Tipping College Tour Guides?

[Anonymous]

I was a tour guide in college. We were paid a small amount, but I would have been shocked, and slightly offended, if someone had offered me a tip.

[Anonymous]

Best to not tip the student tour guide, and instead save it for a bigger gratuity for the interviewer!

[Anonymous]

At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a tour guide in college. We were paid a small amount, but I would have been shocked, and slightly offended, if someone had offered me a tip.

I was never offered tips either, but I would not have been offended!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

How strange-we toured uva and no mention of tips. It would have been really bizarre and off-putting. Or I would have assumed they were kidding!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an unpaid student tour guide at UNC-Chapel Hill for 2 years. Never was offered anything and would have thought it bizarre. Fwiw, the admissions office never asked me for feedback either.

How was your experience at UNC-Chapel Hill. DC is considering going there and has to decide soon between there and UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

Troll. I’m at UVA. It’s a position of honor. It’s very competitive to become one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

Troll. I’m at UVA. It’s a position of honor. It’s very competitive to become one.

It doesn’t mean that some guides aren’t asking for tips. I do wonder if these stories are true however, because yes it has been historically very competitive to become a U Guide and they’re often leaders in other competitive activities as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

Troll. I’m at UVA. It’s a position of honor. It’s very competitive to become one.

Still don’t understand why you’d do it unpaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

How strange-we toured uva and no mention of tips. It would have been really bizarre and off-putting. Or I would have assumed they were kidding!

Same, toured UVA in August, no mention of tips by our excellent guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

Troll. I’m at UVA. It’s a position of honor. It’s very competitive to become one.

It’s competitive everywhere to become a tour guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a new one on me- friend just casually mentioned that they “always” tip the student guides who give college tours. Im on my third kid going through the admissions process and we’ve never done or even heard of this. Friend said they buy a stack of gift cards for this purpose. Really??

Is the friend from New York? New Yorkers in my experience are more likely to feel they need to tip as many people as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the conclusion of our tour of UVA this Spring, our guide shamelessly told us that she was not paid by the University, and that she accepted cash tips and Venmo. It was very awkward. I have been on many college tours and never before tipped or even thought of tipping. .

I was going to post this exact same thing. We just did a tour of UVA two weeks ago and our female guide asked for tips, not once but twice. I was SHOCKED! I did see one family hand her a $20 bill at the end of the tour.

Wow! I would call the school and say something. If they allow this, they need to post on the tour booking page that guides are unpaid and that a gratuity would be appreciated. There should be full disclosure.

Troll. I’m at UVA. It’s a position of honor. It’s very competitive to become one.

It’s competitive everywhere to become a tour guide.

NO, it’s not. It’s work-study at my Slac