You never know when great communication will come in handy, says MIT Debate Team President Raj Krishnan. Three months ago when his cousin got married, he was asked 15 minutes before dinner to make a toast. I had to give a speech in front of 200 people with no advance warning, but I think I pulled it off. Public speaking is a great skill to have in life, say members of MIT's Debate Team. Parliamentary debate, with its emphasis on impromptu speaking, develops excellent communication skills and teaches you to think on your feet.
Students say they love it because they learn to analyze issues and come up with solutions.
They learn organization and clarity, how to persuade and how to listen. Amit Roy, a senior in electrical engineering and computer science, interned last summer on Wall Street. Having been on the debate team definitely came in handy during my job interview at Goldman Sachs. After a long break in the '80s, the debate team was revived in 1991. Being able to express yourself clearly is so important in group work.