Student Reviews: Getting Feedback From Students

Reading student reviews and comments from actual students can help you get a sense of the school's culture. You can also learn about other colleges that may interest you by looking at their ranking pages, news related to the school that isn't on the school's website, and social groups (some schools have Facebook groups that are rich in information).

You can find several online resources for student reviews of colleges, but Niche is the easiest to read and navigate. Niche allows you to scroll through hundreds of students' comments about what campus life is really like. Because the student reviews are unfiltered, be prepared to read about topics like the dining halls, on-campus parking, and whether professors or students are hot. These comments may not be the most important things to consider when compared to your major and minor priorities list, but it never hurts to hear what real students think about the “quality” of life on campus.

College Confidential is another popular website that offers student reviews and parents the chance to share their experiences and impressions in an online community and discussion forum. Admissions experts also provide accurate information and stop false rumors from spreading. A particularly interesting feature of College Confidential is the “Campus Vibe” section, where students and parents can post videos from campus tours. You can learn a lot from other students struggling to find the information session on campus or prepping for an on-campus interview.

Rate My Professors is an excellent resource that gives students an idea of the best and worst college professors. Rate My Professors allow students to review their professor's performance. The student reviews leave helpful information such as the amount of homework given to the students, the regularity of pop quizzes, whether or not a professor is extra strict on handing in late paperwork, etc.


You shouldn't base your entire impression of a college on books or websites that offer student reviews. They can be misleading and faulty because they are not necessarily representative of all students on the campus. Students with more extreme views-both positive and negative may be more likely to leave a review on a website. Do not eliminate a college that fits all your major and minor priorities list just because you read a couple of negative student reviews. It may still be worth visiting the campus.