Seeing is UBing

While most people view spring as a sign that the months of winter drudgery are almost over, it's a different kind of season for prospective college students. The warmer weather not only means the end of snow, but also the beginning of the strenuous school selection process, which often includes visiting campuses and taking tours.

Greg Rosplock's college search has taken him and his family from their home in Horseheads, N.Y., as far north as New England and back down to Pittsburg, Pa. They have toured public and private liberal arts schools, as well as technical and art institutes.

Although it's far from the Rosplocks' first stop, UB has received the best reaction.

"This is the best tour we've been on," he said, and after a moment of consideration added an emphatic, "by far."

According to the Rosplocks, the tour is an important tool in choosing a school, and on this particular Saturday, seeing was believing.

While the campus wind refused to relent to the afternoon sun, five prospective students and their parents hid in their winter coats, appendages tucked in to the best of their abilities. A parent quietly joked to his son that the weather was never UB's biggest selling point.

Tiffany Bates, a junior history major and the group's tour guide, has been giving campus tours since September 2005.

"I wanted to be a tour guide since I went on my first tour in high school," Bates said.

She said that in order to be a great tour guide, she tries to put herself in the guests' shoes.

"I try to think of the questions I know they're going to ask, so when I talk about it, they're like 'how did she know I was going to ask that?'"

Bates led the quiet, wide-eyed group all over campus, traveling from Capen Hall, through the walkway in Norton Hall, and over to the Law Library. Parents peered through the window at the modern accommodations and the stacks of literature available to their children.

Bates told the group that the Law School's database is unique to the university, and although some in the rear of the group may not have heard the details, they warranted approving parental nods.

"And even if you're not ever going to be a law student, it's good to know that the university you're attending is a top rank university that can provide the best opportunities to its students," Bates said, with the subtlety of a talented salesperson.

As the tour continued, parents asked questions about price and practicality, while the prospective students chimed in, asking about organizations and majors.

After one such inquisition, a student turned to his father and said, "See, I actually asked a question this time."

Rosplock said that UB was the first school where he had actually seen most of the campus.

"At RIT, it was classroom oriented. We just sat in a room, and they told us about the campus. At the Pittsburg Art Institute, we saw everything, but it was only one building, about as big as that one over there," he said, pointing towards Clemens Hall.

According to Rosplock, the most important part of the process was seeing where he would be studying his field of interest.

"I would be going here for fine arts, and you actually have a Center for the Arts, not just an art building like so many of the places I've looked at," he said. "But, I know if I'm going to be living here, (then) I want to know about the social events, and social aspects as well."

It was Rosplock's lucky day, because as the tour entered the Student Union, they were greeted by the UBCON gaming convention with a sign and picture of a Vulcan-esque individual from the television show "Babylon 5."

The Union was littered with booths containing fantasy role-playing games such as "Magic: The Gathering."

UB students played in tournaments and bought merchandise. Some even dressed the part, a custom that tends to accompany such gatherings.

The walkway from the Union to Knox provided a perfect viewpoint to watch LARPing (live-action role playing), and in turn, grown men knocking each other down with soft yellow and red bats.

Bates remarked that you never know what you're going to come across on campus, but there is always something going on.

When the tour arrived at Governors Hall, everyone had more questions to ask.

"What if you get a roommate that is completely unbearable?" one father asked.

Bates answered by telling the group about a student she knew who went through four roommates during her freshman year. This real-life account seemed to ease some concerns about random roommate selection.

Rosplock's mother shared her worst college tour experience while waiting outside the door of the crowded dorm room.

"We toured Champlain, (and) it's a considerably more expensive private school. When we got to the dorms, it was about 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday," she said. "The tour guide opened up the room, all the lights were out and there were kids asleep in the beds.

She said she couldn't believe the school would allow tours to go into occupied rooms.

"When I noticed there were people sleeping in the beds right next to me, I said, 'Oh, excuse me I'm sorry.' And the kid in the bed said, 'Nah, it's no problem, I'm getting paid for this.' Can you believe that? We thought because it was a more expensive school we could expect more, but you never really know until you see it," she said.

Bates believes a tour makes all the difference, especially at a school like UB.

"You hear all these things about UB and about how big it is, but when you have the opportunity to see it, you can see how contained it really is," she said.

Bates also said that on a tour, one could see everything they imagined college life to be like.

"Like getting to look in on a game in Alumni (Arena), or just seeing kids out playing Frisbee," she said. "It's all the benefits of a large research university, with a small school feel. That's what I like to say."