Instruction
NSD accepted roughly 70 applicants in 2007 and will accept 84 in 2008. While this is a relatively small camp, the instructors are also part of the small number of “elite” debaters. NSD greatly differs from VBI in that most NSD labs teach “debate theory” and highly encourage its use. Other than this primary difference, NSD and VBI are relatively similar. You are also able to choose your own lectures just like you can choose your VBI modules. Many people describe the experience of NSD as the “2 (or 3) weeks of pure hell” but extremely worth it. This is mainly due to the fact that NSD instructors will be on your case about everything and making sure you are doing your work.Rooming
NSD is held at Colorado College. The rooms are not very spectacular to say the least; they are bare and pale white. The worst rooms may have a couple of bugs here and there, but you will be able to ignore them. Don’t worry, this is not a major problem. Most rooms are simply “boring” but lack any real problems. Make sure you wear shoes or sandals because there is no carpet, only tile flooring. You will share a big restroom (4 sinks, 2 showers, 3 stalls) with about 4 other rooms, meaning 8 other people along with your roommate.Food
Colorado College food is comparable with UCLA’s as they serve almost the same things. The only meaningful difference is that UCLA has greater variety and bigger dining rooms. You will also get a meal card that covers 3 meals per day for the duration of your stay.Student:Faculty Ratio
A general lab consists of 2 lab leaders with 12 students. Just like VBI, you can get all of the personal attention you want to just as long as you ask.Rigor
NSD is extremely rigorous, as instructors will push you to your absolute limits. High-level labs have been assigned to cut top quality 25 affirmative and 25 negative cards in one night. Don’t get your instructors angry because they have been known to assign 50 affirmative and 50 negative cards in one night. Many debaters work after the “lights-out time” around 11 pm into the wee hours of the morning.| Previous | Back to index | Next |
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