Ask advisers whether they know of any students you could contact who have been through the application process. Your peers' expertise could prove invaluable. Ask your peers and college admissions experts in our international student forum. USNews Online's exclusive online counseling partner Make contact. If you cannot visit the college, the college might be able to come to you.
Some colleges actually keep permanent offices abroad to handle recruitment and alumni affairs.
Many colleges have extensive alumni networks overseas, so be sure to ask if any alumni are in your area. Several colleges participate in recruitment fairs that serve as convenient, one-stop information shops where students can meet with admissions officers and alumni. Some admissions officers cut their own recruiting trail, stopping at educational advising centers and reputable high schools along their way. Personal contact with college representatives can indirectly give you a feel for the campus and answer many questions books and Web sites cannot resolve. It can also make the application process more real for you.