IF YOUR SCHOOL ISN'T LISTED YET

You can still find out what a school is really like.

Most schools haven't answered yet, and that is no help if you're applying now. Use the same questions we use, send them to the office most likely to know, and judge the specificity of the answer—not just the tone.

Quick Exit takes you to weather.com instantly, but it doesn't clear your browser history.

A SIMPLE THREE-STEP CHECK

Research a school yourself

01

Ask the right office

The LGBTQ+ center or resource office is a strong starting point. For specific questions, go directly to housing, health, counseling, Title IX, or admissions.

See the contact order
02

Ask specific questions

Don't settle for a general statement about inclusion. Ask what policy exists, which systems it applies to, who handles problems, and what a student should do next.

Open the questions
03

Look at the answer

A strong answer names specific policies, offices, and people. An avoidant answer stays vague, redirects to a general “we value diversity” page, or skips the question.

Who to contact

Start with the people closest to the issue.

  1. LGBTQ+ center / resource office — campus climate, student organizations, support programs, policies
  2. Office of DEI — institutional policies, anti-discrimination efforts, training, accountability
  3. Housing & residential life — gender-inclusive housing, roommate policies, safety procedures
  4. Student health center — hormone therapy access, provider training, referrals, insurance coverage
  5. Counseling center — staff training, mental health resources, trans-affirming counseling
  6. Campus safety / Title IX office — harassment reporting, discrimination investigations, safety policies
  7. Current students — lived experience, in their own words
  8. Admissions — application forms, chosen names and pronouns

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

A vague answer is still an answer.

The point isn't to reward a school for saying the right words. You're trying to learn what a student can actually do when they need housing, healthcare, a changed name, a restroom, or help with discrimination.

Strong: “Here is the policy, here is the form, and this office handles requests.”
Avoidant: “We value diversity,” followed by a link to a general inclusion page that does not answer the question.
A university campus with historic brick buildings, tree-lined paths, and students walking through the grounds

Want to use the exact same questions?

The full questionnaire is organized by topic and includes questions for schools as well as current students.

See the Researching College Policies