Identifying the right college or university for you can be an exhausting process. Electronic and print resources can provide an overview of the academic and social life on a given campus, but for a more personal glimpse of a school, consider contacting its alumni. Here are several tips to help you do so in a manner that will deepen your college research.

1. Determine the status of your search: If you are just beginning your search, this may not be the opportune time to connect with alumni. There are thousands of potential colleges and universities to peruse, after all.

You can, however, glean insight from Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr groups devoted to a particular school. Pay attention to the tone and tenor in the online conversations of students and alumni. Once you compile a short list of colleges, then it is time to seek a more personal account of each school.

[Learn how to use social media to research U.S. colleges.]

2. Focus on connecting with recent alumni: Aim to first speak to recent graduates, who can provide you with the most up-to-date information about the college or university. Social media is often an excellent place to begin your search.

Most schools maintain Facebook groups for alumni, and LinkedIn can be an especially useful platform as well. Its search tools can help you narrow your inquiries so you find just those alumni who have interests that align with yours. If you plan to earn a degree in a scientific field, for example, a business school graduate may not be able to provide the most relevant insight.

You may find that not everyone is excited to speak with you, or that not everyone has the time to answer your questions. If you prefer to avoid this possibility, you can reach out to the alumni organizations at your short list colleges.

With small schools that are located far from your home, it may not be possible to find a person who can meet with you in person. Instead, you may find an online connection who is willing to answer your questions via email or video chat.

[Get tips on showing colleges interest on social media.]

3. Craft your approach: Most alumni will be more than happy to discuss their alma mater. For many people, college was a wonderful experience, and they are pleased to welcome you to the fold.

With that said, we live in an age of online scams, and individuals may be wary when approached by strangers on the Internet. If you are using social media to make contact, ensure you have a legitimate profile so your prospective connection can see who has contacted him or her.

Your first note should be short. Here’s a template you can use:

“Dear [NAME], I am a high school student who will begin college in [YEAR]. I saw on [LinkedIn/Facebook] that you attended [SCHOOL]. I am conducting research on my short list of colleges, and I wonder if you might be willing to answer a few brief questions about your experiences at [SCHOOL].”

You might have to message several people in order to find one who will speak to you, and that’s OK.

[Boost college applications by crafting a positive online presence. ]

4. Be realistic: The goal of contacting an alumnus is not to receive objective information. Alumni, try as they might, will be biased. That is perfectly fine.

Your goal is to discover what life is like at a specific college, or even in a particular program or major. Ask open-ended questions such as, “What is your favorite memory of the school?,” or “What do you wish the school did differently?”

Pay special attention to what the alumnus has to say about the academic and social aspects that matter most to you, but that might not typically appear in official college publications. No school, after all, will advertise the dangerous crime-ridden neighborhood several blocks away, or the social culture that makes studying difficult on weekends.

Even though most alumni will be advocates for their school, they will still share a wealth of information that you simply cannot find elsewhere.

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How to Contact Alumni to Deepen Your College Research originally appeared on usnews.com