Why Dialogue?

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Today, the ability for high school students to navigate disagreement and demonstrate dialogue skills is a must-have competency for college. Many selective universities prioritize high school applicants who can bridge differences, lead difficult conversations, and contribute to pluralistic academic communities.

The Columbia Summer Institute for Dialogue and Civic Practice prepares high school students to meet these demands by equipping them with rigorous, practice-based dialogue skills grounded in real campus experience. Before entering college.

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Why Columbia?

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Across the country, colleges have struggled with polarization and conflict. At Columbia, we responded with the Listening Tables, a face-to-face dialogue initiative that builds trust through genuine listening and structured conversation. Our high school program is rooted in this work and builds on a simple but powerful formula: students practice dialogue through in-person exercises and class activities—without social media, AI, or screens —to build understanding across difference.

What Students Gain

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Our high school program offers students tools to develop a comprehensive skill set in listening and dialogue, taught by Columbia faculty. Students acquire:

• Advanced listening and dialogue skills.

• Experience navigating disagreement constructively.

• Practice engaging complex civic and social issues.

• Documented dialogue experience for college essays and interviews.

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We Are Now Accepting Applications for the Foundations of Dialogue Course and our Advanced Dialogue and Research Courses.

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Our Dialogue Work in the News

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Questions About Our Program? Contact Us!