Stop asking student tour guides where they're applying to college

[Anonymous]

My DC conducts tours for prospective students. On almost every tour, DC is asked where he is applying to college. He is happy to talk about the college guidance office and the process in general, but asking someone where they're applying is not okay. It's personal and absolutely none of your business. Please stop. There are far better and more relevant questions to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC conducts tours for prospective students. On almost every tour, DC is asked where he is applying to college. He is happy to talk about the college guidance office and the process in general, but asking someone where they're applying is not okay. It's personal and absolutely none of your business. Please stop. There are far better and more relevant questions to ask.

Okay snowflake

Maybe a public-facing role is not a fit for your fragile kid

[Anonymous]

This is kind of next-level sensitive. I think a prospective parent asking a tour guide about their college application process is both a timely bit of relevant small talk and a legitimate point of interest for an applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC conducts tours for prospective students. On almost every tour, DC is asked where he is applying to college. He is happy to talk about the college guidance office and the process in general, but asking someone where they're applying is not okay. It's personal and absolutely none of your business. Please stop. There are far better and more relevant questions to ask.

Okay snowflake

Maybe a public-facing role is not a fit for your fragile kid

PP, what is wrong with you? What a stupid response. It’s not fragile to expect people to have manners, but you’re clearly unfamiliar with manners.

OP — totally agree. It’s rude and irrelevant, and I cringe when people ask that on tours.

[Anonymous]

You can't be serious. That's the tour guide equivalent of cocktail party question. Where do you live/work. Good lord.

[Anonymous]

My 12-year-old knows how to politely get a conversation back on track, and avoid answering personal questions if they make her uncomfortable. You need to spend less time trying to “educate” total strangers and spend more time helping your son to prepare for, you know, life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12-year-old knows how to politely get a conversation back on track, and avoid answering personal questions if they make her uncomfortable. You need to spend less time trying to “educate” total strangers and spend more time helping your son to prepare for, you know, life.

+100

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe the two PPs think a kid’s collefe list is any of their business (but then I am a public school parent)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC conducts tours for prospective students. On almost every tour, DC is asked where he is applying to college. He is happy to talk about the college guidance office and the process in general, but asking someone where they're applying is not okay. It's personal and absolutely none of your business. Please stop. There are far better and more relevant questions to ask.

Okay snowflake

Maybe a public-facing role is not a fit for your fragile kid

PP, what is wrong with you? What a stupid response. It’s not fragile to expect people to have manners, but you’re clearly unfamiliar with manners.

OP — totally agree. It’s rude and irrelevant, and I cringe when people ask that on tours.

I cringe at posts like OPs. What is wrong with YOU? It’s not irrelevant — if your kid is being an ambassador for the school by giving tours then their experience and post-school plans are of obvious interest. You really need to grow up if you can’t graciously handle a question like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe the two PPs think a kid’s collefe list is any of their business (but then I am a public school parent)

No one made the kid be a salesperson for the school. Go hide in the corner if you don’t want to talk to strangers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12-year-old knows how to politely get a conversation back on track, and avoid answering personal questions if they make her uncomfortable. You need to spend less time trying to “educate” total strangers and spend more time helping your son to prepare for, you know, life.

Oh please — not OP but half of DCUM is people offering this type of unsolicited “advice” and it’s not like posting here interferes with giving kids strategies for dealing with rude people.

Sounds like the real issue is you/PPs think this is ok

[Anonymous]

My tour guide kid politely declines to answer questions about their specific college list and their grades and their SAT/ACT score. There usually are two tour guides taking one family around campus and it's awkward to answer those questions in front of a classmate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12-year-old knows how to politely get a conversation back on track, and avoid answering personal questions if they make her uncomfortable. You need to spend less time trying to “educate” total strangers and spend more time helping your son to prepare for, you know, life.

Oh please — not OP but half of DCUM is people offering this type of unsolicited “advice” and it’s not like posting here interferes with giving kids strategies for dealing with rude people.

Sounds like the real issue is you/PPs think this is ok

Because it is ok.

[Anonymous]

It is rude, but it is also okay for your son to lie. He can have a prepared response that isn’t actually the schools he is applying to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is rude, but it is also okay for your son to lie. He can have a prepared response that isn’t actually the schools he is applying to.

Um, lying is not virtuous here. Just be general - SLACs or whatever - and move on.