During high school, many students embark on college tours, and these experiences can significantly influence their university choices. Some tours leave a lasting, positive impression, sparking a desire to return. This is precisely what motivated me to become a tour guide. But beyond personal experience, why do you want to be a tour guide? The answer lies in a combination of personal fulfillment, professional development, and the opportunity to shape the future of aspiring students.
Several years into my college career, I secured a Summer Ambassador tour guide position. Giving tours quickly became my favorite job. Seeing prospective students explore the campus, I recalled my own college visits and the excitement of discovering my future academic home. Answering their questions, the same ones I had years before, and witnessing their enthusiasm for college was incredibly rewarding.
By the end of that summer, even with graduation approaching, I knew I wanted to continue as a tour guide. Before launching my career, I wanted one more summer to enjoy the campus and contribute to the college visit experience for prospective students.
The Day-to-Day Life of a Tour Guide
A typical day as a tour guide starts at the Admissions Office. Working alongside enthusiastic colleagues who share a passion for the university creates a positive and supportive environment. Many days begin with assisting in social media and graphic design projects. However, the highlight is always when prospective students arrive for their campus visit. Meeting them in the lobby and learning about their backgrounds is always fascinating. Each person has a unique story!
Before long, the tour begins. The tour route remains consistent, but each experience is unique. Prospective students have diverse questions and interests, allowing me to tailor each tour accordingly. We can discuss majors, hobbies, clubs, organizations, athletics, intramurals, study locations, and more, based on their specific interests. One of my favorite stops is Reeve Memorial Union, with its food court, bookstore, and flags. Other tour highlights include the library, recreation center, a residence hall room, and various academic buildings. At each location, I share interesting information and personal anecdotes. College is full of great stories and memorable moments! We also take a group photo on every tour, creating a lasting memento of their visit.
Upon returning to the Admissions Office, we address any remaining questions and resume our projects. Some days involve one tour, while others involve two. Regardless, each day provides the opportunity to promote the campus and encourage students to join our community.
Crafting a Memorable Tour Experience
My guiding principle for campus tours is simple: they should be engaging and enjoyable. Reflecting on my own college tours, I encountered guides who were solely informative and stuck rigidly to a script. These tours often felt impersonal and unmemorable. The best guides were both informative and entertaining, adapting to the flow of the tour. Their interactions with students conveyed a genuine enthusiasm, making each tour unique. As a prospective student, these tours were captivating and made me eager to return.
Throughout my time as a tour guide, I’ve applied these lessons to shape my own tours. While providing information is crucial, an hour and a half of pure facts and figures can be overwhelming. Instead, I’ve discovered that parents and students appreciate humor and personal stories. I try to incorporate a joke or anecdote at each stop to lighten the mood and illustrate what college life is really like. I know I’ve succeeded when, towards the end of the tour, I see students’ faces light up with excitement as they realize the potential of the university.
The Rewards of Being a Tour Guide
Being a tour guide is truly a rewarding experience. I enjoy sharing my positive experiences as a student and contributing to prospective students’ college decisions. My goal is to make their visit to the university unique and beneficial. Why do you want to be a tour guide? Perhaps it’s the chance to share your passion, develop your communication skills, or simply make a difference in someone’s life. Whatever the reason, it’s an opportunity to create lasting memories and shape the future of higher education, one tour at a time.
