DHS Discovers College Campus Prowling
NEIRAD enilno edition
Most students judge colleges based on what they hear from other kids. Friends, parents or even a friend’s parents often gossip about a college because they heard about it from someone else. News and opinions about certain colleges travel among students like wild fire. But are these people reliable sources of information?
The circulation of information about colleges reaches its peak when it comes time to apply to college. This information, however, isn’t always dependable. “I get most of my information about schools from other people,” senior Keri Byrne said. And I’m sure most students like Byrne do the same.
While many claim they know they know a lot about a certain college, the truth is a person can’t critique a college unless they are actually a student at that university. A fast-growing website established in 2002 is changing all that. Students are able to search any college of their choice and get an insider’s perspective based from what the actual students say. Collegeprowler.com is a website created by student writers who have gathered hundreds of student opinions and reviews about the school. The site then grades the school on all aspects of campus life allowing an outsider instant insight into the true college experience underneath all of the gossip.
The student reviews also pose some interesting information. At Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, an anonymous student commented “There is nothing but the most beautiful people at Hamilton.” Student reviews include everything from comical comments to genuine information. A student from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey explains the campus dining situation, “For the first two years, students live and eat in residential colleges. The food at the colleges varies greatly, with Rockefeller being one of the worst and Forbes being the best. Students have some flexibility because any underclassman on the meal plan can eat at any of the dining halls.”
This rapidly growing website allows students to check out everything from academics, weather and athletics to how attractive the student population is. “It’s the bomb.com!” said junior Matt Lee. Not only can you check out the campus life but acceptance rates, tuition, male-female population as well as admissions stats are accessible to viewers as well as a list of all of the majors and student organizations (or clubs) offered at the school.
This website is the next best thing to actually going on an on-campus visit. “With school and sports I don’t have any time to visit schools. This site provides me with good information I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else,” junior Charlett Stevenson said. Stevenson was able to check out student reviews about the University of Richmond’s athletics, a school where she is interested in joining the lacrosse team. With this site, student athletes can see if colleges have athletics programs suitable for them.
Not only is this site reliable but it’s inexpensive! “It’s much easier than getting books and I don’t have to pay a cent,” junior Dominique Gelineau said. Many say don’t waste money on traditional guidebooks; all the information needed is right there with a click of a button.
According to website-users College Prowler isn’t only efficient and reliable but it’s also entertaining to use. “You could spend hours on it,” Stevenson said. It makes college-searching fun by reading the long lists of student reviews posted on the site and getting the dirt on campus life. Check out College Prowler right now!
