The Anytime, Anywhere Self-Guided Campus Tours

 By Rachel Galatis 

Summit staff writer 

As guided walking tours are put on hold, Stonehill found a way that potential students could learn more about campus with a “self-guided” tour that can be done at any time.  

According to the school’s website, the effect of taking the campus tour either virtually or on campus will leave you with “a better understanding of how our compassionate community, rigorous academics and expansive leadership opportunities come together to provide you with a meaningful college experience.” 

Normally, this time of year students all over the country are visiting college campuses and applying to schools they are interested in. This year, the Coronavirus has prevented many campus visits.  

At Stonehill, many people from the outside community used to come to campus to walk dogs, jog on the track, or use the library.  

This semester, the school has “closed its gates” to the public and is not allowing any guests who are not registered by a student and are approved by campus police to visit. Visitors are not allowed in any residential buildings.  

Scott Seseske, the dean of admissions, said the admission’s office collaborated with the marketing office to develop the idea of the virtual campus tours after discussing how important campus tours are on a student’s decision to enroll at Stonehill.  

“The controlled, self-guided tour program we currently have in place recognizes the importance of the campus visit while prioritizing the health and safety of our College community and visitors,” he said.  

The tours allow perspective students along with two family members to sign up for a time slot of the in-person tour.  

Seseske said so far, all the weekend timeslots for the in-person tours have been filled since the program started in early September. The “route” of the tour is pre-determined and is set-up to take about an hour from start to finish.  

“At each ‘tour stop,’ information is provided via video through our self-guided tour website, including the opportunity to view the inside of campus buildings as tours are currently exterior only,” he said.  

High school seniors and transfer students have limited options when it comes to which campuses they can tour in person.  

A senior at Lynn Classical High School, Tyler Dugan, said the absence of tours is slowing down his college application process.  

“Over the summer, I didn’t really do anything college wise. I didn’t have any tour options available and I could not go many places, so it was difficult,” he said. 

Dugan said that if a school offered an in-person, self-guided tour of campus, he would do it because it “appears that the school is trying hard.”   

Current Stonehill students, who have attended the college before Covid-19 hit, remember families walking around on campus to take tours. Families could also be seen attending admissions events such as Skyhawk Welcome Day.  

Rina Sutherland, a sophomore, said the campus has a different atmosphere this year due to the limited number of students exploring campus with friends and families.  

“The whole campus vibe has been weird but seeing potential students last year was always interesting, especially if they asked you questions about the school because you could help them through the process,” she said.  

Potential students typically engage with current students and learn more about what their experience has been like through on campus collaboration options, including “shadowing” classes. These options are no longer available to prevent the virus from being brought to campus.  

Sutherland said that because of the limited options students now have, they should try to come to campus and take the virtual tour route.  

“I think tours are important and I think that if students can get on campus in any way to do them, it would be beneficial for the students,” she said. “Being on campus on tours is where you get a feel that you can’t get through anything else,” she said.  

Students have until November 1 to submit their application for the “early action” phase. They have until January 1 to apply for regular admission.