• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » How Not to Be the Most Annoying Campus Tourist Ever
Campus life

How Not to Be the Most Annoying Campus Tourist Ever

Facebook Tweet
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoSJKLVAwAi/
Olivia Crawford   January 2, 2019

Dear obnoxious prospective parents and offspring, listen close and listen hard: I am about to educate you on the rules of how to not be what you currently are. We students don’t mind you visiting our campus during school hours, but we do mind you being the worst visitors when you enter our territory.

First things first: Most of us are trying to get somewhere on time—to a meeting or class. Your leisurely walk keeps me, the student, from getting to said place on time.

So please, stop walking at snail speed. It is so, so obnoxious. It’s like you’re trying to get somewhere, but then decide that it must take four times as long, as you move an inch a minute. Speed it up.

But to be honest, this applies to anyone. Tour groups are just the most common offenders. If you plan to move at the speed of a 300-year-old person, at least be polite enough to not walk four in a row. Shockingly, if I am on campus, it means I am probably going to class or work. If I am rushing, I’m late.

What’s one thing I don’t need right now? Fourteen different parents spreading out and blocking every doorway, staircase or sidewalk by a campus building.

MOVE.

If I need to weave like a damn game of Snake every time I walk to class, there’s a big problem.


trending

230

The Teacher I Hated Changed my College Journey

166

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired

140

Top 10 Ways to Spot a UT Austin Alum


You know something else I don’t need? You to ask me where something is when it’s literally right behind you. I get it, this campus is confusing and sometimes it’s hard to find things. If you ask me a reasonable question and do it politely and I’m not in a rush, totally good. If you ask me when I’m running to class, when the building is right in front of you or you are standing right next to an information session or tour guide whose literal job it is to help you, then we got problems.

The takeaway? Read signs around you before you bother me.

The other thing that causes me delays is something you see in every tourist city on the planet: people with phones. What exactly is so interesting about our library building? Why does it need a picture on its own, with your daughter, with your mom, with all three of you, with a selfie and in four different angles? Absolutely no reason at all.

If you’re touring campus and taking pictures, go for it. Show your grandmother back home what college your kid wants to go to. I don’t care. I just care when you’re taking way too many photos of absolutely nothing and getting in my way to do it. Your kid might not even go here, and yet there you are, snapping away.

And don’t even get me started on the kids that visit. Firstly, why are school groups visiting and touring the school? You know what seven-year old kids should be thinking about? College. For real, they’ve only got a decade to figure it out.

Why are kids worse than questioning parents? Good question, a debatable one, even. The main reason is that they are loud. They yell at each other and then the teachers yell while other kids run around bumping into people. It’s basically a disaster. Why is our campus being turned into a school trip? We aren’t a science museum. We aren’t a theme park. We aren’t a zoo (at least, before they arrived). Why are they here?

But enough.

Now we can move on the part where you learn helpful suggestions that will make you a well-mannered campus visitor.

First, you must listen. Listen to the people around you, listen to your tour guide and listen to the people huffing and puffing as they run to class. You won’t ask stupid questions, you won’t block people’s way and you won’t be a pain to everyone around you (including me).

Also come in having done some research. Research what clubs you/your kid wants and what major/minor they think they like. Don’t ask for lists of the options or ask about a snowboarding team in Southern California. Know your surroundings.

Be nice when asking for directions. Or ask the people whose literal job it is to do that, AKA the info desk or your tour guide. Or Google maps. Or real maps.

Don’t be loud; use volume control. People hear you.

Do not ask a rushing student to stop and take a picture. Do not live through your phone or take selfies every three seconds – pay attention, listen, look around and try to learn. Texting Jessica about how hot the guy in your tour group can wait until later. Or better yet, never.

And dear parents, a special note for you. Don’t make your kid feel uncomfortable by showing them off. Don’t say your kid is the obvious choice for valedictorian or is the best trumpet player in the state or the best football player in the country. You sound arrogant. Your kid feels terrible And everyone thinks you’re lying. Know when to hold back the familial pride. Save it for college applications.

I get that it’s an exciting time touring colleges, learning about everything and taking pictures with your kid that you’re going to miss endlessly in a year. Enjoy the tours. Learn as much as you can. And most importantly, try to stay out of everyone’s way.

About Olivia Crawford

Olivia is a junior at UCLA studying English, Film and Theater. She spends most of her time running a student-run theater company on campus, but also enjoys watching movies, visiting Disneyland and traveling as much as possible.

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

10 Things Students Need to Experience Before Graduating from UIUC

10 Fun Things To Do at UF That Don’t Involve Partying 

Top 10 Backpacks for NYU Students 

Top 10 Drinks That Indiana University Students Love

My Life is a Movie

10 COVID-19 Safe Activities to do in Gainesville

Was There a Purpose for That Roommate Questionnaire?

My First Quarter at UCLA: Post-Pandemic

Previous Post:10 Things NYU Students Love to Hate About NYC
Next Post:Star-Crossed Lovers on a College Campus

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding