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- As spring starts, colleges nationwide will welcome parents and students to tour their campuses.
- College tour guides want people to arrive on time, ask the right questions, and have fun.
- They also recommend students take the tours on their own, without their parents.
Spring break is right around the corner, and for many high-school students and their parents, that means many will be hitting the road to tour colleges around the country.
To make the most of your visit, Business Insider spoke with college students and tour guides. They know the campuses like the backs of their hands, and they know how to walk backward.
Here are the dos and don'ts of college tours from student guides.
1. Get there with no time to spare, but don't be late.
You won't get points for arriving early, so try to arrive on time. But if you do happen to arrive late, there's no need to worry.
"If something comes up and you are late, ask your guide what you missed once the tour finishes," Skyler Kawecki-Muonio, a senior at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, told BI. "They will happily fill you in."
2. Dress to impress, but don't sacrifice comfort.
It's important to look nice, but you don't have to don a jacket and tie. Tour-goers should put their best foot forward with a sturdy pair of walking shoes, and don't forget to dress for the weather.
"At Fairleigh Dickinson, tours go out rain or shine, so make sure to wear clothes that will keep you warm," Emily Bone, a junior at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, said.
3. Don't forget to sign in, but skip the résumé.
Most schools have a check-in desk where you'll receive a campus map and other literature. But don't bother furnishing schools with your portfolio.
"Students can leave their résumés at home," Henry Millar, a senior at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, said. "Tour guides generally do not have any sway in the admissions process whatsoever, so feel free to save the paper."
4. Pay attention on the tour, but do it solo if possible.
Some schools offer to let parents and kids take separate tours, which has advantages.
"Get excited about your child's potential future in college, but give them some space to see what they think of that school on their own," Nathan Weisbrod, a junior at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, told BI.
Students can comfortably ask questions without a parent present and compare notes afterward.
5. Ask all your questions, but avoid personal interrogations.
This is the time to inquire about any aspect of campus life, and don't feel shy about speaking up.
"Tour guides love getting questions because it allows us to cater the tour, especially in small groups, toward the needs and interests of the families on that specific tour," Halle Spataro, a senior at Bucknell University, said.
But some topics are off-limits, so don't ask your tour guide about their SAT scores, ACT scores, or what they wrote about in their essay.
6. Speak up, but let the student take the lead.
Parents may be tempted to raise their hands again and again, but this tour is about the student, so there should be space to let them shine.
"Try to take the back seat — or the passenger seat — but refrain from driving all of your child's interactions," Julian Jacklin, a junior at Reed College in Oregon, said. "Students who feel they can own that experience usually ask the most questions and engage with the tour more."
7. Say thanks, but don't leave with questions unanswered.
Maybe your guide didn't hear you, or your kid was reluctant to speak up. You can still get the information you want before leaving.
"There's a lot of information students are getting that day and a lot of excitement with being in a new place, which can make people forget to ask certain questions," Lorenzo Mars, a junior at Pepperdine University in California, said.
Therefore, get your tour guide's email address so that you can follow up.
8. You may know exactly what school is right but keep an open mind.
Don't be surprised if a city-living kid is suddenly intrigued by a small-town setting.
"The college search and college experience are all about getting to know yourself better and growing, so on a tour, students have to trust themselves and their judgment of the 'world' they've just stepped into," Thomas Elias, a senior at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, said.
9. Take in as much as possible, but remember to have fun.
Sure, preparing for the next four years can be scary and stressful. But it's also an exciting milestone, so enjoy the ride.
"These tours serve as great opportunities to learn more about colleges — along with their cities, culture, and people," Connor Gee, a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, said. "Have fun with it!"
10. Weigh the pros and cons of the school, but don't stop there.
Your tour may be over, but you can still learn other ways to immerse yourself in college life.
"See if the school offers additional experiences, like eating in the cafeteria or attending a class," Emily Balda, a senior at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, said. "Consider it 'food for thought.'"