Campus Tours - Page 2

Munchkin03 · #16 07-13-2003, 02:13 PM

In Swissmiss's defense...

Overbearing, obnoxious parents are everywhere. This summer, I'm working with kids in a program where they take classes and live in college dorms. I understand the concern one has when leaving their 16 year old in a program for 3-7 weeks, but many parents were over the top (add to that their constant grilling us--the RAs--over our college GPA, SAT scores and activities, and reminding us of all the overblown recognition their child has--National Honor Society, anyone?). A lot of it is good-hearted concern, but more often than not, it is pompousness and arrogance.

DeltAlum, there is a difference between being comfortable with your child's school choice and being overbearing to the point where it makes others completely uncomfortable, and to the point where it makes you look arrogant. I can honestly say that my parents--who were paying full freight for a costly education--let me lead and ask the questions during college tours. Essentially, they wanted to know that the programs I wanted were good, the dorms were okay, and whether or not I would need a car or bike to get around. They may have been paying for it, but it was MY EDUCATION, and they are sensible enough people, experienced in college life after having attended college themselves and sending my older sister to school, to understand that I would be the one doing the homework, using the gyms, and eating the food. They weren't the types to throw their weight around as far as what they knew about college--that would be pure arrogance, in my opinion.

DeltAlum · #17 07-13-2003, 02:25 PM

As I said above, if she's talking about orientation, I don't have a problem with anything except the attitude and language. If she's talking about campus tours -- those are meant for parents as well as prospective students.

The thread was originally about campus tours.

I agree with you on your example of several days or weeks in some kind of special program.

We put our son and a young girl friend (not girlfriend, although they had dated) on an airplane to a theatre workshop at Tasis American School in England for six weeks the summer between his freshman and sophomore year in high school. That was a leap of faith. We're not overbearing when it comes to things like that.

BUT

It's important to point out again, though, that some of these kids aren't particularly mature -- or trustworthy. There is no way to know which kind of kid any given parent has without getting to know the kid over some length of time. The parents have known them all of their lives.

I know that some parents really are over the top. We knew a family who sent their son off to Interlocken (Arts school in upper Michigan) and then were so paranoid they moved there themselves.

I don't think most parents -- and certainly not "half" of us are that bad, though.

swissmiss04 · #18 07-13-2003, 02:43 PM

Thank you Munchkin

And no Deltalum, I'm not a parent. Nor do I intend to be for a long time. I was not even talking about parents like you. I was talking about those parents who are "overbearing stage parents". When you've been stopped by a parent (she actually yanked on my backpack) and asked how many times on average you go out drinking in a week, you do tend to become negative. So please don't thrash me!

carnation · #19 07-13-2003, 03:14 PM

Ours have been good--over the past 3 years, we've toured most of the large colleges and universities in Georgia plus Auburn and Birmingham Southern.I commend the guides we've had because they handled the obnoxious parents smoothly.

My only criticism would be--hey, you Auburn tour guides! Don't pressure your group into going on top of the tallest building on campus when it's forty below, windy, and rainy!

Kevlar281 · #20 07-13-2003, 03:41 PM

AUDeltaGam · #21 07-13-2003, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnation

My only criticism would be--hey, you Auburn tour guides! Don't pressure your group into going on top of the tallest building on campus when it's forty below, windy, and rainy!

Poor Carnation! Was that the day I met you? If it was...BRR!! It was SO COLD!

I went to the top of the highest building at Auburn when it was about 500 degrees outside!

DeltAlum · #22 07-13-2003, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kevlar281

Hey, where did you get that college picture of me?

DeltAlum · #23 07-13-2003, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swissmiss04
Right now all the incoming freshman are coming for orientation and registration. Some (about half) are here w/ at least one parent. It annoys the piss out of me...

...I hate when parents who even went to one week of ( any) college walk around campus like they know f*cking everything. I'm so thankful my parents didn't insist on coming to my orientation. Somehow I've done just fine

Swissmiss,

No problem. I won't trash you when you stop stereotyping parents and their college aged kids whom you've never met and know nothing about...

One of those parents could have been me if I didn't have kids I could be confident about.

carnation · #24 07-13-2003, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PSPGirl
Poor Carnation! Was that the day I met you? If it was...BRR!! It was SO COLD!

I went to the top of the highest building at Auburn when it was about 500 degrees outside!

Yep! That's why TigerFan and I had stand-up hair, no makeup left, and our teeth were still chattering!

