Tufts tour guides love answering prospective students’ questions (it’s likely why we decided to become tour guides) but some questions may be more insightful than others. Questions about school statistics, requirements, or other information that can be found on the website may useful to know about Tufts, but a campus tour is your opportunity to learn more personal anecdotes and hear a student’s perspective. Don’t be afraid to ask your tour guide those tough questions as well, tour guides at Tufts are encouraged to be honest and speak our minds about both positive and negative aspects of the school. Here are some questions that I love to get as a Tufts tour guide:
1. What happens if you do poorly in a class and what resources are available for extra help?
This is a great question to learn what resources are available and learn how students handle tough classes. It is also important to hear how students bounce back from a roadblock during their time at Tufts. Everyone goes through different challenges but it is important that a university supports students in both their successes and failures.
2. If you could go back in time and give your seventeen-year-old self a piece of advice what would it be?
Tour guides were in your shoes not long ago, so hearing tips about how to get through the admissions process and stay positive can be useful. The college search can be overwhelming with so many options available, it can be helpful to hear about another student’s journey of choosing a college to attend.
3. Describe your favorite class so far.
Anecdotes about classes can help paint a picture of what the student experience is really like. Hearing about what makes a class stand out (maybe an inspiring professor, interesting class projects, or great discussion) can help you know what to look for from a university.
4. What does your average weekend look like?
Hearing about what day-to-day student life really looks like, in addition to major programs and traditions, can help you to understand the vibe at a university. The weekly activities and clubs that you participate in can shape your college experience.
5. What are your 3 least favorite aspects about your school, or things that your school could improve?
Any guide has an answer prepared for their least favorite thing about the school, usually a problem common in higher education. Asking them to list three negative things makes a guide really think about the downsides of a school (every school has them) and perhaps give you a more thoughtful response. It can be a good way to start a discussion about some of the ways a university is currently improving, but also gives you a complete picture of the school. This also shows you the things that students care about and perhaps passionately fight for.