- lesscollegestress
- Jul 21
Beginning this admissions season, colleges like the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University, Columbia University, Colby College, Northwestern University, and Washington University will begin accepting "Dialogues" from Schoolhouse.world, a platform co-founded by Sal Khan.
I appreciate the pros and cons of this. First, the con: don’t students have enough hoops to jump through? But I get the pro, too:
Why would colleges do this?
Grade Inflation: When so many students have perfect or near-perfect GPA’s, even with high rigor, colleges need to see beyond the numbers. That’s why essays matter…however…
AI Essay Concerns: With artificial intelligence tools making it difficult to determine if essays authentically reflect a student's voice and abilities, Dialogues offers a way to observe students' real-time thinking and communication skills during live conversations.
How does it work?
Authentic Interaction Assessment: The platform connects high school students worldwide for one-on-one video conversations about important topics like climate change, immigration, and artificial intelligence. This allows admissions officers to witness how students navigate differing viewpoints with curiosity and open-mindedness in real-time situations.
Should we expect elite college applicants be informed enough to discuss real-world problems? Should they be able to communicate effectively about them? No one is asking them to solve the problems.
Colleges have always valued strong communication skills. Perhaps these institutions are using Dialogues to dissuade students who apply because of the schools' prestige, but are not academically serious enough to engage in thoughtful, civil conversations with peers. That might make admissions' job of finding best-fit students easier.
- lesscollegestress
- Jun 30
We engage with images and videos every day. Nothing has as much value as getting and keeping attention. Every year, I look forward to helping my students craft Common App essays that tell stories that reveal the personality traits colleges seek. What makes an essay powerful? Grabbing and holding a reader's attention.
Engage admissions readers by drawing them in with drama, description, details, and dialogue. Stories of your your actions and interactions with others show colleges how you behave and the choices you make in all kinds of situations. Conversely, an essay that's mostly a revelation of your deep thoughts and feelings with no action or conflict may be an great journal entry, but can cause the reader to lose focus and begin scanning because the words are too abstract--and they have so many essays to read.
Admissions officers claim to read every essay with positive intentions to admit rather than deny. That being said, a generic essay or one that’s trying too hard to be different doesn’t help a student’s application. Students never have to write a boring or contrived essay once they understand the essay’s purpose and the best way to approach it. The purpose is always to demonstrate how you will become part of a college community if admitted. Many of the images that catch your eye and hold your attention tell stories. Think of how they accomplish that while writing your essays.
- lesscollegestress
- Jun 23
Most colleges do not offer the opportunity to interview. While many schools will tell you that the interviews are not evaluative, they still demonstrate interest and I recommend scheduling one if you are applying to the colleges below. Note that many are available in the summer!
Agnes Scott College: Interviews are now available and must be scheduled before your application deadline.
American University: On-campus interview opportunities are available Monday-Friday at 9:15, 10 am, 1 pm, and 1:30 pm
Augustana College: Students can complete an interview during their campus visit or schedule a phone/video interview with their admissions counselor before submitting their application. Additionally, Chicagoland students who have previously visited campus can schedule an interview at the Chicagoland office.
Austin College: Students can add an interview as part of their campus visit, or they can reach out to their admissions counselor to set one up.
Bates College: Offers Bobcat Chats and Alumni Conversations for students to understand more about the college.
Bowdoin College: On-campus interviews from June 2-August 22; virtual interviews from May 28-August 22 and virtual alumni options will open in early September.
: Students can reach out to their admission counselor to schedule a virtual or in-person interview at any time.
Brandeis University: Interviews can be scheduled directly with admissions. counselors
Bryn Mawr College: Virtual and on-campus are now available.
Carleton College: Students must attend an in-person campus visit or virtual information session before they are allowed to register for an interview. Interviews will begin later in May and run through mid-January.
Christopher Newport University: On-campus and virtual interviews are available now through February 2026.
Claremont McKenna College: Virtual Interviews are available now through August 22. Students can also submit an optional video response if unable to interview. *Homeschool students are required to interview.
Clark University: On-campus opportunities are now available through mid-August; virtual interviews will open later this summer. Clark also offers "Clark on the Road" interviews at events in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington.
Colgate University: Virtual opportunities are available now through mid-December.
College of the Atlantic: Virtual opportunities now through June 30. Additional opportunities will be added later this summer.
College of the Holy Cross: Virtual opportunities are available now through August, and students can contact admissions for in-person opportunities.
College of Wooster: Interviews are required for students to be eligible for the top merit scholarships. You can request a virtual meeting with your admissions counselor or an in-person interview during your campus visit.
