Best Debate Competition for High School Students: With Advice from a Former Admissions Officer

In many cases, one of the keys to winning debate events involves adequate preparation. And, whether they’re new to debating or seasoned pros, there’s almost no better way for students to hone their debate-related skills than by attending debate programs.

Online and in-person debate programs let students hone their eagerness for learning and passion for solving problems.

With debate being such a popular subject among talented young minds, a seemingly endless number of debate program options are available.

Pioneer Academics has applied its rigorous standards to selecting the best debate programs for students seeking extra competition this summer.

Advice from a Former Admissions Officer

Brett Fuller

Academic Development Manager | Pioneer Academics
Former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Wake Forest University
Former Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Important note: The “best” program is always going to be the program that best fits your needs, goals, and interests. Check out my thoughts on things to consider when selecting a summer program here: College Application: Tips on Selecting a Summer Program Meeting Admission Officers’ Standards.

Debate is the kind of extracurricular activity that toes the line between purely academic endeavors and competition-based fun. Many colleges value the time, effort, and study that goes into a successful debate. More importantly, if you have identified debate as the hobby or skill that you most want to develop, then it is actually the commitment and level of devotion that will be most impactful in your college search. Colleges are most interested in what makes you tick. That means they want to know what your academic interests are, yes, but it also means they want to know what you’re most enthusiastic about outside the classroom. If you’re able to combine those two, all the better.

💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:

Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!

Pioneer Academics

Research is an essential element of any well-crafted argument or public speaking endeavor. Pioneer Academics uses rigorous standards and with university professors and researchers to provide students with real research projects and personalized guidance throughout the research process. Some of the research areas that could be applicable to someone interested in debate include political science, philosophy, economics, history, international relations, and environmental studies. These fields provide insight into current events, government policy, social justice, global issues, and sustainability, among other topics. Students participating in Pioneer’s research program will complete full-length, professional-level research papers. Pioneer Academics also publishes the top 3% of students’ papers in The Pioneer Research Journal.

Format	Online
Cost	6,650 US dollars
Program Dates	June-August (Some Students May Extend to September)
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 9, 2023

Format	Online
Cost	6,650 US dollars
Program Dates	June-August (Some Students May Extend to September)
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 9, 2023

Virtual Summer Debate Camps 2023 – Capitol Debate

Students wanting to improve with debating elements, including impromptu speaking and preparing arguments, can consider attending Capitol Debate’s Virtual Summer Debate Camps. This two-week online program lets those participating learn about boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Participants from high schools also benefit from communication with esteemed instructors about speech and debate topics. Each virtual camp is available to students based on their experience and skill level with debating. This program has options for new debaters to those giving a national speech or preparing for world championships.

Format	Online
Cost	$1,799
Program Dates	June 12 – June 23, 2023 June 26 – July 07, 2023 July 10 – July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling Admission

Format	Online
Cost	$1,799
Program Dates	June 12 – June 23, 2023 June 26 – July 07, 2023 July 10 – July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling Admission

Social Change Leadership Academy – Champlain College

Offered by Champlain College, the Social Change Leadership Academy teaches students from high school how to develop strategies to solve the world’s current social problems. This program covers a wide range of global justice topics, focusing on current events. Available to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, this program has students work together to develop solutions to problems happening throughout the world. Participants in this program also have the unique position of speaking with Burlington’s local community leaders. In addition, students in high school develop their social media and technology skills to bring about positive social changes.

Format	In-person
Cost	$4,500
Program Dates	July 10 – Friday, July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: June 15, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$4,500
Program Dates	July 10 – Friday, July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: June 15, 2023

International Summer Debate Camp –  Cornell University

The International Summer Debate Camp offered by Cornell University teaches students how to develop speech and debate skills while developing these abilities in intra-camp practice scenarios. This program’s curriculum focuses on the World Schools Debate format, making this program especially useful for high school students wanting to compete in the World Schools Debating Championships. Students receive incredible insight into various political debate topics during this debate camp. Students can also ask questions and discuss debate-related issues with Cornell faculty, serving as instructors. As this program ends, students compete in the Cornell Debate Camp Tournament.

Format	In-person
Cost	$3,500
Program Dates	July 29, 2023 – August 6, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling basis

Format	In-person
Cost	$3,500
Program Dates	July 29, 2023 – August 6, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling basis

Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshop – Harvard University

With over 35 years of experience offering summer programs, the Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshop is an excellent place for students to hone their speech and debate skills. One of this program’s qualities is that it’s available to any student, regardless of their debating experience, from a student new to debating to someone getting ready for a national tournament. Students in high school learn from instructors with histories of competing in tournaments and coaching other eager pupils. Courses offered at this workshop include public speaking, congressional debate, public forum, and policy debate. This program is also beneficial because of its low student-instructor ratio.

