On the Front Lines

Mason’s special tour guides are a critical part of the admissions process

By Tara Laskowski

Although Mason students are full of school pride, only a tried and true few would brave wind, rain, and Northern Virginia’s brutal summer humidity to spread the Mason spirit to the outside community. Mason ambassadors—current students whose primary duty is to give tours of the university to prospective Patriots—deserve the credit for being the first faces of the university. They do their job with enthusiasm, commitment, and a fine sense of humor.

Becoming a Mason ambassador isn’t easy. Only 3 percent of an incoming class is invited to apply. Those interested must complete an application, write an essay, and be interviewed by the Office of Admissions. Campus visit coordinator Emily Jones, BA Theater ’04, says that leading the Mason ambassadors is one of the most fun parts of her job. “They keep everything interesting,” she says.

With about 75 ambassadors of all ages and majors, the group is growing in recognition across Mason and can be found at many major university functions. They also host Chat University, an online chat room where prospective students can ask such questions as what SAT scores they need or what students do for fun on weekends. Ambassadors also return to their own high schools during semester breaks to talk to students about Mason.

Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions, says it is a testament to the dedication of Mason students that the program has more than tripled in just a few years. “It sends a positive message to our visitors that nearly all our tours are conducted by volunteers, and the ratings of those tours continue to be exceptional.”

Jones is proud to see the ambassadors program growing each year, and she makes sure the students know how valuable they are. This past semester, she coordinated a holiday party and a bowling night for them and bought them fleece scarves with the new Mason logo for those cold tour days.

Ambassadors can easily be spotted around campus in their white polo shirts and khaki pants giving many potential students their first look inside the Johnson Center, first glimpse of a Presidents Park residence hall room, and first taste of college life. Ambassadors calm students’ and parents’ nerves and bring the admissions brochures and pamphlets to life.

“I am proud to be here, and I want everyone else to be, too,” says freshman ambassador Kate Pisano. “Giving tours is really rewarding, especially when you get thank you e-mails from students and parents about how much they appreciated the tour.”

The tours, which are given twice daily during the semester, can be unpredictable. Ambassadors guide anywhere from one sole student to almost 100 prospective students during spring registration. And the questions can throw off even the most seasoned tour guide—from queries about area real estate to how much partying really goes on behind residence hall doors. To top it all off, numerous ambassadors have discovered the on-the-job hazard of falling while walking backwards.

To help with the unexpected, some ambassadors compile stories, legends, or amusing anecdotes to tell along the way. For senior Brandon Baumbach, a past ambassador president, the stories personalize the campus and give the students something to remember. He tells visitors the legend of rubbing the toe of the George Mason statue for good luck and has the group rub the toe just for fun. On one tour, everyone except one young woman participated. Later on the tour, she tripped and fell. “Her mother laughed and pointed out that she was unlucky because she hadn’t rubbed George’s toe,” Baumbach says.

Ambassadors also have to be ready to answer tough questions honestly. “One of the hardest questions we get is, what don’t you like about Mason?” says Baumbach. “I have to say that construction and parking are sometimes difficult to deal with, but on the positive side, it means we will have new buildings with great technology and research opportunities.”

“It’s really gratifying to be part of the ambassadors,” says Baumbach. “The first impression you give someone is important and helps them make a significant decision—where to go to college. To know you are a part of that decision just can’t be matched.”

Mason Ambassadors
Mari Leavitt and Jeffrey Fissell

Nashant Kolaskar