Our Mission

The Cambridge Debate Institute was founded to train high-potential youth in the art of debate. We aim to identify high-potential youth and ensure they are equipped with the critical thinking and communication skills that debate provides and that they need to become future leaders and active citizens.

From past experience and research, we know that training in debate improves students' logical reasoning, research ability, public speaking, mastery of college-level English reading and writing, and confidence. Debate helps students achieve their goals by boosting students’ performance in school and on the SAT, as well as their chances of admission to top colleges. Our students go on to enter fields such as business, medicine, engineering, academia, or government, where they are able to use their mastery of fundamental debate skills to succeed.

CDI utilizes a unique online education model, which we strongly believe allows us to connect the very best debate coaches in the world to talented students everywhere. All classes are conducted via a professional conferencing platform, as well as other forms of electronic communication. This means, through CDI, a student anywhere in the world can have the opportunity to learn from top debaters at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

At CDI, we are ultimately guided by our motto: Maxima Excellentia. It means “Greatest Excellence” or “Most Outstanding," which is precisely what we hope to achieve with our students! Our philosophy is that by identifying bright, high-potential youth and connecting them with the right teachers, we can train tomorrow's leaders to think better and speak better – in other words, to debate better. 

Applications are now open for the 2017-2018 CDI Scholars, our season-long debate training program. Apply Now →