> When you actually visit the colleges, try to go beyond the typical college tour. The tour guides will highlight the best parts of campus because that is their job. If possible, spend an hour wandering around campus without the aid of a tour guide.

Now that's definitely a good idea. When I was a senior visiting colleges, there was one college in particular that I was really interested in attending, mainly because my high school art teacher was an alumnus of said school and recommended it highly. I went to visit that school, and of course was duly impressed by all the things shown during the official tour. But I got a chance to wander, and I checked out the school's art department. Now I'm sure that this school does offer a good education, but they didn't present themselves very well at all in this area.

I went to visit another school, which I wasn't particularly interested in, a month or so later. I was very impressed with everything about their program. I was able to talk one on one with the teachers, ask questions, and see the students at work. That experience helped me decide where I wanted to go to school.

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