On April 7, 2025, JLA reached an exciting milestone by hosting its first-ever college fair. Held in the Beit Midrash, the event brought representatives from over thirty colleges and universities to campus, offering students a chance to explore their options and speak to admissions officers.

Throughout the afternoon, students from ninth through eleventh grade circulated through the fair, gathering brochures, learning about programs, and discovering schools they may not have considered before. Tables lined the room, each covered in colored banners and materials, while students chatted and collected information. The wide range of institutions, including Boston University, University of Florida, Tel Aviv University, Babson College, and the University of Miami, gave students the opportunity to explore all types of schools, both American and Israeli. The fair was organized by JLA’s college counselor, Ms. Cerna, whose dedication and planning brought the event to life.

“It made me realize how many schools are out there and how different they all are,” said Ayelet Friedman, an 11th grade student. “I didn’t expect to find a few that I actually want to look into more. I’m really glad I came.”

The event was a new addition to JLA’s college counseling offerings and was met with strong engagement and enthusiasm, with students continuing to talk about colleges they discovered in the following days. For many students, it was their first time directly speaking with college representatives, giving them a clearer sense of what to expect in the college search process.

With more schools using holistic review, test-optional policies, and more competitive applicant pools, the entire college application process has become more complex than ever. Events like this one help bring clarity and make it feel less overwhelming. Given the strong turnout and positive feedback, many students are already looking ahead with interest to how next year’s fair might grow.