Guest article by Abhinav S Krishnan
In recent years, hundreds of conferences have sprung up across the world, providing delegates with numerous opportunities and an increasingly pertinent question: Where should you start your Model UN career?
Choosing a Model United Nations Conference to attend can often be a daunting task, especially for first-time delegates who have yet to get a feel for their local circuits. Conferences differ in size, length, and quality of debate, making it hard to establish a clear ranking system. Furthermore, the costs of attending conferences can serve as a barrier to some who are constrained by their financial situations. In light of this problem, here is my opinion on the different tiers Model UN conferences and how you can choose the conference that fits you!
Tier 1: Local
Although some delegates insist on trial by fire at larger conferences, the general consensus among Model UN delegates is that a local conference is the best place to start. Attending MUNs hosted by local schools and community centers is a great way for first-time delegates to test the waters and get a feel for the Model UN experience. These conferences are relatively small and comparatively new, with little over 200 delegates in attendance and less than two years of past experience. Most committees are geared towards general topics with emphasis on building skills.
Tier 2: District and Regional
While district and regional conferences are frequently overlooked, they act as stepping stones that help build confidence and hone public speaking skills prior to attending a national conference. Delegate participation ranges between 250 and 500 delegates which allows for committees to function at optimum capacity without an oversaturation of ideas. These three day conferences are often used to evaluate a delegate’s ability to attend larger and longer national conferences.
Tier 3: National
Participating in and winning awards at national conferences like Harvard MUN and Ivy League MUN Conference mark the highest level of achievement for many delegates. With delegate participation in the upper hundreds and lower thousands these conferences attract orators from across the country for sessions that typically last four to five days. With a much wider variety of committees, from general UN committees to more nuanced bodies, national level conferences offer delegates a chance to test their prowess in a new and often daunting environment. Bagging Best Delegate at these conferences is considered quite an achievement, but the experience in and of itself is well worth participating.
Tier 4: International
The opportunity to attend an international conference is one seldom received, but is an opportunity like none other. These conferences tend to vary in size, but usually number into the thousands with conference sessions that can last for close to a week. Many international conferences are world-renowned with decade-long legacies. Examples of these include The Hague International MUN in the Hague and the National High School MUN in New York, both with participation in the upper 3000s. It is important to note, however, that these conferences require months of preparation and are fairly expensive. While sponsors can help alleviate financial constraints, students should carefully consider their commitment and ability to attending such a large conference.
General Advice
A good rule of thumb is to pace your conference progression. Delegates should ideally attend two to three conferences at lower tiers and gradually increase their investment in larger, less frequent conferences at higher tiers. The trick is to avoid stagnating at a particular skill level: delegates may feel confident excelling at low tier conferences without ever challenging themselves to compete at a higher level. At the same time, some delegates will rush to larger conferences without fully developing their interest and can find themselves stressed and unmotivated. Assessing your current and potential skill level is the key to a successful Model UN career. It’s safe to say that attending national level conferences without having previously participated in, let alone winning, a local or district competition is risky. But if you’re up to the task, go for it!
A note for first-time delegates:
Don’t be daunted by the sheer number of conferences you can attend. Do your conference research, choose wisely, and never forget to challenge yourself!
Best of luck and happy MUNing!
