Is there any way for me to research schools by actually attending them in person?
Most schools organize college fairs, which gives you the opportunity to talk to representatives from lots of different colleges. One example of a college fair is organized by the National Association for College Administration for College Admission Counseling
When doing research on colleges, I would like to see if there have been any complaints made about the school. Is it easy to access this information?
You have a few options: you can contact your local Better Business Bureau, your state higher education agency or you could also check with the consumer protection division of your state attorney general's office. Another way to check is to make an enquiry with the agency that licences or accredits the school to see if it meets the required standards that are expected