Embrace the Dark Side- Check out the Newspaper

When you’re researching a school you’re going to see the best version possible. The highlights, the successes, and the polished wrapped-up-with-a-bow opinions.
This is great for showing you the best points of every college, but no school is perfect (even mine, though that’s the only time you’ll ever hear me admit it).

The absolute best way to see the dark side of a school, the scandals, the trolls, the protests, the changes? Check out the newspaper.

A school’s website or Wikipedia page will bring up their newspaper’s website. If their newspaper doesn’t have a website… well… that’s an issue in itself isn’t it?

(But seriously, pick up a copy of the newspaper when you’re visiting)

Because the newspaper is student run and not intended as propaganda for the school, the opinions will be candid. The comments will be nitpicky (and possibly Troll-laden). The reviews will be honest.

My favorite things to look at are the “personal” or “opinion” pieces because they’re often quite liberal and dark, even at a very buttoned up school.

While they’re often trying to provide a “controversial” opinion, these negative articles have truth in them, and can help you see the “other” side of the school.

Additionally, it might highlight some clubs or events that you didn’t know about. There might be an article about a huge cultural fair that you haven’t heard about anywhere else. A new club might have formed that is right up your alley. You will probably see reviews for plays and concerts, or any of the events that the school puts on. These will show you what the students really think of those school-run events.

And there will be the scandals as well. Every school has them, and it’s nice to know what you’re getting into.

For example, if you were to scour my school’s website, you would see a few articles about the “housing crisis” being fixed, and a fraternity being shut down for hazing allegations.

Another school might show a prankster gone too far, a tuition raise, a meal plan flub, or a staff member scandal.

While these might darken your opinion of the school, you have to love them at their worst to have their best, right?

So when you’re checking out schools, take a peek at their website, you might be surprised at what you find.