How reliable are Niche reviews for evaluating colleges?

I'm trying to get a sense of different colleges, and I've come across a lot of reviews on Niche. Do you guys think these reviews are reliable or should I be looking at other sources as well? Any personal experiences?

Niche can indeed be a useful resource for obtaining some insights about colleges straight from students who attend or have attended them. That being said, it is important to remain aware that these reviews often reflect individual experiences, which can greatly vary from student to student. So, while one student might rave about a certain aspect of a college, another attending the same institution might have a completely different perspective.

It's also important to be mindful of the potential for bias or skewed perspectives. Happier or more discontented students might be more motivated to leave a review, creating a bit of an unbalanced perspective.

Consider using Niche as one of several tools in your research. College websites, virtual tours, and talking directly with alumni or current students can also be very insightful. Also, consider using tools like CollegeVine's College Search engine or Appily for more comprehensive information and statistics about the colleges you're interested in. It’s always a good idea to gather information from a variety of sources to form a holistic view.

For example, you might find a student review on Niche about the amazing sense of community at a college, but the official data shows that the school has a lower percentage in terms of student retention rate. This discrepancy might raise some questions worth investigating further.

Lastly, always take into account what aspects of a college experience matter most to you. If you value small class sizes, for example, seek out reviews that talk about that aspect, and compare that with official statistics from the colleges. This way, you're using reviews as a supplementary tool, together with the more official information.