I'm a campus tour guide at UCLA. Ask me ANYTHING (except how to get in, idk, just apply).

[LaraMarnie]

Hey future Bruins! I'm a junior at UCLA and I've been a campus tour guide for two years. I absolutely love my job—I get to walk backwards (it's harder than it looks), show off this gorgeous campus, and tell stories about my favorite school. But after hundreds of tours, I have to say... some questions drive me CRAZY.

Questions I get every single day:

• "How hard is it to get in?" Bro. I got in. That's all I know. Apply and find out?
• "Is it true you have a haunted dorm?" Yes, and I'll tell you the story, but it's probably not actually haunted.
• "Where do celebrities eat?" I don't know, same places as us? They're people too.
• "Do you ever see celebrities on campus?" Sometimes! I saw Billie Eilish once. She was wearing a mask and a hoodie like she didn't want to be seen so I pretended not to notice. Respect the vibe.

But the good stuff:

• I've gotten so much better at public speaking. Walking backwards and talking to 30 people at once? Terrifying at first, now it's natural.
• I know every hidden spot on campus. The best nap spots, the quietest library corners, the cheapest food.
• I've made friends with other guides. We're a weird little family.

It's the best student job honestly. Gets me outside, keeps me moving, and I get to share my love for this place.

Any other tour guides out there? What's the weirdest question you've ever gotten?

 

[MattFlarr]

One parent asked if their child would be "safe" in Greenwich Village because they heard it's "full of liberals." Like... ma'am, it's New York City. In 2024. What do you think?

Another time, a prospective student asked me where the "best place to cry" is on campus. I respected the honesty and gave them my actual favorite spot (quiet corner in the library stacks). They later emailed me that they got in and remembered that answer. We're friends now.

The celebrity thing is funny too—people always ask if we see Taylor Swift. She literally owns multiple houses in NYC but like... she's not just wandering around Washington Square Park guys.

Tour guide life is a whole personality. The backwards walking, the FAQs, the weather drama. Wouldn't trade it though!