Are "Student Review" sites to be trusted?

I’ve recently been reading reviews on the better-known “student review” sites, and the college in question that I’m looking at seems to have a sad running trend in its reviews: apparently all its students are close-minded and judgmental, among other things. The key word there being “apparently.” Every other college I’ve looked at reviews for seems like their reviewers are ALSO crotchety old crones looking to show everyone just how judge-y, rude, and inconsiderate their college was.

Have I just been looking at really bad colleges? Or are most student reviews written by extremely biased people?

I think those sites are ridiculous…and there’s no control that prevent rival school students from posting.

Take everything, positive and negative, with a grain of salt. Scrutinize reviews that back up their points with a bit of detail, rather than incessant ranting or ambiguous statements.

I think it is much more useful to look at a college’s student newspaper online to see what people really think about what is going on at the school.

But college newspapers today aren’t what they used to be. Sadly, many schools no longer publish student newspapers, hard copy or online.

One of the sites in question is for the most part unrelentingly bleak. I do not trust it.

No it’s the worst site. Quora is better, there are actually real name and face to some poster. Reddit is another site, better information from current students.

The people who post on those sites are usually the few who are most disgruntled. The happy ones have better things to do. Then you get a few posts from people who are just dishonest cheerleaders for their own school, because they think it will help their schools’ popularity/ranking.

I think those sites are essentially worthless.

Thanks, guys; I was thinking along those lines, but I wasn’t sure if I should trust my reasoning. And thanks for the awesome alternative suggestions! I wouldn’t have thought to check the newspaper or Reddit.