There's hope for students and families who are considering several colleges but can't visit all of them. For a modest price of $15, a company called Collegiate Choice will provide a walking tour on video.

As this article points out, these videos have their limitations, but they can convey more than what you'll find on a college's Web site. The narrated videos are supposed to be unbiased and present a more balanced view of each campus community. The company's site is fairly basic, though it offers admissions tips and humorous takes on college life.

To learn more about online tours, visit campustours.com. This company is dedicated to creating virtual tours and offers links to those at hundreds of colleges.

But keep in mind that there's no substitute for visiting a campus in person. If you're planning to drop thousands of dollars and spend four important years of your life somewhere, it's best to take a test drive.