I will update once I finish my first tour!
Update:
So I officially completed my first tour! You might be thinking that if I am a staff member, why am I giving tours? Don’t students usually give the tours? Well, to answer that, yes, I am a staff member, and yes, we do have students that usually give tours. I was a stand-in this morning (amazing what working at the school you got your degree from does, huh?) because none of the ambassadors could make it in. This is a very rare occurrence, but that just attests how great on campus jobs are! If a student has a test or homework to do, they can talk to their boss, and they’ll work something out. On campus jobs are great because the employers know what the student is going through and understand that school always comes before work. That’s my little tip to all of you looking for jobs while in college…find something on-campus! It may not pay as well, but the benefits are worth a lot more than money.
So back to how my tour went…I hear most Ambassadors give tours in the range of 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Although UIS is not a huge campus, there is a lot of information to cover. Did you know that UIS not only has a stairway to nowhere, but also Bobby McFerrin, the guy who sang “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was a student here in 1976-77 and performed here in 1990. One of our admissions counselors will ask a question about a famous singer/songwriter who attended SSU/UIS, so if you read my blog, you now know!
Back on topic –> My tour lasted 54 minutes, and I was able to cover all the important buildings (UHB, PAC, HSB, TRAC, etc.), and housing (Townhouses and LRH), minus some of the east side of our campus like the Student Life office and the Student Center. I think I did pretty well in comparison.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I had a good group of students who will be transferring to UIS next fall (2008), and we had good conversations. I encourage you to talk with your Student Ambassador on the tour; it makes it much more enjoyable for both yourself, but also your guide. Just because they are working doesn’t mean they are any different than you. Ask them questions, probe them for information, get what you can from them while you visit the campus. Choosing a college is a very important decision, so making sure you pick the right one is crucial to your success both during and after college.
Check the Admissions Preview Day Website for dates of Preview Days or to get information about setting up a campus tour!
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