Social Portfolios?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unclear?

But there’s a reason they are all jumping on “Glimpse” videos. They want to see kids talk off the cuff for 120 seconds in their own words looking at a camera.

Think they are trying to filter out for kids who aren’t able to socially integrate.

Or, the more likely reason is they want to see the kids ethnicity so they can continue using that for admissions without putting it on paper.

It is 100% this. They were stripped of asking and they had to be very careful with essay prompts—-this year (and next 3) with Trump they are scrapping anything that remotely sounds like DEI so….cue the videos…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

Exactly this. It sounds like it's supposed to increase diversity of thought on the surface, but it seems almost guaranteed to do the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this for this cycle - Seniors 2026?

Yuck

+100

What a heap of garbage.

[Anonymous]

Why are they calling this a “social portfolio?” Social skills have nothing to do with speaking extensively about a geopolitical topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

That wasn't my takeaway . . . more that they want to see whether kids can coherently share their thoughts ff the cuff, listen to what others have to say, and have respectful conversations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

That wasn't my takeaway . . . more that they want to see whether kids can coherently share their thoughts ff the cuff, listen to what others have to say, and have respectful conversations.

DP. Do you seriously think AOs are going to sit and watch hundreds of these recorded conversations? They’re not. I can’t imagine any parent with half a brain cell allowing their kid to participate in this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This gimmick is definitely advantageous to the rich kids, especially the private school kids. They can easily fake this by getting lots of coaching. Again middle class kids are screwed.

Exactly. This will spawn an entire new industry/sub-industry of prep-classes and tutors. One more thing to add to the schedule of SAT/ACT classes and private counselor etc sessions. No surprise it’s founded by Khan of Khan academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

That wasn't my takeaway . . . more that they want to see whether kids can coherently share their thoughts ff the cuff, listen to what others have to say, and have respectful conversations.

DP. Do you seriously think AOs are going to sit and watch hundreds of these recorded conversations? They’re not. I can’t imagine any parent with half a brain cell allowing their kid to participate in this.

They have that taken care of. A “score card” is provided that you submit to the colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

That wasn't my takeaway . . . more that they want to see whether kids can coherently share their thoughts ff the cuff, listen to what others have to say, and have respectful conversations.

DP. Do you seriously think AOs are going to sit and watch hundreds of these recorded conversations? They’re not. I can’t imagine any parent with half a brain cell allowing their kid to participate in this.

Where did I say that? It was required for my DS's HS application for Riverdale in the Bronx. It's conducted by an outside company that provides the school with a report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gimmick is definitely advantageous to the rich kids, especially the private school kids. They can easily fake this by getting lots of coaching. Again middle class kids are screwed.

Exactly. This will spawn an entire new industry/sub-industry of prep-classes and tutors. One more thing to add to the schedule of SAT/ACT classes and private counselor etc sessions. No surprise it’s founded by Khan of Khan academy.

Feels like a slimy effort to expand his portfolio and make more $$$$

[Anonymous]

I feel that yet again, the social extroverts are advantaged in this new scenario.

College apps were probably the last bastion of selection based on achievement (and nebulous other activities) without a direct social component. It can give a leg up to intelligent kids who are shy in-person, but can express themselves well on paper. These are 17 year olds! They're allowed to be uncertain and lack confidence in their public persona! They have lots of growing to do.

If you insert a live video where kids need to talk to show off how mature they are... it will only select for that portion of the population who can act like that (regardless of whether or not they truly are like that).

So, this is not an improvement. Like selections based on extra-curriculars and sports, it's just another way of ignoring academic achievement, which should be the main criteria for university admissions. US colleges thinks they're holding a popularity contest. Universities should educate the brightest, not the most popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gimmick is definitely advantageous to the rich kids, especially the private school kids. They can easily fake this by getting lots of coaching. Again middle class kids are screwed.

Exactly. This will spawn an entire new industry/sub-industry of prep-classes and tutors. One more thing to add to the schedule of SAT/ACT classes and private counselor etc sessions. No surprise it’s founded by Khan of Khan academy.

Feels like a slimy effort to expand his portfolio and make more $$$$

This is the one and only answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like this, which one of the private schools required when DS was applying a few years ago.

https://www.enrollment.org/tools/snapshot/character-skills-snapshot

It presumably gives an insight into interpersonal skills and maturity. My guess is that these colleges are finding that some applicants who seem great on paper lack EQ skills.

So they are going to require adherence to a bunch of topic that favor the exact same type of student they currently are full of?

That wasn't my takeaway . . . more that they want to see whether kids can coherently share their thoughts ff the cuff, listen to what others have to say, and have respectful conversations.

DP. Do you seriously think AOs are going to sit and watch hundreds of these recorded conversations? They’re not. I can’t imagine any parent with half a brain cell allowing their kid to participate in this.

Where did I say that? It was required for my DS's HS application for Riverdale in the Bronx. It's conducted by an outside company that provides the school with a report.

Did you not find that a bit chilling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel that yet again, the social extroverts are advantaged in this new scenario.

College apps were probably the last bastion of selection based on achievement (and nebulous other activities) without a direct social component. It can give a leg up to intelligent kids who are shy in-person, but can express themselves well on paper. These are 17 year olds! They're allowed to be uncertain and lack confidence in their public persona! They have lots of growing to do.

If you insert a live video where kids need to talk to show off how mature they are... it will only select for that portion of the population who can act like that (regardless of whether or not they truly are like that).

So, this is not an improvement. Like selections based on extra-curriculars and sports, it's just another way of ignoring academic achievement, which should be the main criteria for university admissions. US colleges thinks they're holding a popularity contest. Universities should educate the brightest, not the most popular.

Even an introvert needs to have some way to show a college that they can organize their thoughts and present them in a way to effectively communicate. They can no longer use an essay because AI just writes the essays now. I don't know whether this is a good way to do it or not, but I think communication skills are a valid criterion to examine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel that yet again, the social extroverts are advantaged in this new scenario.

College apps were probably the last bastion of selection based on achievement (and nebulous other activities) without a direct social component. It can give a leg up to intelligent kids who are shy in-person, but can express themselves well on paper. These are 17 year olds! They're allowed to be uncertain and lack confidence in their public persona! They have lots of growing to do.

If you insert a live video where kids need to talk to show off how mature they are... it will only select for that portion of the population who can act like that (regardless of whether or not they truly are like that).

So, this is not an improvement. Like selections based on extra-curriculars and sports, it's just another way of ignoring academic achievement, which should be the main criteria for university admissions. US colleges thinks they're holding a popularity contest. Universities should educate the brightest, not the most popular.

Colleges do not value kids who sit in their dorm rooms all day without social contact.
It's why at a young age you need to push kids to get out of that habit, if that is how they are so inclined. Society will not be kind to them.

I disagree with you. I think its an improvement. You get more socially well-adjusted kids, who end up engaging in all a university has to offer. There's more to life than a classroom. If you don't understand the priorities of American universities, then go elsewhere. Top universities are looking for the brightest. They are actually looking for the most talented, the rarest, the most likely to make an impact. It's not always the "brightest" as you put it.