The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2012: Students on Campus Tell You What You Really Want to Know, 38th Edition

Excellent way to learn about each college's generally tone & atmosphere! Just as it was 30 years ago when I went to college. Although each college's entry may not be re-written each year, the entries appear to be up-to-date, generally speaking.

The real advantage to this guide, like The Best 361 Colleges, is that kids tend to read, if not devour, it. Since buying it for our two daughters, I have recommended it to several other parents, advising them just to leave it out, either on a living room table or in the bathroom (It makes great john reading). In all cases the kids have found it interesting, relevant and credible. Is it the final word? Not at all. But it does serve as a great starting point for kids to put together a list of schools in which they might be interested.

Written by students, this book distinguishes itself from other college guides in that you really get a good feel for the school, its social atmosphere, and its academics. Topics covered are eating and sleeping facilities, social life, alcohol, accessibility and friendliness of professors, the level of competition between students, extracurriculars, and much, much more! I'd recommend this book to anyone looking at colleges!

I like this book a lot because it tells me information I want to know that I haven't been able to find anywhere else such as whether or not the student body is mostly liberal or conservative or whether or not alchol makes the scene at certain colleges. It gives the students' perspectives. You can find the student faculty ratio and freshmen retention rate anywhere. This is the book to read if you want to know more than just the statistics.

I'm in the process of choosing a college, and this book has been so helpful. Although it can't cover all the colleges in the country, and it doesn't have space for every detail, it's still an essential tool. Use Peterson's guide for the bare facts about admissions, requirements, etc., but get this book to learn about life at each college. It gives you the truth about the dorms, the food, the party scene - everything the colleges don't tell you in their brochures. Don't choose a college without consulting this book!