Thoughts on proper campus tour etiquette?

College Search & Lists
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<p>* <strong>First, I would like to point out that I am NOT seeking advice in this question. I’m simply polling people on their opinions.</strong> *</p>

<p>I am currently working on/wrapping up my college search, and I have a twin who is also looking at colleges. We come to each other’s college tours (we’re not interested in the same schools), so needless to say, I’ve been to many, * many * tours.</p>

<p>A week or two ago, I was touring East Stroudsburg for my sister. When the tour guide was silent, my sister and I would talk a bit and laugh (not obnoxiously-- just like normal human beings). Immediately, the parents on the tour shot us dirty looks, muttered to their kids, and attempted to move away from us. (That was unsuccessful, because my sister and I are always toward the front of campus tours.) </p>

<p>Just today, I was touring University of Delaware for my sister as well. We talked as usual (of course not when the guide was talking). If you know anything about UDel, the campus is BEAUTIFUL. It’s all covered in vibrant bricks. Naturally, I would comment to my sister with things like, “Wow, I love that building!”, “This looks beautiful!” “This building is a cat!” (There was one that looked like it had ears). Every time I would say a word, especially when I would talk about the aesthetic appeal of the school, this one father would just give me the stink eye. </p>

<p>Now that I’m done giving my life story, I am just curious. Do you guys think it’s wrong to speak during campus tours? Why?
Students, do you talk while on campus tours?
Parents, do you scorn any kid who talks while on a campus tour?</p>

<p>From my perspective, it doesn’t seem wrong unless people are speaking while the guide is speaking or if people are talking in an obnoxious manner. I would like to see what other people think.</p>

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<p>I talked during my tours, lol… I definitely don’t understand why someone would give you a dirty look for saying a building is beautiful.</p>

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<p>I’m going to be going on several campus visits in the next year or so, and I’m very interested to see some responses to this thread.</p>

<p>I can’t imagine why it would be considered rude to talk while on a campus visit. You’re visiting a place where you may potentially be spending a good portion of your life, it’s only natural to want to discuss it. If I was on a visit and someone was giving me dirty looks for complimenting the architecture of the school I’m considering attending, I don’t think I’d pay them any attention.</p>

<p>Obviously it would be different if you were being rude and obnoxious, but that doesn’t sound like the case here.</p>

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<p>Apparently, you’re not supposed to mutter the answer under your breath when the student tour guide can’t answer a question and you’re definitely not supposed to correct her answers…</p>

<p>And the woman asking all the questions was annoying overprotective mom…</p>

<p>Also, you never step on the blue Rotunda.</p>

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<p>I don’t see anything wrong in what you were doing, though those parents seemed to. As a student who sees many campus tours come through near where I work, the only time I would find talking inappropriate is when you’re near a classroom with an open door or when the tour guide is talking. The basic thing is to be respectful.</p>

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<p>Your experience is pretty unusual I must say. </p>

<p>Unless if you were obviously being sarcastic, I see no reason why they would give you such a look.</p>

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<p>If other parents on the tour feel the need to correct your behavior with a glare, then you are probably not behaving appropriately. You might have been able to convince me that any one parent on a tour is overreacting to your running commentary, but since you have experienced this multiple times now, you need to change your behavior so you are not bothering other people.</p>

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<p>I second siliconvalleymom, if it was a single incident with one adult, I would give you the benefit if the doubt. But with multiple adults on different tours, at different schools, your behavior is inappropriate and you need to be considerate of those around you.</p>

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<p>It’s okay to chat with each other, but perhaps you were louder or more boistrous than you thought? Are you identical twins? Perhaps the real issue was that people were being judgmental thinking that you are determined to go to school together and that is affecting their opinions of you? I ask 'cause there was a set of twins in college with me who roomed together, ate together, took all the same classes.</p>

<p>As for proper behavior: the family that brought their dog along on the campus tour at Lock Haven when I toured with my daughter was really out of line!</p>

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<p>Of course, the first two sentences of my thread have been completely disregarded. I shouldn’t have expected anyone to listen, I guess.
I repeat: I’m not asking for advice. I’m just asking if you think it’s inappropriate to talk while on a campus tour. Saying, “Oh, well you were probably louder than you thought” and “be considerate of those around you” does not answer my question, because I’m not asking about MY situations. I just gave them as examples. </p>

<p>

THAT’S pretty obnoxious, yeah… I’m sure the dog had to go to the bathroom at some point!</p>

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<p>I think the next two sentences tell the real story: you have a twin, “we come to each other’s college tours” but “we are not interested in the same schools”. For future tours, the disinterested twin should probably skip the tour and allow the interested twin to fully engage in the experience without distracting anyone else.</p>

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<p>siloconvalleymom, did you not read the the OP has said over and over again? She is NOT looking for advice or even comments on her specific situation. I think that has been pretty clear so I’m not sure why you keep making comments harping on the situation. </p>

<p>The OP is looking for discussion on general tour etiquette, whether or not it is rude to talk on a campus your, etc. No need to continue to offer the OP your “insightful” advice.</p>

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<p>I would say that it is inappropriate to bother those engaged in the serious business of a college tour in any manner. So talking while the guide is not, would not usually seem inappropriate, in at least 2 cases it did appear to irritate others on the tour. So I would say you probably shouldn’t do it anymore.</p>

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<p>I have toured about 20 schools with my kids and when the group is more animated, asking questions of the guides - I learn more about the school. When a group is reserved, I learn less. As long as the information the guide is presenting is able to be heard by the group - the other time walking should certainly allow for people to talk to their family, take pictures, whatever. I think parents might be under the impression that this is very serious business, the tour, like notes are being made in your admissions file as you walk around the grounds. I think tours are like apartment hunting and shopping. You need to feel comfortable to say a building looks like a cat, or that cafeteria smells pretty good, or “ooh, starbucks right on the corner.” The only place you should be silent would be a library on campus or outside classrooms in use.</p>

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<p>I think there is nothing wrong in having a conversation with family or others as long as it is dealing with the school and not loud enough that others can’t hear each other or the guide.</p>

<p>And I, too, would draw the line at taking pets along.</p>

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<p>The norm may be different at different schools. The bottom line, though, is reading social cues. When the tour group is relatively quiet, loud talking or laughing might invite some complaints, just like in any situation. We’ve been on many tours, and most were relatively quiet and respectful of others.</p>