[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Stehouwer_Rebecca.jpg” caption=”Rebecca Stehouwer, a fourth-year kinesiology student, has been working as a campus tour guide since January. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]You only get one chance to make a first impression, and it's Rebecca Stehouwer's job to make sure that prospective students and their families get the right first impression of McMaster. Stehouwer, a fourth-year kinesiology student, has been working as a campus tour guide since January.

“It's a great experience,” she says. “I get to work with a lot of people, give a positive impression of the school and help people find the right university.”

Each year, more than 8,000 prospective students and their families get their first glimpse of McMaster on a campus tour.

Stehouwer says one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is “getting to meet prospective students. It's fun to share my positive experiences at McMaster with them. I get to meet people from all over the country. It's really exciting.”

She adds that working as a campus tour guide is ideal for students because they can work around their class schedules. Each tour guide gives about three tours per month. They receive a full day of training plus eight to 10 hours of additional training before they start giving tours.

The Student Liaison Office employs about 60 tour guides during the school year and 25 over the summer. Hiring takes place in September, January and April.

What does it take to be a great campus tour guide?

“Somebody who is enthusiastic about the University and giving an excellent impression to prospective students and their families,” says Candy Hui, liaison officer at the Student Liaison Office. “They're the first point of contact for the University.” Strong communication and interpersonal skills are a must, she adds.

A campus tour takes about 90 minutes and includes stops at a library, computer lab, lecture hall, eatery and residence room as well as campus landmarks such as the MDCL.

The tour guides ask prospective students what they're interested in studying, so they can cater the tour to suit their needs.

Fall campus tours are offered from Oct. 4 to Nov. 30. The Fall Preview on Saturday, Oct. 27 will give prospective students the opportunity to meet students, staff and faculty, go on campus and residence tours and attend academic information sessions.