If you're the parent of a high school senior who is still trying to pick a college, this is crunch time.

It only makes sense, then, to gather as much information as possible before enrollment decisions for many schools are due in May.

Toward that end, here are a handful of resources that you may not have discovered that go beyond the words and numbers of the college Web site and financial aid packets.

The best part: For parents preparing to shell out the bucks for tuition, all of these information resources are free.

CAMPUS INSIDERS

Where can you find information from current college students about campus life, the professors, and the quality of dorm rooms and cafeteria food? Maybe a gossipy tidbit or two about the party atmosphere?

There are a number of Web sites that will give you and your prospective student a taste of everything campus life has to offer.

One of the newest is Unigo.com.

This Web site is full of lively content from students at the college. The site currently covers 250 colleges and universities, with 1,700 more schools coming soon.

Unigo says it uses information from a nationwide team of about 300 college representatives who in turn reach out to students to contribute reviews. The site claims to list 60 student reviews per school. Photos and videos are included for many colleges.

CollegeConfidential.com offers student insights about particular schools.

High school students also can share their impressions following campus visits, and there's currently a discussion on the site about how to appeal financial aid packages.

Keep in mind that these "insider" sites can give you a feel for a particular school, but take the information with a grain of salt. They often are nothing more than opinions.

VIRTUAL TOURS

No time for a final campus road trip this spring? To get a taste of college life without the costs of traveling, try sites such as CampusTours.com and eCampusTours.com.

These virtual tours offer short interviews with students, slick videos of campus hot spots, and plenty of panoramic views of leafy trees, gorgeous sunsets and rah-rah student spirit.

CampusTours, one of the most popular sites, provides a one-click, ready resource for enrollment stats, tuition, undergraduate majors and athletic opportunities.

There's no substitute for visiting a school in person, but in these tight times, an online tour -- even one that feels like an infomercial -- can still help winnow down the wish list.

SAFETY SCOOP

A college campus is a mini-community in every aspect -- crime included.

From laptops left unattended to bicycles without locks, there are temptations for theft everywhere. Unfortunately, violent crimes are sometimes part of the college experience as well.

The U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Postsecondary Education, maintains a campus security database that lists alleged crimes reported to local police and campus security.

The school-specific information, available at ope.ed.gov/security, breaks out criminal offenses in residence halls and on public property. Also included is contact information for the school's security department, and links to other college crime reports.

If nothing else, this crime information should serve as a reminder to look into renters insurance to cover theft and to have a talk with your son or daughter about the darker side of campus life.

(Questions, comments, column ideas? Send an e-mail to srosen(AT)kcstar.com or write to him at The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108.)

(c) 2009 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.