We live in a world fractured by ideological bubbles, not just online, but geographically, socioeconomically, and culturally. Civil discourse is deteriorating. People are afraid to discuss hot-button topics, fearing it might damage friendships or cost them jobs. Before hard conversations can even begin, people often shout down each other over social media or in person.
Young people see this clearly. As they prepare for college and adulthood, many are caught between wanting to test their opinions and fearing the consequences of doing so. That’s the problem we’re trying to address with the Dialogues program at the nonprofit Schoolhouse.world — by giving students a space to speak honestly, listen bravely, and practice engaging across deep differences.
Here’s how it works: students voluntarily join Zoom conversations with peers from around the country (and the world). They are paired with someone who holds an opposing viewpoint, discuss difficult issues like immigration, climate, free speech, and Israel-Palestine, then listen, challenge, and reflect.
We built this program because we believe every student should be engaging in difficult conversations to build critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. We want to create space for viewpoint diversity. It turns out colleges want this too. That’s why several admissions offices— including those of Columbia, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Colby, Northwestern, and Washington University in St. Louis — have begun recognizing Dialogues participation. Importantly, there are no adult moderators, no scores, and no scripts. Students aren’t judged on their political beliefs. In fact, colleges never see what students say or think in these conversations. The only thing a student might choose to share is how many sessions they participated in and what positive traits peers observed, like listening, clarity, or intellectual curiosity.
Does this program reward students who stay in the safe middle — moderates, fence-sitters, or those too cautious to say anything meaningful? In the more than 3,000 conversations we’ve observed, we’ve seen the opposite. Successful participants haven’t held back. They’ve shown up with passion and strong opinions. What makes these conversations powerful isn’t that everyone agrees — it’s that disagreement isn’t treated as dangerous. It’s treated as something to navigate with care and respect.
One student told us, “It was my first time having such a productive conversation with someone else on a taboo topic such as immigration.” Another wrote, “As an atheist in a non-religious area, it was very interesting to sit down and talk with a Christian.” And from the other side of that exchange: “Talking to an atheist for the first time made me realize how much more there is to know about my faith and how much more research I need to do.”
Some worry that tying Dialogues to college admissions turns it into just another thing to game. But these conversations are high-reward, not high-stakes. Students choose what — if anything — they want to share with colleges. One might highlight a quote from a peer: “He made me feel heard, even when we disagreed.” Another might simply note the number of sessions attended.
For those on the right concerned that conservative viewpoints are often unwelcome on college campuses, Dialogues creates real space for those voices to be heard. For those on the left who truly value viewpoint diversity and inclusion, it fosters those very traits. This is a chance to empower students to communicate across differences without compromising their values.
Lastly, this isn’t a backdoor around academic rigor. Dialogues is part of a much bigger, nonprofit effort to empower learners not only to engage thoughtfully, but to prove what they know. At Khan Academy, we’ve spent nearly two decades providing free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. At Schoolhouse.world, we’ve expanded that mission through peer tutoring and rigorous certifications in subjects like calculus, statistics, and SAT prep.
Just recently, I met a young woman from Afghanistan who, after the Taliban took over, was no longer allowed to attend school. Khan Academy became her only source of education. When she applied to MIT, the admissions team was impressed by her story and drive, but was unsure if she was ready. They pointed her to Schoolhouse, where she completed challenging live, online video assessments on advanced math problems while explaining her reasoning. That proof of mastery helped her get admitted. And now, she’s thriving at MIT.
Dialogues is a natural extension of this vision. It’s not a substitute for academic achievement — it’s a space where students practice something equally vital: the courage to step outside their bubbles and engage with others who see the world differently.
This isn’t a replacement for rigorous academics, historical analysis, or thoughtful classroom debate. But it is a starting point. It is a place where students, with all their conviction and complexity, can step out of their comfort zones and into something harder, and more human: real conversation.
If we want a future where community thrives, where disagreement doesn’t feel dangerous, and where passion doesn’t come at the cost of understanding — then we need more Dialogues, not fewer.