Guidebooks are a great place to begin your investigation into what a given college is all about and what it has to offer you, but you definitely don't want to end your information quest there. Not only do they all more or less look the same, but you should also want to seek out a greater variety of perspectives than just the college's marketing team.

• College fairs offer chances to introduce yourself to the admissions representatives for your geographic region and ask basic but specific questions that may help you determine whether you're interested in learning anything further about the school on your own. You must be mindful, however, that these representatives' jobs are to convince as many student to apply as possible - so this might not be your most reliable source of information to take to heart.

• School websites provide a wealth of information regarding the mission and values of the institution, backgrounds of the faculty in your department of interest, studies being conducted on campus in your field, student organizations you may want to become a part of, campus resources that are available to contribute to your endeavors and academic success, specific courses available within your major or other subjects of interest, recent campus news and events, and sometimes even student blogs.

• School newspapers are often student run and can offer a perspective of the campus culture and concerns that you are not likely to come across by browsing the school's marketing materials or speaking with its admissions representatives. Finding out what's on people's minds across the campus you're considering can offer significant insight into whether your values and interests are matched by the peers you're hoping to join.

• College visits allow you to get up close and personal with your investigative efforts. In this way, you can see for yourself how closely the school matches the vision of it that you have formed from its guidebooks, websites, and reputation. Visiting in the summer is probably most considerate of your own academic schedule, but many not provide a realistic observation while most of the student body is elsewhere. If you can manage a visit during the school year, be sure to sit in on a class, talk to current students, check out the campus eateries, and speak to faculty members in the departments you are interested in. Listen in on the conversations going on around you for a sense of what your future peers will be like and what matters to the people on campus. When you do engage with current students to probe for their perspectives, it's not enough to ask, "Do you like attending University?" Make sure your questions are thoughtful and specific, and be sure to focus on trends in your observations rather than put too much stock in the words and opinions of one given student.