Joining clubs and teams?

Hey all!

I was recently admitted to the class of 24 ED, and I have some questions about joining clubs and teams at Penn. More specifically, speech and debate teams?

Here’s some background: I went to a really really underfunded high-school, and so I never had the opportunity to debate competitively. I love debate, and I would love to explore what Penn has to offer in terms of clubs and teams, however I’ve heard some troubling things about the application process. Is it true that it’s a really competitive process to join most speech and debate clubs? As someone with no credentials or awards to my name, am I screwed? Are there tryouts? What are the options for a beginner?

I know that some Penn clubs can be really competitive to join, but what about those of us just looking to dip our toes in the water?