I'm looking into different colleges and I'm wondering how much weight I should put on online reviews. Are they usually reliable or should I take them with a grain of salt? Any personal experiences would be helpful!
As someone who advises students on college admissions, I'd say online reviews provide one perspective but shouldn't be your sole or even main source for decision-making. Here are some reasons why:
1. Varied Opinions: Different people can have wildly different experiences based on factors like their major, whether they lived on campus or off, which professors they had, their financial situation, their participation in clubs, and so on. This means someone may rate a school poorly because of their individual experiences which may not reflect the overall quality of the institution.
2. Limited Scope: Often, students who are leaving reviews only provide insight into their experience at the institution such as academic workload, housing, or social scene. Meanwhile, other equally important factors such as the support of administrative and career counseling offices, or the strength of alumni networks, may get less attention.
3. Extreme Opinions: There can be a bias in who leaves reviews, with those who had extremely positive or negative experiences being more likely to do so than those with average experiences. This can lead to a skewed perception of the school.
Instead, consider multiple sources of information: speak with current students or alumni, visit campuses (if possible), research the institution's curriculum and majors, and consider how well aligned that is to your career aspirations. You could also reach out to career services or admissions officers to get a sense of the resources the school offers. Finally, consult college advisors or counselors who can provide an unbiased perspective about the strengths and weaknesses of different institutions. Using all of this information collectively will provide a more complete picture of what the school could be like for you.
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