At some point in your college search, you encountered a college tour guide.
Even if you loved them or hated them, they dragged you around their campus for an hour or two and answered every question that your curious parents, and your timid little high school self, had on tap (you should thank them for that, just saying.)
They are the front line of the University. The salespeople, spokespeople and face of a community.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don't have respect for what they do, or really just don't even know what they do!
So, before you go thinking that being a tour guide is some dumb activity that takes up too much time: think again. Chances are, you're bound to learn something from it!
One of the coolest things, I think, is that you get to be the first impression of your school for kids looking to find a match. I still remember all of the tour guides I had on every visit... they were so cool to me, because they are living the life I had been dreaming of!
So now as a tour guide, I get to be that "role model" to all the kids hoping to get admitted to the place I'm already attending! It makes me feel like I really have a place in my school and I'm not just doing "filler activities." Your role is important, and when someone you gave a tour to ends up coming to your school, it's an insane feeling!
Side note: One of the biggest misconceptions is that parents only ask about academics and the school itself: that is wrong! Over half of the questions are about YOU, and YOUR experience!
Besides the point of showing off your school, the family of friends you get in the process is entirely worth it.
I remember applying to be a tour guide, and at my group interview portion I noticed how tight knit everyone was. It was almost weird, but I thought to myself.. "Gosh, how could anyone NOT want this?"
It's so true.
If you're looking for friends: why not apply to be a tour guide? Its a guaranteed group of friends that will be there for you during your stressful college life. Not to mention, giving tour itself relieves so much stress because you get to talk, talk, and talk about something you're proud of!
But of the best things, by far, is that it gives you the most valuable skill you could ever ask for: COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
Right now, if you asked me to make a sales pitch for my university in front of a crowd of 300 people, business executives, or even the president himself: I could! I can also guarantee you it will help you learn how to succeed in job interviews! Think about it: if you can already answer so many questions a week about your school from parents and students, you're ultimately learning how to answer questions that could be relateable in job interviews!
Being a tour guide will give you confidence when you speak, teach you how to interact with EXTREMELY AWKWARD circumstances (you know, those types of parents that ask about the free condoms), and be a more educated student! After all, is it really a bad thing to know the current events of your campus?
In the end, learning all of the small facts about your school, hearing parents ask about safety every week, and getting that well deserved round of applause is so worth it. It makes me feel like my time in college is being well spent making friends, but also learning practical skills I need in the long run.
If you're not a tour guide, you're missing out on a chance to build confidence and friendships. SO DO IT!
The first step is asking, so keep your eyes out for recruitment flyers at your school in the fall!
