"My seven weeks at the Michigan debate camp this summer were so fun and honestly transformative. My lab leaders were some of the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever met, and my labmates were all super friendly and hardworking. I loved the drills and practice rounds we did together, but I also loved going out for late-night pizza runs, singing karaoke during prep sessions, and picnicking out in the Law Quad with them. In my experience, the camp was also very helpful and accommodating towards special needs. I had torn my Achilles a few weeks before the camp, but thanks to Michigan, it didn’t ruin my seven-week experience at all! They gave me an electric wheelchair, helped take me to and back from physical therapy every week, and always provided me with whatever medical support I needed. I am beyond thankful for the time I spent here, and I strongly recommend it to everyone else."

"Spending my summer at Michigan has both made me a much better debater and introduced me to some of my best friends. The lab leaders are experienced coaches and judges who provide in-depth lectures, specific drills, and personalized feedback that I wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. Spending 7 weeks with a group of people who all share the same passion for one activity pushed me to improve and think about debate in new ways. The location at Ann Arbor is also a great way to tour UMich, eat good food, or go out with friends! Each summer at camp has been the fastest I've grown in my debate skills, so I would definitely recommend the 7-Week program to anyone looking for competitive success and a debate community that will last throughout the year."

"If you are someone seeking to change your relationship with debate, I could not recommend anything more. My summers at the University of Michigan’s 7 Week Program have yielded some of my favorite experiences in the activity, inspired some of my biggest revelations, and introduced me to some of the people I am most grateful to know. What makes Michigan special is that it draws debaters from across the country in an environment that feels both intensely immersive and refreshingly low-stakes. Outside of the lab, you live alongside the people you debate with, explore Ann Arbor, and build a community that makes debate feel like more than just a competition. That environment also gives you the freedom, and at many times implores you, to step outside whatever habits you’ve developed during the season and experiment with arguments and strategies you'd ordinarily never try. If you’re looking for a chance to step back from the pressures of the season, rethink how you debate, and make a ton of friends along the way, Michigan is your answer."

"The University of Michigan's 7-week debate camp has been more pivotal in shaping my fundamental view of the world than any other experience in my life. The lab leaders are nothing short of exceptional, with a depth of knowledge and a genuine investment in every debater's growth, to a point where it feels as if they are a dedicated coach at your own high school. Their lectures alone taught me more in a single summer than months of independent research ever could, and their feedback after practice debates pushed me to achieve levels of growth I never thought was possible in a summer, let alone seven weeks. Between the extensive research sessions ( driven by the endless tools of the Michigan Library), constant drilling, and access to resources I could not find anywhere else, I left camp both of the years I attended it with a skillset that I did not arrive with. But to me, camp is so much more than the time spent in labs. Being surrounded by the best debaters in the country, all of whom have immense drive for the activity, forced me to emulate their style and seek a higher level for myself, while also providing me with some of my best friends. Now, two summers later, I walk into debates not just a better debater, but a more disciplined, driven, and well spoken person, all thanks to the seven weeks I spent at Michigan. I can say with full confidence that I would not be the same friend, student, or person, without it."

"I’ve spent my past three summers at the Michigan Debate Institute, including two in the 7-Week program, and I’m incredibly grateful for an experience I looked forward to every summer. Being surrounded by some of the most talented and competitive debaters in the country meant that every practice debate, research session, and conversation pushed me to improve. Working and partnering with debaters who approached arguments differently exposed me to new ways of thinking and made me a much more versatile debater. My lab leaders were always willing to listen to countless re-dos and questions, offer thoughtful insight on any type of argument, and genuinely invest in our success. More than anything, Michigan gave me some of my closest friends. Spending seven weeks researching, prepping, competing, and living alongside debaters from across the country created friendships that extend far beyond camp. Michigan shaped the way I debate, gave me a community within the activity, and made every summer one I couldn’t wait to return to."

"I've spent a total of 18 weeks at the University of Michigan's Summer Institute, and I wouldn't have traded it for anything else. Every single lab leader cares deeply about the activity, their students, and the camp as a whole, and the amount of effort they put into the summer is unparalleled. While the research opportunities, lectures, and practice debates were critical in making me a better debater, the things that I'll remember forever are the community and connections I formed while at camp. The debaters I met in lab are some of my best friends, and the lab leaders are some of the adults I trust most. Attending camp turned debate from just another activity to a home for me. This camp is the best there is, and I encourage everyone to attend!"