What should I be careful about when reading online reviews of a university?
Online university reviews reflect individual experiences and impressions, which can differ greatly depending on the writer’s year, faculty, course choices, circumstances, and the time of posting. Do not decide from only extreme ratings or a small number of comments. Compare several sources, distinguish facts from opinions, and verify matters such as courses, fees, admissions, and student support through official university information.
Key points
- Check the reviewer’s date, faculty or department, year of study, and circumstances.
- Separate specific, verifiable information from personal impressions, and look for patterns across multiple reviews.
- Use reviews as a reference, while confirming curricula, fees, admissions, and support systems in official materials.
Things to check
- Experiences vary by faculty or department, academic year, and individual circumstances, so reviews should not be used alone to judge the whole university.