I am pretty new to CC, but have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer anywhere on CC or google for that matter. Has anyone ever posted a request to a current student to give a tour on a Saturday? I was hoping I could convince a student to give my son and I a tour in exchange for a great meal (of their choice). Am I crazy to think someone would jump at that? I have a neighbor who has visited small LAC’s and asked students who were out and about if they would show them around, and many were happy to oblige. I just feel intimidated doing so, especially at Penn.
Is there anyone from your son’s high school who has matriculated to Penn in the past few years? You might check with his college counselor if you are not sure.
A girl was just accepted this year, but that’s it.
Why not post this in the UPenn forum? It’s more likely you’d get someone who says yes there, IMO.
Or you could call the admissions office and ask them if one of their tour guides would be willing to give you a tour on a Saturday. Just a thought. It can’t hurt.
Called admissions twice, asked that question and got silence…and then a no. I will post on UPenn forum, thanks.
My DD did this for other CC parents at her university. Perhaps someone here knows a current student.
You may be better off posting on a Penn student facebook page, if they are not set up to be private. For example there may be a U. Penn Class of 2016 facebook page.
Ds2 got a tour of Pomona from the ds of a mom I met on cc.
One thing I would advise is that, because you can’t get an official tour, that somehow you convey to the admissions office that you visited so it will go toward demonstrated interest.
You know, it is fine to just walk around too. An untrained guide is hit or miss, might know where the pool is, might not. We went to a lot of schools without going on the tour and it was fine. You might also contact the department he’s interested in and ask if any prof would be willing to meet with him on Sat morning. Some are happy to meet with students.
@bakermom64, we went to Penn last fall on a Saturday without a tour. We walked all around and stopped several students and asked lots of questions. It was not ideal, but gave us a flavor for the campus. Good luck.
Thanks to everyone for your input. I have contacted the office twice now (without any luck), my son has written the admissions office and he received a self tour map. That’s where the trail stopped. We have self toured before, and we’ll do it again if need be. Just thought it would be nice if a current student showed us around and talked a bit about their perception/journey.
We did scheduled U Penn tour in the summer and it was mobbed so it may not be bad to go on your own.
@twoinanddone my kid was a student ambassador and tour guide. She gave more than a few “private” tours to CC parents and families. This was back when I frequented her college section on this forum. And she was able to custom the tour for the kids. She was repaid with some nice dinners out…and this also gave everyone the chance to informally chat.
I would urge the OP to post on the Penn section…and ask the same question. For all we know, the mom or dad of a Penn tour guide posts in that forum.
There are a couple of companies where students offer tours for a (reasonable) fee. Chapters exist on many campuses and probably at Penn. This might be a good resource for you.
My friend contacted the Hillel at each college to find students willing to meet for coffee for her high schooler interested in Jewish life. Does your son have an affinity group that might work in the same way?
If you have a date, I will ask my daughter for you - she’ll be a sophomore in the college.