It might surprise you how much one person can influence how you feel about an entire college. Your campus tour guide is often your first real contact with a school and it’s easy to form strong opinions based on their personality. That’s totally normal, but it’s also something to be aware of.
1. First Impressions Stick
A friendly, funny, relatable guide can make you think, “Wow, I could totally go here.” Meanwhile, a boring or awkward guide might leave you cold. Tour guides are trained to share school info, but their energy and personality are often what you remember most. A large study of college-bound students found that emotional excitement and personal connections were far more influential than facts alone in deciding where to attend.1
2. But One Person Isn’t the Whole School
Just because you clicked (or didn’t click) with your guide doesn’t mean you’ll love or hate the entire college. That person is one student out of thousands. Their major, background, and social style may be very different from yours.
3. Look for Clues Beyond the Script
Pay attention to what the guide says, and how they say it. Are they passionate about academics? Do they mention support systems? Listen for what’s between the lines and compare what you hear across multiple schools. This is an area where parents often have valuable insights.
Compare notes: How to Reflect After a Visit
4. Ask Your Own Questions
Don’t just listen passively, ask about what matters to you. What do students do on weekends? How easy is it to switch majors? The more you steer the conversation, the more useful it becomes. Listen to what other people ask, they’ll often think of things you didn’t consider.
Related: Questions to Ask on Your Visit (and Who to Ask)
5. Take a Step Back Afterwards
After the tour, separate your feelings about the guide from your overall thoughts about the school. Would you still be interested in this college if someone else had led the tour? What stood out beyond their personality?
References
Longmire & Company. (2016). The Hidden Influences Study: National Report. Longmire & Company, Inc.