Maryland students have a lot of pride in their school. How so do you say? Well, this year, 215 students applied to be an Images Tour Guide. That is a hefty number considering that the position is volunteer only. Out of the 215 who applied, only 45 students were accepted this semester to be a tour guide.
A tour guide has a tremendous weight on her shoulders. Her tour influences whether a prospective student wants to come to Maryland or not. An Images Tour Guide must highlight the very best of Maryland by being personable and informative.
Becoming a tour guide is a rigorous process. First, a prospective tour guide must present a segment of the tour in front of three current Imagers. They will ask the prospective to talk about resident life, sports, or Mckeldin Mall. Then, they ask two questions that might be questions prospective students and their parents would ask such as “What kind of safety is there on campus?” or “How can I get involved?”
That’s only round one. After some cuts, about 100 students were asked to come back to a speed dating round. In thirty, 90 seconds rounds, students had to answer questions such as “Why do you want to be a tour guide?” or “If you were on the cover of the Diamondback, what would the headline be?”
Now, why do Maryland students volunteer their time to be a tour guide? Because they love their school of course! Sophomore psychology major Lindsey Benjamin applied twice before she became an Images tour guide. Benjamin said, “I remember when I toured Maryland, I had such an amazing tour guide, and I want to portray the school in a way that she did. I like being a tour guide because it really affects people and they really appreciate the services you give to them.”
Benjamin recalled a time when a girl asked her whether the school had a hearing and speech major. When Benjamin said that Maryland has one of the best programs in the country, “the girl’s face lit up and she told me that she had to come Maryland.”
Freshman Letters and Sciences major Meha Upadhyaya was accepted on her first audition “It sounded fun, and I thought it would get me more involved in campus so that I could learn about the campus better,” Upadhyaya said of auditioning for Images. “I’m really excited that I got in as a freshman, I was surprised, I wasn’t expecting to get in.”
I, myself, applied to be a tour guide this semester because I want to showcase my love and pride for my school. However, I did not get accepted to become a tour guide. Not making it this semester has not deterred me from trying out again. Next time I audition, I will be even more comfortable with talking about the Maryland, as I learn more about what’ s going on everyday! I want to help show how amazing the University of Maryland of is and help people decide to come here.
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Photo Credit: Jaclyn Turner
Photo (top): Lindsey Benjamin, outside Dorchester Hall
Photo (bottom): An Images tour guide leads a tour