The 2027–28 FAFSA launched on Sept. 23, the earliest in history, while more than 1,000 colleges missed a deadline to file their own outcomes data. Here is how to file the FAFSA, meet financial aid deadlines, and compare college costs with confidence. By Dr. Nathan Hurwitz · Hurwitz Consulting · October 9, 2026 QUICK ANSWERS When does the FAFSA open for 2027–28? It opened Sept. 23, 2026, the earliest launch ever. Who should file? Students planning to start college in fall 2027

The Justice Department says UCLA’s law school used race in admissions and points to personal statements as one way that can happen. Here is what it means for your Common App essay, your college application strategy, and your testing plan. By Dr. Nathan Hurwitz · Hurwitz Consulting · October 9, 2026 QUICK ANSWERS Can I still write about my race or background in my college essay? Yes, if you tie it to something you did or a quality you showed. The legal line has not moved since

For families, the practical effect is not on this year’s applicant pool; it is on the research enterprise that funds graduate stipends, undergraduate research slots, and lab opportunities at these schools. Two things can be true at once: oversight of federal research dollars is legitimate, and sweeping subpoenas can chill the international collaboration that drives research. If your student is headed toward a research-heavy major, do not rebuild your list around these headlin

The Cornell Case · October 9, 2026 · By Dr. Nathan Hurwitz, Hurwitz Consulting Editor’s Note Dear Parents and Guidance Counselors, This is a special edition. In the regular edition of "Higher Ed Insider"I set aside the Cornell case because it deserves more than a paragraph. Here is the full treatment: what is alleged and what is not yet established, what colleges owe their students, where individual responsibility begins, whether fraternities and sororities should exist on ca