How to add a little spice to a campus tour

Just what does it take to sell a college to a student visiting campus?

Looks like it helps to make the tour more memorable, so some schools are adding a few gimmicks, USA Today reports. Alfred University uses a 7-person bike (see video above) on its rounds, Brigham Young University uses golf carts, California Polytechnic State University offers GPS and a downloadable iPhone app of a self-guided campus walking tour, and Eckerd Colleges offers boat rides. Ohio State and West Virginia University offer sweets.

Anyone offering similar extras or fun stuff in Minnesota?

About the blogger

Alex Friedrich

afriedrich@mpr.org

Alex Friedrich reports on higher education issues for MPR News. Among the stories he has covered: the fall of the Berlin Wall, aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, 2003 Moscow suicide bombing and 2004 presidential elections in the Republic of Georgia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s in European political economy from the London School of Economics.

Prospective Student

I visited two recent tours that of Southwest Minnesota State U and University of Minnesota Morris. Their tour is very inovative and consists of a virtual walking tour around campus. Definitely worth a look! SMSU tour link: http://www.smsu.edu/admission/virtualtour/
UMMorris tour: http://motown.morris.umn.edu/virtualtour/

I also believe that SMSU has a mobile app as well.