Sign-ups to try out for the YDA will open in fall 2026.

Each fall, the YDA conducts tryouts to form a new class of Yale debaters. 

The try-out process will consist of two rounds:

1. The First Round involves a 5 minute written component and a 4 minute speech with 5 minutes of preparation. Applicants will be given prompts and asked to generate arguments on the provided topics.

2. The Second Round is another speech in the same format as the first round with different times.

Our tryout process is designed to gauge how you think through, generate, and present arguments. We are not expecting specific debating jargon or stylistic practices.

Don't worry if you've never debated; we've turned more than a few complete beginners into national champions.

Most importantly, we look forward to meeting you!