<ol>
<li><p>Please speak loudly. Even walking backwards, if it's a large group those at the back cannot hear you. You have to speak more loudly than you think you do.</p></li>
<li><p>I like the idea of encouraging the prospective students to walk around campus afterwards and to ask current students questions when the occasion arises. That is a great way -- maybe the best way -- to get a feel for the place.</p></li>
<li><p>Show a dorm room! On our tours more times than not, a dorm room was shown. Obviously the tour guide has permission and a key to enter the room. In most cases an occupant of the room was present. Where dorm rooms were not part of the tour, it raised questions in our minds about why they were not shown. </p></li>
<li><p>Have packets of the campus newspaper, some of the typical brochures and flyers circulating around campus, etc., for the tour participants. On one tour, we were able to pick up this kind of material, and it was a great way to learn fun things about the school and assess fit and feel. I don't mean official brochures, but one was a page on a trip to New York, when the bus was leaving, one was an informational sheet on the environmentally friendly cafeteria practices, one was an announcement for a student activity, etc. It was nice to see those.</p></li>
<li><p>In our experience most of the tours tried to pack too much into the available time, making for high speed and, frankly, boredom. I more than once thought that a short anecdote about each location would mean more than the standard tour-speak. </p></li>
<li><p>I would love to have had tours assigned by area of interest. All the art students together, all the science students in another group, etc. To organize the appointments in that way would allow for more time in appropriate areas of interest and less time speeding through everything.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I second Heron's #6. We had several tours where the guide was a theater/media/art major, and spent a lot of time showing us the art studio, the cool audio software, etc. My D is interested in science, and the cool audio software doesn't impress her at all. Also, a <em>brief</em> intro as to who the guide is and what your interests are is helpful, but we don't need the extended version. We had a couple of tours where the guide talked more about themselves than the school.</p>
<p>My daughter is convinced she would like to attend an LAC, and we've toured several. One factor that she has found annoying is when tour guides tout the benefits of an LAC (or a small campus or whatever) rather than *this particular" LAC, small campus, etc.</p>
<p>Noting that you are giving tours of Cal to prospective students.</p>
<p>Consider that Cal is a crapshoot for admissions to 98% of all applicants. These are anxious students and parents who have all kind of strange ideas about both the admissions process and the Berkeley lifestyle. In that vain...</p>
<p>1) Try to be disarming. Yes, many of your clients will not get admitted. If you've got the personality, a little gallows humor about admissions odds might lighten things up. If your delivery is poor however, you might be the one who is hung. LOL Make light of the panhandlers and the left-wing reputation of the school. It is what makes the school interesting!</p>
<p>2) Try to be reassuring. Most of your tour clients know that housing is a problem in Berkeley. Point out that most of the homeless on the streets are not freshmen who didn't win in the dorm lottery (see suggestion 1 here LOL). Give anecdotal stories about how students find the right housing situation. Point out that if you don't get admitted to the Business School, that the Econ majors do just fine in the job placement.</p>
<p>3) Do not mention anything that is in the brochures in your office or any other commonly read material. Most of it is just marketing anyway! Your serious candidate probably has read and memorized it anyway because they think it is on the SAT. I'm picking on one segment of your typical tour group here - the ones who take this all too seriously. They are looking for something else to give them confidence that Berkeley is worth all the cram hours they've spent and the countless retakes of the SAT to get that 2400. They want to know that once they get in here that there will be interesting stuff. If you've got a friend doing a research project in X department, tell them about your friend and how s/he came about the opportunity.
And more importantly, tell them that the most important learning they will do at Cal is the stuff that goes on outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Im not a parent, but work in a building on my campus in which tours always stop. My pet peeves are: </p>
<p>
[quote]
Remember, you are the face of the school and may be the deciding factor as to whether or not someone wants to attend.
