How a College Guide Can Help You

A college guide is a book or online resource offering detailed information about colleges and universities. Some guides also contain information about preparatory schools and other private schools. These guides can be a fantastic resource when you are beginning your search to find the right college. Before using a guide there are some things to consider.

Which Guide Is the Best Guide?

There are literally thousands of books and websites claiming to be “college guides.” Sorting through all of them would take a lifetime, so there are some things to look for in when choosing a college guide that will help you find a college:

• Who is the author or organization behind the guide? Does the author have experience in college admissions or as a college consultant? Credibility is key, so make sure to check out the source of the information.
• Stay away from individuals who have little authority on the subject matter, and from those who offer a self-proclaimed “been there, done that” type of statement. Instead, look for companies or organizations that have accurate and objective information. Excellent sources of information include the U.S. Department of Education and first-hand information from colleges and universities directly. If the college guide is using these sources, you can trust the data.
• Every guide will be organized differently and will present information in unique ways. Your job is to select a college guide that is usable and credible.

What Information Should Be Included in a College Guide?

There is a tremendous amount of college information that is publicly available. You should expect to find the following details in a good college guide:

• Campus description
• Geographic location and descriptions of surrounding areas
• Majors and areas of study
• Academic programs
• Student life, Greek life and support services information
• Admissions requirements
• Application information
• Costs
• Contact information

Your college guide should present this information in a well-organized and easy-to-access manner. Online resources will often have an advantage over paper resources for ease-of-use and access.

What Does the College Information Mean?

Without context, the information in a college guide may not provide enough information to determine whether or not a college is good fit for your you. To make the most of a college guide, examine the information as it relates specifically to you. With an online system like WiseChoice, you receive customized information about colleges that are matched to you and your personal goals. This often makes a lot more sense than spending time researching hundreds of colleges that don't fit your preferences, background, personality, and aspirations. Using a college guide to help in your college planning process makes sense. Just make sure you're using a college guide that takes your personal situation into account, and is credible and easy to use.