Dialogue Portfolios: A New Factor in Admissions

Aug 16

If you’re a parent of a high schooler, you’ve probably felt it:

The pressure keeps mounting, the rules keep shifting, and the admissions process looks nothing like it did when you applied to college. Just when you think you’ve caught up with test-optional policies or FAFSA changes, a new factor appears on the horizon.

This year, that factor is something few parents expected: civility.

What is a Dialogue Portfolio?

This piece is part of a new initiative called Dialogues, spearheaded by Sal Khan (founder of Khan Academy). Through Schoolhouse.world, students ages 14–18 can log onto Zoom for guided one-on-one conversations with peers around the world. They discuss topics like immigration, artificial intelligence, or climate change — not to debate, but to listen, exchange ideas, and practice respect in disagreement.

After each conversation, students and their peers complete short reflections and feedback forms. When a student has participated in several sessions, they earn a Dialogue Portfolio, which is a certificate that can be submitted to colleges.

Think of it as a character transcript.

The Dialogue Portfolio measures not just what your child knows, but how they handle disagreement, empathy, and communication.

Why Colleges Care

In today’s climate of polarization and online shouting matches, universities are struggling with how to preserve healthy campus conversations. They don’t just want top test scores. They also want students who can thrive in communities that are diverse in background and thought.

That’s why colleges like Columbia, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and the University of Chicago have already signed on to accept Dialogue Portfolios as part of admissions. As UChicago’s dean of admissions put it: “I want students who can come here and add to the conversation on campus, but do it in the right way.”

Inside the Dialogue Portfolio

Session history – how many conversations your teen has participated in and on what topics.
Peer feedback – comments on their listening skills, openness, and empathy.
Self-reflection – their own notes about what they learned, how their views were challenged, or how they grew.

It’s not a test score. It’s a window into your child’s ability to build bridges.

What This Means for Parents

For many parents, this shift stirs up both hope and anxiety.

Hope, because finally there’s recognition that kindness and respect matter as much as grades.
Anxiety, because it’s one more thing to keep up with, and a reminder that admissions officers are looking at the whole person, not just transcripts.

Here’s the truth: Dialogue Portfolios won’t replace academics, test scores, or essays. Instead, they add another layer to how colleges evaluate fit. They also signal a bigger trend — colleges want students who will not only succeed in classrooms, but also strengthen the fabric of their communities.

Our Advice on How to Proceed

Don’t panic! This is still new, and it will take years to see exactly how much weight Dialogue Portfolios carry.
Do encourage practice. Even without the Schoolhouse platform, your teen can practice these skills in class discussions, on debate teams, during volunteer work, or simply at the dinner table with family.
Remember balance. The portfolio is additive. It’s not a shortcut past academics or any other application component. It’s a complement.

As parents, you’ve probably told your teen a thousand times: “It’s not just about what you say, it’s how you say it.” For the first time, colleges are beginning to measure that, too.

At The Carnahan Group, we’ll be watching closely how Dialogue Portfolios shape admissions in the coming years. For now, we see it as a hopeful sign: in an increasingly divided world, qualities like empathy, respect, and civility may finally be getting the credit they deserve.