[/quote]
</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Always - I repeat, always - remember this. </p></li>
<li><p>You dont have to be a walking encyclopedia, but at least be informed. I cant begin to tell you the amount of just plain wrong information Ive heard given out. </p></li>
<li><p>If someone asks a question and you dont know the answer, say so; dont make up something. And then later take the time to find out the answer for when youre next asked the question and you will be.</p></li>
<li><p>Be honest, but remember your purpose is to try to encourage someone to attend. Telling them the library <em>never</em> (as I have heard) has anything you need for research or the food in the dining hall is inedible probably isnt going to do the job. </p></li>
<li><p>Dont walk three feet inside a building and say to the group This is such and such building, and then let everybody mill about for a few minutes before moving on.</p></li>
<li><p>Use buildings as an opportunity to talk about more than just the building: if its the athletics building, talk about whats available for student recreation and physical fitness; if its a dorm, talk about residential life; if its the library, talk about what resources and services are available.</p></li>
<li><p>I know its informal, but dont look like you just rolled out of bed five minutes before doing the tour.</p></li>
<li><p>If youre a guy, this isnt the place to try and impress high school girls with how cool and laid back you are, or how wasted you and your friends got last weekend. (Ive heard this too)</p></li>
<li><p>Read everything else that has been said on this thread.</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, read #1 above again.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok, here goes my first post! My experience with tour guides was that the best were the most enthusiastic about their school, and they could walk the campus every hour of the day backwards and still speak with joy about their chosen school. I also liked the tours where the guides asked about the group-any alums, and where the prospective students came from and their interests. My D definitely clued into that. One tour did that and we realized right away that this group and school wasn't for her, and we ran away from the tour giggling madly at the first opportunity. Still one of our favorite memories of touring colleges. </p>
<p>I have to add one thing about information sessions as well. We went to X College's info session, and the admissions person was sitting on the lecture desk practically screaming at the audience about why X College can be so selective and turn away almost everyone but the ones they are needing for that incoming class. We were so turned off by this woman that my D crossed X College off the list as soon as we left. So it's not just tour guides that can influence decisions!</p>
<p>Point out security norms for your campus. Without being alarming, if it's offered by the college to escort girls home at 3 a.m., or there are emergency call stations, point one out, in a non-anxious way. It will open up dialogue between kids and their parents later on, and show your college is aware of safety issues. </p>
<p>I also liked when guides described the dorm room shown on a spectrum of what to expect as a freshman. If your colllege requires you to show something very high-end and atypical, you might hint that "some lucky students can eventually live here." A favorite college of mine showed a very plain, older room with this statement: Admissions wants you to see this room because it's our worst. As a freshman, your choices will be here or someplace a little bit better." I think housing is where to be very realistic, because it will only hurt someone's feelings to recall a great showcase room from a tour and then feel ripped off if their freshman room is a lot less. If it was a showcase room, the tourguides sometimes urged people to try out the bed (one at a time).</p>
<p>All great advice! The tour guides' who aren't loud enough, and who just point at buildings as you run past are a pet peeve of mine. No one mentioned this, but I also hate the tour guides who say "the elevators are so slow, let's take the stairs!" or who go at running-walk up hills. I admit it -I work in an office long hours, will probably be one of the oldest parents on any tour, and am out of shape. I admire the parents and kids who can trot for an entire tour, but I appreciate a more moderate pace. (It's a clue that you're going too fast if the Moms are so out-of-breath that they aren't asking any questions!) We've had a few tour guides act like there's a prize for finishing the tour as fast as possible.</p>
<p>I am not very good at remembering how a campus is arranged after walking around it once. On our first tour, I was completely disoriented, had no idea where we had come from or where we were headed in relation to anything else on campus. On subsequent tours, I made sure I'd printed a map of the campus prior to visiting, to get a sense of where I was as the tour proceeded. Handing out maps prior to the tour would be helpful, both during the tour, and afterward, if we want to revisit anything in particular.</p>
<p>I'm so glad you asked - we've had some <em>wretched</em> tours and a few great ones. You've already gotten some terrific advice. Here's what I'd add:</p>
<p>Slow down. Walk slowly. Parents are a lot older than you and we don't have time to work out and we won't enjoy anything if we can't get any oxygen to our brains.</p>
<p>I like to see: the student union or commons, a dorm room, a big lecture hall, a smaller classroom or lab, the cafeteria and the library, so my student can picture being at this school.</p>
<p>Go light on the stupid student pranks (they are the same everywhere).</p>
<p>Share what makes the college great: incredible history, outstanding football games, classic liberal arts core, research opportunities...</p>
