What being a BGSU Campus Tour Guide is all about:
Do you remember the first time you visited Bowling Green State University (BGSU)? More than likely, your Tour Guide was one of the first people you met! BGSU Campus Tour Guides promote and personalize the University for prospective students, their families, and other guests to the campus. Through guided tours of campus, Tour Guides share their BGSU story and experiences, educate visitors about general pre-admission requirements, academic and campus life, as well as the history, traditions, and achievements of the University. Being a Campus Tour Guide allows you to leave a first and lasting impression of Bowling Green State University on visitors.
Guided tours last approximately 90 minutes and include a residence hall, dining facilities, academic spaces, the Recreations Center, and our Jerome Library. Daily tours are offered Monday through Friday and select Saturday’s year round, except on University observed holidays and campus closures. Additionally, we often offer special group tours—these tours are typically scheduled between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm on weekdays.
Tour Guides are required to give a minimum of one bi-weekly tour and one Saturday tour, each semester. Tour Guides are also required to attend one Tour Guide meeting each month. There are also many other opportunities for Tour Guides to get more involved in the Office of Admissions!
How to become a Campus Tour Guide, and important dates:
Application
- First, you must complete the online application. In your application you will be asked to sign up for one of three audition dates. The application closes on Monday, October 28th at 11:59pm. Applications will not be accepted once it has closed.
Audition
- Auditions will be held on the Saturday, November 2 throughout the day. When selecting your audition time please note you are expected to stay for the full 2 hours.
- If you are interested in applying but are unable to attend the auditions on Saturday please contact Brittany Scott at jonesbl@bgsu.edu to discuss your circumstance and determine if there is another option to allow for you to audition.
- For your audition you are asked to prepare a short speech about a BGSU-related topic with which you are familiar (i.e. a sport, organization, campus location, etc.). This speech should be no more than three minutes and should be presented as though you were addressing campus visitors about the topic.
Interview
- We will narrow the field of applicants and e-mail the individuals who have been selected to move on to the interview portion of the hiring process no later than Wednesday, November 6.
- The interviews will be held the week of November 11.
- On Wednesday, November 20, an e-mail will be sent to all who interviewed in the interview portion of the hiring process to notify them whether or not they were selected to be a Campus Tour Guide.
Training/Orientation
- If selected, there is a fast turnaround time to get your documentation into Student Employment Services. We encourage all students applying to begin gathering documentation at the time of applying to ensure you will be able to have your paperwork processed prior to the orientation date. Below is a link to view what documentation is needed. Be sure to note photocopies are not accepted.
- A mandatory orientation will take place on Sunday, February 2.
Campus Tour Guide Qualifications
- Excellent public speaking skills
- Positive ambassador of BGSU
- Passionate about Bowling Green State University and sharing your BGSU story with prospective students
- All applicants must be available to be a tour guide for a total of three or more semesters. Applicants will not be selected if they are graduating seniors, or in a major that does not allow them to fulfill the three semester minimum.
- If you are an Education major, if you will be entering methods or student teaching during the fall 2020 or spring 2021 you are not eligible to apply.
- All applicants already employed on campus must have enough available hours (6 or more hours per week) to dedicate to the tour guide position without exceeding the 28 hour mark.
Questions? Please contact the Student Tour Coordinators in the BGSU Campus Tour Guide Office at bgtours@bgsu.edu or 419-372-9866.