<p>Sure.</p>
<p>I guess what I’m trying to say is that basing the whole social aspect on really arbitrary statistics and word-of-mouth background, and then (maybe) not choosing a school because of it, feels really contrived because there’s never a way to know for sure. </p>
<p>I think the only way to do this kind of research you mention is to go and visit the school, maybe do an overnight, and get a sense for the community and the whole social aspect. Academics are much easier to judge because they’re objective (on the most part), whereas romantic prospects, partying, access to X/Y/Z socially, etc., is impossible.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be harsh. Really. Maybe it’s because this is just one thread . . .</p>