Using the Internet to Research Colleges

Searching for college information? The Internet can be a terrific tool for college research. However, with the dizzying abundance of websites related to college admissions, knowing where to look and which websites to trust is key. Here are some tips to help you optimize the Internet as a resource.

Get the most out of college websites. Individual college websites are the best sources of information on the Internet. Start by clicking on the “Admissions” or “Prospective Students” link, then look for details on admissions requirements, application procedures, costs and financial aid, and an overview of what makes that college or university unique. But don’t stop there! Under “Academics”, look for links to individual departments you may be interested in. Use the site search function to find the college’s course catalog and research graduation requirements. Then do a search for the student newspaper and read back issues to get a sense of what life on that college campus is like.

Find the information you need. Google can be a college hunter’s best friend if you use it effectively. Say, for instance, you want to find a list of colleges that offer a specific major or a particular extracurricular activity. Open Google and click on Advanced Search. Enter the major or extracurricular you’re interested in, then specify “.edu” as the domain. This limits the search mainly to colleges and universities, and usually turns up quite a few hits. Another tip: If you’re interested in a specific major or career field, do a Google search using the major or career and the word “Association.” This will usually turn up any professional associations related to the field or major, and, often, you’ll find a wealth of resources on their website.

Consider the source. Unfortunately, while information on the Internet seems unlimited, not all of it is reliable. When you find a useful college website, try to pinpoint who created it and how trustworthy the source might be. Who owns and operates the site? What is their purpose? Is the site a nonprofit venture or a commercial venture with the ultimate goal of selling you products or services? Do they share your contact information and personal data with other sites?

Take discussion forums with a grain of salt. College admissions discussion forums such as College Confidential have become extremely popular. While they can be a useful place to exchange ideas and information, they can also be riddled with inaccurate information and opinions presented as “fact.” If you’re going to participate in a college discussion forum, be especially careful about who is offering advice. Is it another student with no more knowledge than you, or an admissions expert? Also, consider who moderates the forum. Do they attempt
to correct inaccurate or misleading information, or does the site take an “anything goes” approach? Finally, these forums are not always as anonymous as they may seem. College admissions officers do read these boards, so be careful about posting your personal information or preferences.

Trust, but verify. While there’s a wealth of helpful data on the Internet, make sure to always verify important information yourself. If you see a negative report about a college on a review site such as Unigo.com, don’t automatically rule the college out without doing your own research. Most important of all: always believe what the college website says about its deadlines and admissions requirements over anything published on a site that is not run by the college.

Acing the Interview

It’s not unusual to get nervous before an interview with a college admissions officer or alumni representative. Students are afraid that if they are not brilliant, witty and charming, their chances of getting into the college are next to nothing. But the truth is that interviews have little impact on admissions decisions. Admissions directors understand that well-qualified students can be extremely anxious and may not come across well in an interview, and sometimes the chemistry just isn’t right be-tween a student and interviewer. Recommendations from teachers who know you well and well-written essays can have a much bigger impact on admission decisions.

Knowing that it won’t make or break your application should help students feel more relaxed. Schools that do offer evaluative interviews generally use them to confirm the information in other parts of the application. Sure, there are things you can do in an interview that will tank your application, such as spouting racist views. Admissions officers think about how you’ll interact with dorm-mates, so likeability certainly is a plus, but you aren’t likely to ruin a strong application if you’re nervous and not at your best.

Of course, the fact that interviews aren’t a major factor in admissions decisions means that having a great interview won’t get you into a school. But it’s possible that if it came down to two similarly well-qualified students, and one had formed a bond with an admissions officer during an interview, that admissions officer might be more inclined to advocate for that student. So you do want to make the most of the opportunity.

Being prepared will lower your anxiety level and help you create a better interview experience. Have some clear ideas about your strengths, interests and goals that you can communicate during the meeting.

Interviews are usually optional, and only worth having if you’ve done your research. Have several questions prepared so that when the interviewer asks if you have any questions, you’re ready to communicate a real interest in the school. You should be seeking information that isn’t readily available from the website. It’s fine to ask what students do on weekends, but it’s also a good idea to ask about specific academic programs, especially those that are unique to that school.

If you approach the interview as a conversation, where you and the interviewer are exchanging information, it can actually be fun. The more you initiate conversation, the less time the interviewer will have to ask you questions. So relax and enjoy!