Testimonials

“I have spent my past two summers at the Michigan Debate Institutes and they have been truly formative for me not only as a debater but also as a person. I attended the Kritik Lab for four weeks prior to my junior year and attended the 7 Week Program this past summer. From unparalleled access to the most qualified coaches in the country to being surrounded by the best and brightest debaters in the nation, my Michigan experience has been incredible. My lab leaders provided in-depth feedback and lectures pivotal for argumentative and technical development, rigorous practice debates that allowed me to truly apply the skills learned, and expert lectures that allowed me to thoroughly understand the topic and get a head start for the season. From being able to experience fun events such as the Ann Arbor Art Fair to frequent trips to get ice cream and Boba to lab fun nights, the unique experiences at Michigan have created lasting bonds that have transformed debate for me from just an activity to a true community. Lasting friendships l made at camp make tournaments even more fun, as I’m able to see my lab mates and friends in between rounds and after elimination rounds. Overall, my experiences at Michigan have been integral to my development as a debater and have allowed me to build lasting relationships within the debate community. I would highly recommend attending the Debate Institutes, especially the 7-Week program.”

“Attending the University of Michigan 7 week debate camp has been incredible. The facilities are amazing, the lab leaders are dedicated and qualified, and the debaters are all extremely talented and devoted. Every single day, whether from lectures, practice debates, or just conversations with friends, camp has helped me learn something new that's aided me in my career. Beyond the educational aspects, the surrounding restaurants and activities are all top-notch, providing tons of fun things to do in your free time. If you're dedicated to becoming better and want to make friends from across the world, I can't recommend camp enough.”

"Michigan's debate institutes are unmatched. The experienced staff, expert lecturers, and program structure are all focused on creating an experience that is geared towards producing the most successful debaters in the world. I often reminisce on my experience in Ann Arbor: there's just something about being able to live in college dormitories, spend time with my closest friends, and focus 24/7 on an activity that I love. I found that the way I learned debate best was being always surrounded with it, and Michigan's debate institutes exemplify that ethos thoroughly. After two seven-week sessions, I know that I'll always miss my experience at camp, but the friendships and connections I made will last forever."

“Debate camp is not only a terrific learning environment for all things related to debate, but a fantastic experience in meeting the people that you are competing against, and meeting people that think and act just like you. At camp, I made some of my best friends and have the pleasure of meeting some of the nicest and smartest people I have ever met. In terms of the education and preparation for the debate season, camp is a must, not only in terms of the topic lectures and knowledge of debate precedent, but also for the practice debates and abundance of knowledge of the lab leaders. I would recommend this experience to anyone that is looking to further their debate skill and have a good time this summer.”

“Attending the Michigan 7-Week debate camp was essential to my development as a debater. The expertise of lab leaders and exposure to high-level competition helped me refine my argument diversity and critical thinking. Lab leaders were always intentional and made camp an enjoyable experience. Through drills, lectures, or practice debates they were always looking for ways to challenge us and improve our abilities. Additionally, with lectures from topic-specific industry experts, I was able to better understand the topic in the pre-season giving me an edge over my opponents. Practicing against the best debaters in the nation helped prepare me for national circuit tournaments and build my confidence. Michigan not only helped me as a debater but also as a person. I had the opportunity to form connections and develop friendships with like-minded students from across the country and the world. I highly recommend the Michigan 7-Week debate camp!”

“I attended the 7 Week Michigan Debate Camp for the first time going into my senior year, and it was incredibly rewarding. The access to amazing lectures, high-level practice debates, and intellectually challenging lab assignments were unparalleled to anything I have ever experienced. I went into camp feeling unsure about missing a summer at home with my friends, but the time I had in Ann Arbor was my favorite summer yet. There is a perfect balance of learning about debate, but also time for fun with amazing people. The entire community, from lab leaders to even RA’s were incredibly welcoming throughout my time at camp, providing amazing comments after practice debates but also encouraging me to keep giving my all to debate. Attending Michigan’s 7 Week program is the best thing a debater can do for their career. I left camp with new skills, understandings, but also many friends. I would highly recommend attending camp at Michigan, and I wish I could go again!”

“I spent my last two summers at the Michigan 7-Week Debate Camp, and both summers were truly amazing experiences. The combination of lab leaders who were both brilliant and actively invested in my learning, and the high level of competition I experienced during practice debates made each lab session one that was filled with learning. Beyond academics, the friendships I formed during camp were also a major part of what made camp so great. Being from Taiwan meant participating in less tournaments and thus less participation within the debate community. However, Michigan allowed me to have fun and engage with debaters from the United States on a daily basis, creating friendships that I will always be grateful for.”

