A new tool has been introduced to the college admissions process: the Dialogues Portfolio. Developed by Schoolhouse.world, a nonprofit founded by Sal Khan of Khan Academy, the dialogue portfolio offers a new way for students to showcase their interpersonal and communication skills to college admissions offices.
What are Dialogues Portfolios?
The Dialogues are small, facilitated, online group discussions on various topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence, mental health, or current events. Students voluntarily join video conversations with a peer who holds an opposing viewpoint, with the goal of discussing difficult issues, practicing listening, and to challenge and reflect. There are no adult moderators, no scores, and no scripts. But after participating in a discussion, participants complete a “civility scorecard”, evaluating their peers on qualities like empathy, curiosity, and kindness. Students can then submit these scorecards as part of a Dialogues Portfolio, to a select group of colleges.
Which colleges are accepting them?
A growing list of universities has begun accepting Dialogues Portfolios, including MIT, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Colby College, Washington University in St. Louis, and Northwestern. More “elite” institutions are expected to follow suit.
What’s the purpose?
According to Schoolhouse.world, the Dialogues program was created to help students build critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills by engaging in difficult conversations and promoting viewpoint diversity. For colleges, the portfolio could serve to identify students who can engage in respectful debate, which is valuable for a campus community and therefore a valuable trait in a student seeking admission to a college.
How are they used?
Colleges don’t see what students say or think in these conversations. Students can choose what, if anything, to share with colleges, including how many sessions they attended or positive traits their peers observed, like listening skills, clarity, or intellectual curiosity, making participation and submission relatively low-risk.
The information from these portfolios could be used in several ways, including colleges using them to find applicants who excel in peer collaboration and respectful communication—qualities that are often difficult to assess through traditional application materials. Columbia is using the portfolios as a supplemental credential in their admissions process, aiming to assess applicants’ abilities in respectful discourse, critical thinking, and collaborative communication. They note, “The ability to engage in civil discourse is an important component of any student’s success at Columbia. This program provides an opportunity for [a student] to build … skills in engaging with differences of opinion and demonstrate [their] readiness to engage in civil discourse on campus.”
Takeaway:
A lot remains to be seen about the dialogue portfolio concept. It highlights the trend of universities seeking out certain character traits and values in their applicants, among them being the important skill of respectful engagement, especially with people who see the world differently. For now at least, it’s a place for students to practice having real, meaningful conversations and to step outside their comfort zones. How it will impact the world of admissions remains to be seen.