model united nations. I really liked formulating resolutions and debating them among crowds of people. Oh, and the fact that I competed in debate as well actually really helped my MUN skills and vice versa.
My advice would be to maybe see if you can try both, and then if you don’t like one, you can always drop out! Each EC is a different experience for each person, and you may feel like you’re better suited for one than the other. Best of luck!
I did debate (although I was in middle school, I competed in high school circuits–public forum) in eighth grade, and I’ve been doing MUN since freshman year of high school since debate was a) too time-consuming, and b) varsity practices were on a day that I couldn’t make (and I wasn’t going to stay in novice for the rest of high school).
I prefer Model UN. MUN is honestly one of the best experiences you’ll get; in addition to skills learned in debate, you actually have to work with other people in MUN to develop a solution. Since MUN incorporates debate, it teaches you all those skills and more. It really depends on you–do you want to interact with others or work alone?
Also, there are four different types of debate–public forum, Lincoln-Douglas, policy, and parliamentary. I’d assume policy is most like MUN subject-wise, although I’ve only really had experience with LD, pufo, and parli. There’s also speech, in which there are a gazillion more types (dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, extemporaneous, duo interpretation, impromptu, and some more that I’m forgetting).
Depending on your club, debate is generally a lot more time-consuming because you have to write two new cases per month and go to more competitions, while for MUN, you write different things for each conference (although the days before policy papers are due for MUN are often hell). Also, depending on how big the conferences your school goes to are, MUN can have over a hundred delegations vying for six awards, so it’s pretty competitive. Most of the committees I’ve been in are only forty, but I’ve had friends in committees as large as 150 delegations.
@samsunguser @topaz1116 Thanks so much for both of your inputs! I agree that Model UN and Debate are somewhat linked and the skills I learn from one, I can apply to the other. I think I’ll try what samsunguser said and test out both clubs, then see how it goes. 
Thanks!
I’m not sure what form of debate the high school does, but all I know that the team is called the “National Forensic League.” Does the National Forensic League also apply all four different types of debate? I know it includes both debate and speech.
I have done Model UN for 3 years; 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Honestly, Model UN is great. BUT, unless you are serious about it you won’t learn much. I was interested in Model UN in 6th and 7th grade, but I wasn’t very active in debate and in general procedures. I would say do debate club if you are prone to getting distracted, but if you are a serious student do MUN.
Also, Model UN is a lot of procedure, and the process can be very slow, unless you are active. If you do, attend MUN, make sure to research topics being discussed, research your committee, and research procedure and the process of debate. The most important thing about MUN is to stay active in debate and the general discussion. If not it will be very boring.
@thelittleswimmer the National Forensic League is the organization that governs all debaters. My high school offers two types of debate–Lincoln-Douglas and public forum, with practices on different days. You should ask some people on your high school debate team for input.
Nice to see you on the HSL forum! I have friends who are in both and they seem to say positive things about debate and MUN. Debate is definitely much more time consuming. Sometimes my friends have to skip ECs for it!
Hey @goldenfygg! Nice to see you on HSL too! 
Thanks for all of the inputs @OneExcitedDude @topaz1116 @goldenfygg. It really helped.