Colleges Add a New Twist: Can Virtue Signaling Get You into School?

As college admissions face new scrutiny, elite schools are getting creative with their criteria by allowing high schoolers to showcase their debating skills through the “Dialogues” certification program. Yep, you heard that right! Institutions like Columbia University and the University of Chicago are partnering with Schoolhouse.world to encourage students to engage in face-to-face discussions on hot topics like abortion and the Israel-Palestine conflict. But it’s not just about talking; students are expected to rate each other on virtues like empathy and kindness. Who knew college readiness came with a side of moral grading?

This new approach raises the stakes—no longer is it just about SAT scores and GPAs, but now students might have to flash their empathy badges. It’s like a moral report card attached to your college application! Perhaps next we’ll see virtual reality debates where students can earn merit badges for their discourse skills. But really, how far will colleges go in this virtue-signaling race?

It’s a bold move by colleges, aiming to gauge character and values in a way that resonates with today’s social climate. However, it does spark some questions around the merit of true dialogue versus just trying to say what’s “popular” to get your foot in the door. Could we end up with an influx of students who can debate on diversity yet still can’t find their way around a campus map? College could soon feel more like a reality show where students are auditioning for the role of “Most Compassionate.”

What do you think? Is this obsession with virtues making students stronger or just turning them into social puppets? Let’s dive into this conversation about the future of college admissions!

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