AUDeltaGam · #25 07-13-2003, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnation
Yep! That's why TigerFan and I had stand-up hair, no makeup left, and our teeth were still chattering!

It was SOOOOOOO cold that day! I almost froze to death waiting for you!

astroAPhi · #26 07-14-2003, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I was really impressed with how all of the tour guides could walk backwards, while talking intelligently and not fall on their behinds.

It's a talent.

I rule!

I really miss giving campus tours.

But in the original spirit of the thread... I had a good tour guide. I would hope that most tour guides are knowledgable about the campus, but it doesn't happen sometimes. But if your tour guide is new, take pity on them... I was a wreck my first tour by myself, or even the first tour that I assisted with. I am still incredibly nervous when I do the large groups at Open House (because no one hears me anyway). On that note, Open Houses are God awful. Please go on a long weekend and take a day off work, or if the school offers weekend tours, sign up for one of those. I promise you will be much happier with your tour and you will get a more personal experience.

And definitely arrange it through the school. The admissions counselors, believe it or not, are much more knowledgable about the school than some dude you know from high school.

And in past experience, they'll probably speak pretty negatively about the school. I love Florida Tech, but there are some things that really irritate me about the place. But the thing I realized is that the things that irritate me are things that all schools do. Most school's financial aid offices are not the best, and all schools are really damn expensive, even if you get a scholarship. I mean, it's good to get a realistic view of a school, but you have to realize that some problems are universal amongst colleges. Think carefully about any negative comments before accepting them as a true negative against an university.

LuaBlanca · #27 07-14-2003, 11:52 AM

For the 2 schools at the top of my list (Wheelock College and Emerson College) I attended an admissions tour while I was applying, and then I attended the "Accepted Students" day after. The Accepted Students day was a LOT more relaxed and "fun" than the admissions tour for both schools.

Both of the schools had the traditional informative meeting complete with brochure and pamphlet hand-outs, followed by tours of the campus and residence halls, and then little question and answer periods in the foyer of the student union.

At Wheelock, the Accepted Students day had a brief reception, in-depth tours of the campus and residence halls, sample "classes," and a lunch w/ some of the professors. Parents and potential students stayed together. The tour guide was AWESOME and we actually exchanged email adresses because she knew I was torn between schools and wanted to know where I ended up.

At Emerson, the Accepted Students day split the parents and students up for separate events. The students went to sample "classes" by intended major, and then went to a departmentalized student panel for a question and answer period in one of the theaters. The student panel was cool because there were NO faculty or staff in the room so everyone could be really candid. The parents had seminars to go to like "Financial Aid," or "Parent Perspectives." Then they had department overviews which talked about their child's major, etc.
The student tour guides were AMAZING. Emerson students are known for being a little strange...my group guide named us the lost boys (we were all girls, HE was a boy) and named himself Wendy. We were all theater people so we sang "we have a mother, at last we have a mother!" as we walked through Boston Common. It was fun.
After all that, the parents and potential students met back up for a lunch in the Park Plaza Hotel. Current students and Alumni circulated and talked with everyone. I had so much fun, and ended up going to Emerson!

James · #28 07-14-2003, 11:58 AM

Much as I love you darlin' that's just a little bit geeky lol.

I think having a tour guide that was a female want to be would have thrown me.

Quote:

Originally posted by LuaBlanca

Emerson students are known for being a little strange...my group guide named us the lost boys (we were all girls, HE was a boy) and named himself Wendy. We were all theater people so we sang "we have a mother, at last we have a mother!" as we walked through Boston Common. It was fun.
After all that, the parents and potential students met back up for a lunch in the Park Plaza Hotel. Current students and Alumni circulated and talked with everyone. I had so much fun, and ended up going to Emerson!

LuaBlanca · #29 07-14-2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
Much as I love you darlin' that's just a little bit geeky lol.

I think having a tour guide that was a female want to be would have thrown me.

I don't talk to you for something like 3 months and that's what I get? You call me a geek? haha

It makes more sense if you understand that Emerson is a PERFORMING ARTS/COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL. My tour guide was a Musical Theater major, and happened to have the score to Peter Pan The Musical in his head for one reason or another. He had been humming "I've Gotta Crow" for a while, so when it came to the chorus part a bunch of the girls in the group made the "crow" noise (you know what I'm talking about if you've seen the show) and he laughed. The "Lost Boy" thing went from there. Plus, it was funny because we were the only all girl tour group.

So James, you get a big