How can families research schools and colleges beyond online reviews and websites?

Online reviews are a starting line, not the finish. Go beyond the stars—attend open houses, shadow days, and parent chats. Listen more than you talk. Ask families who’ve been through it: “What do you wish you knew before enrolling?” Talk to current students (if they’re not being chaperoned like baby celebrities). Dive into the school’s Instagram, newsletters, even the student newspaper. What’s being celebrated? What’s not being said? Every school has a public face and a lived reality—your job is to compare the two. And yes, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. Research isn’t just gathering facts—it’s decoding vibes.