A campus visit is the best. If actually being on a campus is not possible, Web sites and virtual visits will give you a sense of what that college values. Read the mission statement of each institution. For instance, Swarthmore was founded by the Society of Friends, thus Quaker values permeate the campus and curriculum. Reed College has no athletic teams, sororities, or fraternities.
Students come there because of the academics.
By doing some digging, you can determine if you're a good match with a college and avoid sending applications to a college that don't fit you. If you can't visit, call up admissions and talk to a counselor. Meet with representatives from a campus who might be visiting your area. This student is trying to impress us in the wrong ways. It is impossible for you to guess what application readers at a particular college will want to hear.