<p>If there is more than one college student on the tour, mix with the group and talk, don't clump up at the front and talk to each other.</p>
<p>Give each family a map and a student newspaper.</p>
<p>Tell what made you fall in love with the school.</p>
<p>Try to keep the use of cool slang to a minimum - it sounds so stale, like totally random.</p>
<p>Dress decently - not revealing, not too junky.</p>
<p>Be friendly, act like you personally want them to come. One top ten school was so arrogant in the tour and info session, like "well, you probably aren't good enough, so I don't know why I'm wasting my time". DS got in, but didn't want to go.</p>
<p>Let your enthusiasm shine through. </p>
<p>Wave at students you know, it makes the college seem smaller and more connected.</p>
<p>Sorry to sound so cynical, but tour enough colleges and you can hardly help it :-)</p>
<p>I would like to reflect on this post. I am a former tour guide at a university that receives a lot of tour traffic and a huge number of applications. My little sister has also just finished her senior year of high school so the application process is fresh in my brain.</p>
<p>Here is some information that I think parents and students should know before going on a tour.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You should ask if the tour guide program is volunteer or not. Some places it is a work-study job which may change the tone of the tour. If the guide is a volunteer or had to audition (as we did at my university) then you should expect true excellence.</p></li>
<li><p>Dress appropriately. We are expected to look neat, collegiate, and appropriate, you should wear clothing that you would not be embarrassed to be seen if you happen to run into your admissions rep., that is appropriate for the weather, and that you can walk in.</p></li>
<li><p>Be understanding. Rules vary by schools with regards to showing dorms. At my university they were very far away, occupied to the max, and when we did let people in we had a huge incidence of theft. The decision was made to nix the dorms. Ask when you would be able to see a dorm or where you can go. Chances are you will be able to see one on an admitted student day or you can wander up to the freshman dorms and see if a student will let you in.</p></li>
<li><p>Do not answer your cell phone, make out with your boyfriend, or breastfeed for the duration of the tour (this all happened on one of my tours two summers ago)</p></li>
<li><p>If you don't want to hear what is in the view books, don't ask. Most tour guides don't want to talk about retention rates or the number of chemistry majors, they are usually prompted.</p></li>
<li><p>Think about intelligent ways to ask questions. Again, you don't have to impress the tour guide, but he or she will be more likely to engage you in a discussion after the tour if you seem like you mean business. "What is your favorite dining hall meal?" sounds a lot different then "how's the food?" </p></li>
<li><p>Listen to what the tour guide has to say. They are not trying to sell the school to you, they are usually speaking from the heart. If they intentionally misrepresent the school then they will end up with underclassmen who hate it, and no one wants that. </p></li>
<li><p>If you honestly don't connect with your tour guide, take another tour. Make sure it is the school you didn't like, not the guide.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I just want to make a brief comment about access to dorm rooms. For the most part I don't think its that essential to see the actual room but it would be nice. HOWEVER, what I would find very very helpful is to understand how many students are in a room, what the room looks like furnished (could easily be done with a floor layout showing the furniture with all the dimensions), whether the bathrooms are shared, whether the bathrooms need to be cleaned by the students or are cleaned by others, other facilities and their location relative to the dorm room (laundry, cooking, bicycle storage, recreational). I would truly appreciate getting a handout with the above layouts on them. Also, walking to the dorm building area is helpful or at a minimum being told, "it takes x minutes to get to class without running" especially if the campus is quite large would be helpful. For some students, that's not an issue, for others it might be.</p>
<p>If there are multiple types of buildings it would also be nice to have a brief description of each and an understanding of how the selection process works.</p>
<p>Without the above information, I do think its possible that there is information which is being withheld from the student (I speak from personal experience here).</p>
<p>Keep the tours limited to 6 prospects or fewer (with families). Make a point of calling the prospects in close and asking the family members to remain on the periphery. Hand out maps and refer to them as you travel.</p>
<p>Organize the tour so as to take the students through a typical freshman day. Start in a dorm bedroom, then to dining hall for "breakfast", out to social science building for that morning Econ 101 class (better: some class of special interest to one or more members of the group). Next some place to study or hang out, like the student center. Maybe a snack/cafe area for lunch. Another class. To the rec facilities for a workout, and then to the library for afternoon studies. Wind up at theater or auditorium as if you were seeing an evening performance.</p>
<p>Radical thought: Two tour guides - one leads the group while the other talks from the rear (no more walking backward!) The interplay between the two guides would also give a taste of the kind of camraderie that might be expected on campus. And, with regards to questions, two heads are better than one.</p>
<p>As you do this, work in anecdotes and useful information. How do I get into a dorm, pay for food, talk to a prof? How do I get involved in intramural sports or campus orchestra? How late can I work at the library? How would I get home safely at night?</p>