Colorado College: Students need to have attended a virtual or in-person information session or group chat to be eligible for an interview, and opportunities will open later this summer.
Connecticut College: On-campus opportunities are now available, and virtual options open in mid-June and run through mid-December.
Denison University: Now through February, although January and February dates are reserved for students who have applied. Recommend an in-person interview during your campus visit or when an admissions counselor is in your area.
Dickinson College: Students can add an interview as part of their campus visit, or they can reach out to their admissions counselor to set one up.
Drew University: Interview opportunities will be available later this summer.
Fairfield University: Virtual interviews begin on June 2 and will run through August. In person interviews begin on June 9 and run through August 7.
Gettysburg College: Virtual opportunities now through Mid-August
Grinnell College: None are currently available, but information should be posted soon. Interviews will be available through December 2, but after November 15, only students who have applied to Grinnell will be eligible for interviews.
Gonzaga University: Virtual interviews are now available.
Guilford College: Students may set up an in-person or virtual interview by calling the Office of Admission.
Hamilton College: Offering video interviews through December 12.
Harvey Mudd College: Virtual interviews are now available.
Haverford College: Virtual interviews now through August 30, and many dates are already filled.
Hillsdale College: Students can schedule an interview as part of their campus visit, and there will be some regional interview opportunities available later this fall.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges: Not yet open but opportunities should be posted soon.
Kenyon College: Virtual interviews are now available now through August 7.
Knox College: Students can email admissions to request an in-person or phone interview.
Lafayette College: Interviews are now open and run through January 15. Students can choose an in-person or a virtual interview
Lake Forest College: Interviews are required for students applying test-optional, and you need to connect with admissions to schedule.
Lawrence University: Virtual opportunities are available now through August 29
Leigh University: Contact your admission counselor for interview opportunities.
Lewis and Clark College: Virtual interviews are available now through August 29
Macalester College: Interviews open on August 1
Mount Holyoke College: On-campus and virtual interviews are available now through mid-August.
Muhlenberg College: Interviews will open later this summer.
Oberlin College: Students applying to the College of Arts and Sciences can complete a virtual interview through August 29.
Occidental College: Interviews will begin in August 2025. Applicants can also submit an interview via Glimpse by Initialview.
Pitzer College: On-campus and virtual opportunities are now available.
Quinnipiac University: Virtual opportunities are available now through August 29.
Reed College: Students can interview as part of their campus visit or complete a virtual interview now through December 1 (ED) or December 10 (EA)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): Virtual interviews now through August 29.
Sacred Heart University: Virtual interview dates TBD.
Saint Anselm College: On-campus interviews are available through August 15.
Sarah Lawrence College: Virtual interviews begin July 1. EA/ED1 students should interview by November 1. ED2/RD applicants need to interview by January 31.
Scripps College: Virtual interviews are now available.
Seton Hall University: Interviews will be available later this fall.
Southwestern University: Interviews are available after you apply.
St. Lawrence University: On-campus interviews are now through December 19. Virtual interviews will open later this summer.
St. Johns College: Students can request an interview with their admission counselor at any time.
St. Mary's College of Maryland: College Conversations are available with admissions counselors on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout August.
St. Olaf College: Students can schedule an interview with their admission counselor.
Swarthmore College: In-person interviews are now available. Virtual opportunities TBD.
Syracuse University: Interviews are now available..
Trinity College: Students may request an interview now through the final application deadline.
Trinity University: Virtual interviews will begin in July. Offer in-person interviews on campus and throughout TX (Austin, Houston, and Round Rock).
Union College: On-campus interviews are available on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the summer. Virtual interviews beginning on June 3 through September 2 at this time.
University of Richmond: Offers virtual "spider chats" with current students and alumni, and opportunities will be made available later this summer.
University of Rochester: Virtual interviews are available now through July 26.
University of San Diego: Students can schedule a virtual interview with their admissions counselor at any time.
Ursinus College: Limited opportunities on Wednesday throughout the summer.
Virginia Military Institute: Students can request a virtual interview at any time.
Washington & Lee: On-campus and virtual interviews are available now until August 8, but more dates will be added through November 30. Students can also participate in alumni interviews between October 1 and January 15, which are only available for students in the United States.
Washington University in St. Louis: On-campus and virtual opportunities are now available.
Wheaton College (MA): Virtual interviews now through August 30
William & Mary: On-campus and virtual interviews run through August 15.
Yeshiva University: Virtual interviews are available now, and students can register for one up to 60 days in advance.