Format	In-person and online
Cost	Resident: $3,849 Commuter: $2,749 Online: $1,349
Program Dates	Online: Session One — June 25-July 7 In-Person: Session Two — July 9-July 21
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 1, 2023

Format	In-person and online
Cost	Resident: $3,849 Commuter: $2,749 Online: $1,349
Program Dates	Online: Session One — June 25-July 7 In-Person: Session Two — July 9-July 21
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 1, 2023

Yale Summer Debate Program – Yale University

Students from world schools come together to hone their debate skills at Yale University’s Yale Summer Debate Program. The Yale Summer Debate Program lasts five days, teaching students from around the world the importance of debating to engage with the world. This program typically features an instructor for every 10 students, creating a tight-knit group where no students feel lost in the shuffle. Each student learns how to construct arguments, improve his or her speech, and form debate topics. Several popular subjects students can choose from include criminal justice, international relations, and moral philosophy. This program concludes with a day-long, institution-wide debate competition.

Format	In-person
Cost	$599
Program Dates	August 21-25, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: July 1, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$599
Program Dates	August 21-25, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: July 1, 2023

Summer Teen Speech & Debate Camp – Practice Space

The Summer Teen Speech & Debate Camp lets high school students hone their public speaking and debating skills. This two-week program takes place every summer in Richmond, California. High school students attending this camp learn how to strengthen their speech and debate skills. This program is a supportive space for students with debating, public speaking, or both to begin working on and fine-tuning their skills. Whether students want to compete in debate tournaments or pursue a passion for improved public speaking, this organization pairs students with coaches to help participants meet their goals.

Format	In-person
Cost	$300
Program Dates	July 17-28, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 31, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$300
Program Dates	July 17-28, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 31, 2023

Policy Debate Program – Northwestern University

Northwestern University’s debate team boasts 15 National Debate Tournament victories, making this university a valuable place to learn. Through this university’s Policy Debate Program, students interested in debating can choose a four- or six-week hybrid learning experience. Program attendees will spend four weeks learning online and two weeks learning from in-person classes and practice debates. Students spend their days attending lectures, honing their topics through group-based brainstorming, preparing speeches, and receiving feedback from debate coaches. This program wraps up with an in-house debate tournament involving all students for several days of friendly competition.

Format	In-person and online
Cost	$3,500
Program Dates	June 24 – July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling admission

Format	In-person and online
Cost	$3,500
Program Dates	June 24 – July 21, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling admission

Public Forum Debate Camp – American Debate League

Students can also prepare for debate events at the American Debate League’s Public Forum Debate Camp. This camp pairs students in teams of two who compete against this course’s other two-person debate teams. In this camp, students debate on pre-selected topics taken from current and international real-world events. After teams choose and formulate their constructive arguments, they cross-examine the opposing side’s arguments. Students will strengthen their public speaking, research, and critical thinking skills throughout this camp. As students compete, they gain valuable experience hearing arguments from opposing sides. This program offers beginner, immediate, and advanced-level courses for students based on their debate experience.

Format	In-person
Cost	$295/Week
Program Dates	Week 1: June 26 – 30 Week 2: July 10 – 14 Week 3: July 17 – 21 Week 4: July 24 – 28 Week 5: July 31 – August 4 Week 6: August 7 – 11 Week 7: August 14 – 18
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 31, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$295/Week
Program Dates	Week 1: June 26 – 30 Week 2: July 10 – 14 Week 3: July 17 – 21 Week 4: July 24 – 28 Week 5: July 31 – August 4 Week 6: August 7 – 11 Week 7: August 14 – 18
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 31, 2023

High School Debate Camps– Emory University

Dating back to 1966, the Emory National Debate Institute (ENDI) is a well-renowned debate association teaching students with a passion for debate. Each student in this program works closely with an Emory University coach, a seasoned collegiate debater, for guidance and mentorship. Emory University’s one-week course focuses on the fundamentals of debate, including choosing topics, thinking critically, conducting research, and fine-tuning debates in argument-based simulations. There’s also a two-week residential or commuter course, best for students with one to two years of policy debate experience who haven’t competed in this topic. This course teaches students about note-taking, preparing for a debate tournament, and executing a debate speech.

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,000 resident; $1,700 commuter
Program Dates	June 4-17, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,000 resident; $1,700 commuter
Program Dates	June 4-17, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:

Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!

Learn More

If you’re a high school student interested in the research aspect of debating, learn more about Pioneer Academics’ research program by attending a free online information session.