Lincoln-Douglas Student Institute
TDC 2024 will take place July 21st-August 3rd in San Marcos, TX.
TDC’s Student Institute is taught by some of the best teachers and coaches in the country, who forgo high-paying jobs at other camps because they believe in TDC’s mission of allowing low-income students access to the highest levels of competitive debate. Check out the page on our incredible staff to learn more. Students from TDC succeeded every year at the best local and national tournaments, including finals of the Tournament of Champions (‘21, ‘15), semifinals of the Tournament of Champions (‘23, ‘20, ‘17), and the finals of Valley, Big Bronx, Yale, Princeton, St. Marks, Dowling Catholic, the Glenbrooks, Crestian, and dozens of others across the country.
Registration for TDC 2024 is OPEN.
If you have questions, please email texasdebatecollective.info@gmail.com. Please find the student application below!
Registration Timeline:
March 23, 2024 - Priority Registration Deadline
March 24, 2024 - Rolling Applications Begin
April 1, 2024 - LD/WS Scholarship Decisions E-mailed
April 8, 2024 - Deadline for Accepting a Scholarship
April 8, 2024* - Deadline to Request Being Considered as a Paying Student
(*only applies to students who applied for a scholarship but were rejected due to financial ineligibility)
April 9, 2024 - LD/WS Admission Decisions for Paying Students E-mailed
April 10, 2024 and beyond - Rolling Applications acceptances continue depending on available space
Tuition and logistics
TDC this summer will be in person! The tuition for the 2025 Student Institute is $2850, which still leaves TDC well below the cost of camps that are comparable in quality and proven success. We will be staying in dormitories in San Marcos, conveniently located near our classroom spaces. A packing list and further information about accommodations will be sent to accepted students in April.
Camp Structure
Students of all experience levels are welcome. Students attending the institute will learn through several curricular components to hone their debate skills and knowledge of politics, philosophy, and law. Each student will be assigned based on skill level and experience to a lab of approximately 10-12 students led by (at least) two experienced camp instructors.
Pioneering Commitment to Quality Teaching
Most camps use a combination of small groups and lectures to teach content. Starting in 2014, TDC pioneered the use of small groups with a 4-1 student-teacher ratio to teach every aspect of the curriculum. We believe students learn best when they receive individual attention. We can hire enough staff to make this possible because our staff generously agree to teach with us because they believe in our mission, even though they could make far more working for a for-profit camp.
TDC is also unique in dedicating two seasoned instructors to the role of instructional coaches. Common in high-performing schools but beyond rare in debate camps, our instructional coaches observe lessons and work with staff members to constantly improve their teaching craft.