How Seriously Should You Consider Student Reviews of Colleges?

October 15th, 2008

Join U.Got It? in welcoming our new guest blogger, Barbara Bellesi. She’s an expert from CampusCompare.com, who’ll be dropping by once in a while to share some thoughts on the process of choosing a college.

As a college-bound student, it seems as though everyone’s got advice for you. From your parents to your guidance counselor to even your dentist, people are lining up for their chance to weigh in on your college decision. Thanks to websites like CampusCompare, you’ve also got tons of college students clamoring for your attention, ready to share their points of view on college life. But here’s a question that you won’t find on the ACT or the SAT: should you pay attention to student reviews?

College reviews are not like movie reviews. You might still pay the 10 bucks for admission even after the movie you want to see gets panned by the critics. College, on the other hand, carries a much heftier price tag and you certainly don’t want buyers’ remorse. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable—and advisable—to make student reviews part of your decision-making process.

Notice I said part. There should be many factors that determine your final college pick, and student reviews can be an integral part of the equation. Here are some ways that you can use reviews to your advantage:

1. Consider the source. Let’s say you read a scathing review from a student at University X who says her professors are the worst ever. Well, are they truly the worst, or is she saying that because she just failed half her midterms? We’ve all had terrible days and have sought opportunities to vent our feelings, which is what some college students are tempted to do on review sites. Remember that while many bad reviews are justifiable, there are some that come from having bad days.

2. Check for consistency. Did everyone who posted a review about a certain school rave about the cafeteria? Sounds like the food could be really good. What about social activities on campus? Is everyone saying that there’s nothing to do, or is it just one bored student? Remember, one review—negative or positive—does not make or break a school. A student complaining about dorm size at Harvard won’t bring down the reputation of that hallowed institution.

3. See for yourself. Reviews are merely opinions; therefore, in formulating your own ideas about a school, you should check out the features that are being reviewed. CampusCompare allows students to post reviews in more than a dozen categories—from academics and financial aid to campus safety and dorms—but don’t let that stop you from scheduling a campus visit. Take a class. Eat at the cafeteria. Hang out on the quad. See if you agree or disagree with the reviews.

Most of us care what other people think more than we’d like to admit. When it comes to choosing a college, that might not be such a bad thing after all. As long as you take other factors into consideration as well, hearing from actual college students is a smart move.

-Barbara Bellesi

Entry Filed under: School Tools,Schools,Test Prep