“I had a great time at Michigan 7 Week. While I improved a lot, the most important thing I got from the program were friends who will last me well beyond my time debating. There are a lot of great people who go to Michigan every Summer, both students and coaches, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet them. The coaches especially are great - both the regular practice debates and the lectures helped me to understand debating and the topic in a way I never had before. Finally, the camp tournament is a great mix of debaters and perfect practice for the season.”

“Spending my last three summers at the University of Michigan's debate camp was one of my most transformative experiences. The rigorous curriculum, vast resources, expert lectures, and exposure to the nation's brightest coaches and debaters were all instrumental factors contributing to my growth as a debater. I also met a lot of my closest friends and made unforgettable memories through camp that extended well beyond debate and built who I am as a person.”

“Attending the 7-Week Michigan Debate Institute was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had. Not only has the camp exponentially improved my debate skills, I also grew as a person and got to enjoy several other aspects of Ann-Arbor. The lab leaders and staff were exceptionally kind and knowledgeable and made me look forward to every day at camp. Lab leaders and instructors take the camp seriously and want students to get the best experience out of camp they can fostering inclusivity and development in students. While some may find the workload challenging, I found it extremely manageable and integral to making me a better researcher, debater, and overall person. The food at South Quad was great and the weather was amazing, making life outside of lecture and lab enjoyable. I would highly recommend prospective debaters to spend their summers at Michigan.”

“The Michigan Debate 7 Week Program was an amazing experience that allowed me to interact and collaborate with the nation’s best instructors and debaters. It provided a vast researching opportunity with its database as well as multiple instructors who introduced us to unique research strategies. Being able to interact and collaborate with peers was a valuable experience that Michigan was able to cultivate.”

“Attending the University of Michigan debate institutes changed my career by providing me awareness about argumentation across the spectrum that I wouldn’t have known without camp. The faculty is the top of the line that no other camp can match as each lab leader has expertise in nearly every part of debate. Beyond the faculty, the development of arguments and opportunities to do research among the top debaters in the nation and then having practice debates against them ensures that you are at the top of your game after camp. Beyond debate, the friendships and memories through the cool places on campus are life long and will last beyond college. Michigan is unique because many coaches at top debate programs in the nation are lab leaders, which ensures that you connect with college coaches if you aspire to debate in college. I 100% recommend anyone to attend the Michigan debate camp no matter what because if I hadn’t attended, I would not be at the level I am now.”

"Attending the Michigan Debate camp for the past two summers has been an unforgettable experience. Spending seven weeks of my summers at Michigan truly transformed me as a debater. The lab leaders are knowledgeable and supportive, constantly pushing me to improve while fostering a positive, team-oriented atmosphere. My lab group became like family, and together we shared both challenges and victories. I left with sharpened debate skills, lasting friendships, and a deeper love for debate. This journey was more than just training-it was personal growth, and I'll forever be grateful for the incredible people and mentors who made it possible."

"I spent the last summer at Michigan's 7 Week Debate Camp and I can truly say it was the greatest boost to my abilities in debate. Michigan provided me with top tier lab leaders, competition, resources, and friends that completely changed my outlook on debate. The vast resources of the Michigan library and the experience of my lab leaders ensured that I had the best education possible for my success. I never felt like I couldn't ask my lab leaders questions or that I did not have the resources to achieve my goals, and we were provided with vast opportunities to expand our skills. The rigorous schedule of practice debates, research, and drills truly forced me towards becoming the best debater I could be. Outside of debating, I met some of my best friends this summer. Meeting people from all over the country was incredible, knowing you would continue to see them again throughout the season."

"The 7 Week Program at Michigan is one of the best experiences I've had in my life. Not only did I get the opportunity of working with lab leaders who are highly experienced in the debate community, but I also met so many great people and made a lot of really good friendships. I feel that in the 7 weeks that I was at camp, I learned and grew more than I ever have as a debater. The amount of feedback that you receive from so many different people really gives you an idea of how to improve and get better. It might feel like a lot at first, and it took me some time to adjust to the schedule, but as you're there you start to get used to it and even begin to enjoy it. Because you are surrounded by the best of the best all the time, improvement will definitely happen, and you will get the most opportunities you can out of this camp."