The Guide for Tour Guides

          As a new academic year begins at Lawrenceville, the school’s admission office is already thinking about enrollment for next year and preparing for the many applications to come on January 15, 2024 (the admission deadline for applications and scholarship aid.) For prospective students considering joining Lawrenceville’s community, their experience touring Lawrenceville is an important factor in their decision to come to Lawrenceville. Tour guides tour all prospective students throughout the school year and at many times throughout the school day, some Tour Guides even tour prospective students during their free periods.

          To be a tour guide, you must be able to overcome a variety of challenging conditions and tour variables. Whether it’s arriving at Mackenzie in the morning for a tour or spending a free period touring instead of studying, tour guides must manage their time wisely. However, giving tours is very rewarding, as guides help nervous candidates navigate the process. Price Donaldson ’24, a two year member of the Tour Guide Council  “always double check[s] the email [Patricia MacKinnon] sends, so [she] knows what [the prospective student’s] interests are,” allowing her to customize the tour by taking “them to places that they are probably interested in seeing.” Tour Guides will always need to have a smile on their faces during tours, making the students and family which Tour Guides are touring, comfortable and welcome in their visit to Lawrenceville. Donaldson believes that a true hallmark of an experienced tour guide is their ability to answer questions confidently.  She always “I make sure that [she] tells the applicants lots of personal stories and anecdotes, so they can fully get the Lawrentian experience during the tour.”

          As prospective students and parents will be curious during the tour, it is vital to be aware of the proper Lawrenceville-related facts! Natalia Cisneros ’24, a two year member of the Tour Guide Council says, “I love showing the bronze statue in the Pop rotunda, as it acts as a perfect segway to talk about small but equally impactful Lawrenceville traditions, like rubbing the foot before a hard test!” For Cisneros, an experienced tour guide, touring is a piece of cake for her as she truly loves Lawrenceville. She exclaims that, “Lawrenceville is more than a high school, it is a place with a vast amount of history where traditions like this have been passed on from generation to generation, and it’s always nice to feel like something bigger than yourself.” 

          Most importantly, don’t feel obligated to act like someone else. It is necessary that you are your true self with applicants as they want to talk to someone who is passionate about their extracurriculars, classes, and many special things that make them an all-around Lawrentian. Cisneros also gives the key advice that “no matter how nervous you are, the applicant you’re touring is 100,000 times more nervous. Relax, be yourself, and show an abundant amount of excitement about Lawrenceville!” From balancing being a Tour Guide with students’ academics and athletics commitments to making sure prospective students and their families feel welcomed, tour guiding is most definitely a challenge, but it will be a worthwhile experience if you just be yourself!