Most colleges also have E-mail addresses as well as very informative web pages. There is no real substitute for actually visiting the college. If you are able to visit the campus, make full use of this opportunity. When planning a visit, it is preferable to go while the students are on campus in order to get the most accurate impression of the school. Summer and Christmas vacations are not good times, but holidays such as Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Election Day are good.
College can be a rewarding experience both educationally and socially.
It can be a lot of fun and it can help prepare a student for the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood and success in a good job. It should be a much more rewarding experience if the choice of college is based on more substantive and relevant factors than some ranking based on arbitrary criteria developed by or for journalists interested in a quick profit. Some families may wish to seek professional assistance in selecting appropriate colleges or in other aspects of the admission process. High schools can provide some assistance, but families may also wish to use independent counselors. There are a number of qualified consultants in the Washington area.