Fun and Unique College Campus Tours

Touring Univ. of Michigan by Segway

If you've been on at least one college visit, you know the standard drill - go to the school's website and sign up for an information session given by the Admissions office, followed by a student-led tour.  Anyone who has attended more than one campus visit probably knows all about blue-light phones, meal plans and quidditch teams!  (If you get bored on your next trip, spice things up with this college tour bingo game).

But what if you have a special interest or want to know more than just the basics? There are some colleges out there offering unique options to help give prospective students a more in-depth view of what it is like to study at their schools.  Here are a few fun options!

Are you a runner? At the University of Oregon, you can join student ambassadors on a 3.7 mile tour of running trails around campus. The students run at a "comfortable pace" and stop frequently to point out University of Oregon landmarks. Running tours are offered at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Friday of each month. 

Prefer biking? During warmer months at Portland State (PSU), you can take a 3.5 mile bike tour around the main campus with multiple stops at Portland State landmarks. PSU provides the bike!

Beach bum more your style? Eckerd College in Florida invites prospective students to Sunday night cookouts on the beach at its "South Beach Supper Club." Get to know current students while relaxing on Eckerd's waterfront campus.

Play an instrument? At Sewanee (University of the South), you can have dinner with the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra and participate in a dress rehearsal for the last concert of the season. After you register and send them a YouTube video of you playing your instrument, they'll send you electronic copies of music to practice for the dress rehearsal.  Other "Behind the Scenes" tour options at Sewanee include Art, Theatre, and Choir.

Like to make things?  Case Western Reserve University offers tours of its "maker space," the Sears think[box]. This new facility is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship providing space for students and community members to tinker away. 

Interested in Jewish life? The University of California, Berkeley Hillel offers a student-led tour highlighting Jewish student life at Berkeley.  You can contact them to set up a tour, or download a "Jewish Campus Tour" map.

Good off-campus dining options a must?  Supplement your campus visit at University of Wisconsin with a Madison food tour. Or check out the Taste of New Haven after your tour of Yale University.

Excited about research?  At Allegheny College, you can sit in on weekly research presentations during the summer.  At this interdisciplinary forum, students present short overviews of their summer research projects every Tuesday afternoon.

Always wanted to try a Segway?  During the spring and summer at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, prospective students can tour North Campus via a Segway tour. A brief training and a waiver are required!

Art buff? Landmarks, The Public Art Program of The University of Texas at Austin, offers unique art tours that provide a fun and informative way to learn about works of art in the Landmark collection while enjoying the beauty of UT's main campus. There are nighttime tours, dog tours, and a self-guided interactive option you can download.

For more ways to make college trips fun and tailor campus visits to your interests, check out our new Get U Going campus tour planning service!

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