Columbia University Adds Civility Discourse as a Criteria in 2025-26 Admissions Cycle

Crux of the Matter

As first revealed by the Columbia Spectator, Columbia University USA will now take into account an applicant’s “readiness to engage in civil discourse”.

This means a student’s active participation in guided discussions on polarising topics such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, Immigration, responsible use of AI, and Economic Inequality will now be used by the university as a means to judge several aspects of their personality, including respect, empathy, and open-mindedness, among other attributes.

Columbia University in the USA has partnered with Schoolhouse.world, an online educational platform that allows students to engage in debates with others through Zoom calls.

What is a Dialogue Portfolio, and how can I get one of my own?

A Dialogue Portfolio is nothing but a record of a student’s performance during these debates. To get a portfolio of your own, all one needs to do is create an account on Schoolhouse.world, and start debating!

How does the debate process work?

The debate, with an average duration of 45 minutes, will take place via a Zoom Call, where students from different parts of the world will join, to chip in with their thoughts on some of the most divisive topics.

A coordinator would make sure everyone gets ample time to share their thoughts, and marks on certain key attributes, such as respect, empathy, and awareness, would be awarded by students to each other.. The results would then be documented and could be included as part of the Columbia University application.

The Dialogue Portfolio would highlight the number of debates a student attended and the subsequent scores attained by the student, to give a final average score.

When can you apply to Columbia University?

Applications are now open for international students seeking admission to Columbia University New York City. Here are the deadlines by which you can submit your applications: