By Karen Rowe, CPSI Counselor | Adapted for GradMap
As a college counselor, I often ask students, âHave you researched this college?â The most common answer? âYeah, I looked at their website.â While a schoolâs official website is a great place to start, it only scratches the surface.
To truly understand a collegeâs personality, admissions competitiveness, and affordability, youâll want to explore a few powerful tools. These resources will help you build a college list based on both facts and fitâgiving you confidence in every application decision.
đ Fiske Guide to Colleges
Best for: Campus vibe, academic culture, and student life
The Fiske Guide was created by Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of The New York Times, and remains one of the most trusted resources for understanding the personality of a college.
What youâll find:
Descriptions of student culture and social life
Insights into whether an academic environment is collaborative or competitive
How accessible professors are
Fun facts (yesâlike how good the food is!)
A list of âOverlap Schoolsâ with similar vibes or academic structures
đ Where to find it: Purchase on Amazon or check your Custom College Plan Account in the Colleges tab.
đ Common Data Set (CDS)
Best for: Admission stats, selectivity, and application priorities
Love data? The Common Data Set is your go-to source for in-depth admissions and enrollment stats published annually by every college.
Search for:
Common Data Set [College Name] on Google
What youâll find:
How many students applied, were admitted, and enrolled
The average GPA and test scores of accepted students
The weight given to different application components (e.g., GPA vs. extracurriculars)
Early Action and Waitlist statistics
Application requirements and policies
đ Pro Tip: Use CDS to compare colleges side-by-side using real data, not marketing speak.
đ° Net Price Calculator
Best for: Estimating your real cost to attend
Every college is required to provide a Net Price Calculator (NPC) on their website. This tool estimates your out-of-pocket cost based on your familyâs financial situation.
Search for:
Net Price Calculator [College Name] on Google
Youâll enter:
Household income
Assets
Academic information (for merit-based aid)
The result is a customized estimate of what you would actually pay, not just the sticker price.
â Use this tool early to build a college list thatâs financially realistic.
đ UC-Specific Major Acceptance Rates
Best for: Understanding how competitive your intended UC major is
Youâve probably heard that the University of California (UC) system is highly competitiveâbut did you know that acceptance rates can vary significantly by major?
Use this UC Major Acceptance Rate Tool to learn:
Which majors are most/least competitive at each UC campus
How your academic profile aligns with past admitted students
How to strengthen your application for specific majors
đ§ For UC applicants, this insight is essential for making strategic application choices.
While a collegeâs website is a helpful intro, these tools offer a more complete picture of what each school offers and how you fit in. When used together, they allow you to build a list thatâs not only excitingâbut informed, realistic, and strategic.
Talk to your college counselor and use GradMap to track your findings. The more you know, the better your journey will be!