<p>Finish with some refreshments and a Q/A session.</p>
<p>My favorite part of any college tour I went on thus far was when our tour guide at Duke mentioned that the campus was used for the filming of the final seasons of Dawson's Creek -- it actually WAS the ivy-coated prestigious university that Joey Potter called home. Me and my dad got a good laugh out of that and it was pretty hilarious trying to recognize where certain scenes went down.</p>
<p>I understand that it's seemingly meaningless--but cool facts like that go a long way with me. The stories behind the secret societies at UVA had a similar impact on me.</p>
<p>A really really good-looking tour guide is key. My Northwestern tour guide was captain of the tennis team, curly-haired, really tan (goes with the tennis part). He dressed well, spoke well, was tall, was ridiculously good-looking. And that's where I've sent in my deposit.</p>
<p>Good thoughts from everyone, including DHRBC07's rules for those on the tour! A few additional:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Don't denigrate particular subjects taught in the university. Vandy (delivered with a sorority sneer): "that's the math building, I don't know anything about it." WUSTL: "That building is where the engineering people go for 'their' classes." Or, if you really feel the need to do that, make sure that members of your tour group aren't primarily interested in those fields. </p></li>
<li><p>I second the point about not focusing on typical customs/pranks--but also agree that this rule is inapplicable to things that are either unique to the school or an integral part of its life (MIT, Mudd, Caltech all spring to mind).</p></li>
<li><p>Be honest about frat life and interactions with the non-pledged if it is a big deal at your school. Some kids will really want that and those that don't should be aware of it for both their sake and the school's. </p></li>
<li><p>If you are at a school with good funding and a lot of new facilities, don't pepper your talk with continuing references to how much each building cost. The attitude that they inferred from those type of comments was one of the reasons that neither of my sons even applied to Duke. (Then again, that might have been an effective filtering device!)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Great list, DHRBC07! I would add to the list for parents and students:</p>
<p>For parents: The tour guide is not an admissions officer, stop wasting everyone's time trying to sell the tour guide on your student.</p>
<p>For students: Now is not the time to try to be cool and be unimpressed/unresponsive. You may be here for 4 years, you'd better ask those questions no matter how it looks.</p>
<p>answer the things that arent usually talked about. ive heard the same "i like how there are no TAs and the large freshman classes are broken down so you still get the personal feel"- i get that at every school</p>
<p>i agree with a lot of what ppl have said-- </p>
<p>what university are you at btw??</p>
<p>Some things that parents and prospective students like to hear on tours:</p>
<p>1) The relevance of a particular building to a school's social/academic life. Apart from a few interesting historical facts about the school, no one really cares about whether a particular building was built in 1790 or not.</p>
<p>2) Showing the largest classroom or any live class in action without being too obtrusive is always a good idea.</p>
<p>3)Be honest, but also be diplomatic, about the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the school. If you're funny it really helps deflecting akward situations.</p>
<p>4) Breaking the ice before the beginning of the tour is always a great idea.</p>
<p>5) Especially at high pressure insitutions, it's helpful to talk about how students balance their academic and social lives. Not everyone becomes one big fuzzy stressball. On the other hand, prospective students sometimes have very rosy ideas of what they can and can't do. Partially disabusing them of such notions is always helpful.</p>
<p>I wish that Cal took reservations for student tours and kept student tour groups to smaller sizes. There were about 35 people on the tour that I took, with about 1/4 of them tourists. It would have been nice to have about half that number of people, or at least 20 or less. While it is great that Cal allows tourists on their tour (why not? it is a wonderful place to visit), it felt a bit strange asking questions as a prospective student around them. </p>
<p>Try to go inside some buildings. Two tours I took led us into some buildings to explain what to find there, two did not. If taking the entire tour into a building is unwieldy, then point out which buildings are open to the public and encourage prospective students to visit them after the tour. </p>
<p>If the school allows prospective students to visit classes, let them know. Perhaps give a list of classes for the day that can be visited, and give the students a sheet of rules to follow when visiting classes. Or, allow prospective students to arrange class visits before the tour.</p>
<p>Definitely, highlight things that are different for your school. I like to know about traditions and strange, past occurrences. "Tradition" is one reason why I chose Cal, but if I had heard a lot more about the traditions of other schools, I might have been swayed in another direction. At the same time, know your school. At one school, I asked "what does the mascot look like?" and the tour guide answered "he doesn't wear a lot of clothes." This same tour guide showed us some steps that had chalk writing on them and said "those are the free speech steps, which is kind of obvious," but didn't say how or why they became known as the free speech steps. Okkkk... </p>
<p>One tour I attended offered a one hour information session given by an admissions administrator, which was nice because then the tour guide could simply focus on student life, building location, traditions, etc.</p>