Important Tips for Taking a College Tour

Entering college is a fun, exciting, and sometimes nerve-racking experience. No matter what college you attend, there will be plenty of people you don't know, so you'll definitely be thrust out of your comfort zone. However, if you just take the time to calm your nerves before your first college tour, you'll be able to utilize your time and get some very important questions answered. As a former college tour guide, I helped a large number of freshman get acclimated to the campus and eased their fears about what it would be like to be in college. So whether you're the parent of an incoming freshman or a freshman yourself, here are some tips for getting the most out of your college tour!

I worked as a tour guide (otherwise known as camp counselor) for Texas A&M's Fish Camp, a heralded and mandatory first tradition for Texas A&M students. This tour provides a chance for incoming freshman to learn about traditions, events, student organizations, and majors provided by the university. While you may not be attending Texas A&M University, many college tours are alike, and one thing they all have in common is the fact that tours aren't just an informational event, they're a chance to make friends. So be sure to be friendly. Go ahead and set a goal for yourself of meeting at least 5 new people. This will make it way less scary when you return to start the semester. Not only that, but it'll give you practice for meeting new friends in classes and student organizations.

Okay, but back to the important informational part of a college campus tour. Be sure to pay attention, college campuses can be huge (Texas A&M's campus is 5,200 acres!) and you'll want to know your basic way around campus. When your tour guides are giving you information, pay attention! While not everything they say is absolutely vital, but they've attended the college and they know what it's like to be a college student. If you want to truly get the most out of your college tour, befriend one of your tour guides. They'll take you around campus and show you a mock dorm room, but if you're polite and friendly with your tour guide, maybe he/she will show you a real dorm room. Seeing a real dorm room can give you insight into how real college students live and how most dorm rooms are functionally set up. Perhaps you can start planning the best set-up for your room.

Well those are the tips for students, but how about parents? Proud parents often take college tours with their high school graduates, but it's difficult to know how much you should take control and how much you should let your incoming freshman take the lead. So a balance is best. One great thing about entering college is a sense of independence, so allow your son/daughter to spread their wings, but be there for support. Of course, you should also listen while you're taking the tour, so you can discuss important information after the tour and before classes begin for the semester. Try to guide your student and keep track of important flyers or handouts that they might crumple up, misplace, or generally forget about. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Entering college is hectic and exciting, but with careful planning, you'll have a smooth transition and end up making plenty of friends and being highly successful. Just remember, school comes first! But having fun is a huge part of your college experience. Oh, and don't forget to consider studying abroad. It's a great experience that really rounds out your college education.