Check out other social-networking sites in cyberspace.

There are plenty of business review sites out there, but Yelp is particularly relevant to the college crowd for two big reasons. First, the user base is young, extremely opinionated (too opinionated for some, in fact), and well-attuned to the importance of being cheap. Second, there's a lot more than reviews; an active set of message boards acts as a cross between a traditional Web forum and an "answers" service. Ask anything, and the vocal locals will dive right in and help you out.

Yelp, like Going, is divided into urban verticals, but Yelp communities have sprung up all over the place, including smaller college towns. You're likely to find it more helpful if you're in San Francisco or Chicago, but it's still a very extensive resource for getting to know a new area.

Credit: Staff, CNET News.com