Why Debate?

Students who pick up debate learn much more than how to argue: debate provides life-long benefits to students in a variety of ways. Critical thinking skills help students on tests, essay-writing, and problem solving. Communication skills help students articulate their ideas to others. But aside from the obvious improvements in public speaking skills, studies about debate indicate that the benefits are indeed both life-long and immense. Statistically, debaters out-perform other students in many ways.

High School

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A fundamental grasp of these skills is what separates debaters from their peers in the classroom, on standardized tests, and in college admissions. As students train their minds to analyze information faster and more comprehensively, they experience vast academic benefits.

According to a study by the University of Washington, overall, participants in high school debate saw…

  • 44% increase in critical thinking skills

  • 25% increase in reading comprehension ability

  • A 120 point increase in SAT score

College Admissions

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It’s clear that debate improves grades and test scores for students, which can give them a competitive edge in college admissions. In addition, colleges look for students with competitive success and experience in debate, because they care deeply about bringing future leaders to their campuses. A study by professor Minh A. Luong confirms these benefits quite clearly. It concludes:

  • Students who did debate had a 30% higher chance of being admitted to a “top tier college”

  • For debate captains, this increased to more than 60%

  • This is higher than being class president (+5%), sports team captain (+5%), or band (+3%)

Professional life

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The benefits of debate extend far past the classroom. With an emphasis on research, argumentation, and communication, debate shapes young minds into the leaders of tomorrow. The ability to persuade, present, and connect is exactly what businesses are looking for when they hire. Many top-ranked corporate executive and government officials did debate in high school, and incredibly, over 60% of Congressional representatives and one-third of the Supreme Court participated in debate.