SU Tours are Back on Campus

By Nicole Aponte

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University has opened up once again for in-person tours for high school students. These students have the chance to interact with current members of SU – something that was deeply missed because of the pandemic.

Tours immediately stopped in March of last year and the Office of Admissions relied on virtual options for admitted and prospective students and families. For the past two semesters, this has been the only option for potential SU students to get a real of what Syracuse is really like.

Senior Max Josef is a U100 tour guide who gave the last tour before the campus shut down, and was the first tour guide to go out with visitors this spring. As of now, the Office of Admissions is allowing just admitted students to see the campus, and prospective students have the chance to go on a self-guided tour planned by Admissions.

The tours have changed because of COVID-19. Instead of two hours, tours now last 45 minutes because visitors cannot enter any buildings on campus. Even with these changes, the Office of Admissions is seeing a spike in visitors this past month and are the busiest they have ever been.

Schools across SU are joining the Office of Admissions in welcoming these admitted students. The S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications has taken the initiative to set up a ‘Newhouse Visitors Center’ right outside of the Newhouse buildings. Newhouse Associate Director of Diversity and Recruitment, Wes Whiteside, and the newhouse ambassadors can be found handing out SU merchandise and answering any questions of admitted students. Wes Whiteside is more than excited to see these new faces on campus. “Just seeing the faces and the smiles under everyone’s mask; I’m just so happy we can at least do something for them.”

These admitted students are getting a taste of what a normal college experience could be like. If admitted students can’t make it to SU’s campus this spring, there are still virtual options available at www.syracuse.edu/admissions alongside the in-person tours.