JRA Educational Consulting Blog
Stay updated on the latest information and tips to get you ahead in your academic career.
Georgia Tech Campus Visit: What the Viewbook Leaves Out
What a Georgia Tech campus visit tells you that admissions brochures can't, and how Florida families should plan around a 9% out-of-state admit rate.
Emory Campus Tour: 5 Facts, Including Free Tuition Under $200K
Five facts from an Emory University campus tour, including Emory Advantage Plus, the tuition-free program for families under $200,000 starting fall 2026.
Florida's Dozen Fall 2027: Application Deadlines and Rules
Fall 2027 application deadlines for all 12 Florida public universities, plus STARS rules and scholarship cutoffs from the state counselor workshop.
How Many Colleges Should You Apply To? Building a Balanced List of Reach, Target, and Likely Schools
How many colleges should you apply to? JRA's framework for a balanced college list of reach, target, and likely schools, with a Florida example at the end.
AI in College Education: MIT Just Wrote the Playbook
MIT's 2026 report is the new playbook for AI in college education. What changes, which schools will follow, and how your student should prepare.
The Claude AI Watermark and College Admissions: What Applicants Need to Know
Anthropic now watermarks Claude's text. Can colleges detect AI in application essays? What top-20 admissions offices allow, and what we predict for 2027.
Twins Applying to the Same College: How Admissions Offices Really Decide
Twins applying to the same college are read separately but often decided together. How admissions offices decide, plus the FAFSA change for twin families.
The Early Decision Lawsuit Just Cleared Its First Hurdle
A federal judge just let the early decision lawsuit against 32 elite colleges proceed. What the antitrust ruling means for families applying this cycle.
Common App Courses and Grades: Which Colleges Require It (2026–27 List)
The Common App Courses and Grades section asks students to retype their transcript. See how it works and the 81 colleges that require it for 2026-2027.
What College Admissions Officers Look For: Swarthmore's Dean Explains
Swarthmore’s Dean of Admissions reveals what colleges really look for: course rigor, essays, recommendations, AI, testing, Early Decision and more.
What Is an Independent Educational Consultant – and Who Needs One?
What an independent educational consultant (IEC) does, what NACAC data reveals about counselor caseloads, and how to decide whether your family needs one.
College Admissions Is an Enrollment Business: What Families Need to Know in 2026
Modern college admissions runs on enrollment management, not merit. Here's what's actually changed and how families should adjust their strategy this cycle.
