Grace Vaccaro, Staff Writer
For almost every student here at Oneonta, their journey here began with a tour. I remember clearly the first time that I saw our campus for the first time. It was a warm August day. Standing at the Welcome Center, looking down across campus was a sight that I immediately fell in love with. However, it wasn’t just the look of campus that made me fall in love with campus — it was the tour guide.
The tour guide was my key to Oneonta, showing an outsider what it is like to be a student. My tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and someone I connected with. They answered all of my questions and highlighted everything they knew about my major. Through that tour, I could see myself as a student here at Oneonta.
When I came to campus, I was very interested in becoming a tour guide, hoping to give others what I felt was the most vital part of my college decision.
At first, I was intimidated by the process of becoming a tour guide. When you first receive the tour information packet, it seems like a monstrous amount of information, but as I began to go through it, I realized that it wasn’t very much.
Being on a tour is almost like being part of a theatre production. I have my key information that I have to convey, but there is always room and a need for going “off-script.” Families love to hear personal anecdotes and experiences. I make sure to share my own positive ones in clubs and classes.
My favorite part of touring is that no two tours are the same. Prospective students are coming from all over New York, and even out of state, all with different dreams for their futures.
Dakota Keats, an Admissions Assistant and former tour guide, shared her experience working in the department. As a freshman, Dakota was inspired by her RA, who was a tour guide. She hoped to further her communication skills and represent the campus that she loved.
Like many tour guides, her favorite moments were answering questions during tours, guiding prospective students to choose Oneonta as their school. Contributing to the Fall and Spring Open House was a highlight of her experience, connecting with hundreds of students and their families.
Another opportunity for working in admissions is to become an Admissions Assistant, which is Dakota’s current role. This includes welcoming families to the Welcome Center and checking them in. It is also her responsibility to create and assign tour groups.
These roles have expanded our knowledge on how to communicate with a diverse group of people. They prepare us to work with others and adapt to changing environments. Since becoming a tour guide, I have felt myself grow professionally and personally — a job that I could not imagine myself without.
If you are interested in possibly taking on this role, I would encourage you to apply and try it out. There are so many amazing people working here, and as soon as you start, you’ll be wishing you started earlier!
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