You’ve decided to make your way to the seacoast of New Hampshire and visit the University of New Hampshire’s beautiful campus! There are so many ways to go about planning your visit to Durham. For me, choosing the walking tour was the perfect fit. Its flexibility was ideal for us as we were coming from far away. It’s a great option for out-of-state students and ultimately led to my decision to go to UNH.
The spring of my senior year of high school, my dad and I drove to Durham, NH from my hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY to visit the UNH campus. As a dance major, I’d already visited campus to audition for the program and had a great weekend being shown around UNH by current dance and theatre students. Still, my family and I wanted to see campus one more time before college decision day.
Since we were coming from far away, the self-guided walking tour was the perfect way for my family to see campus. There was a QR code out front of every stop that linked to a video clip with a student tour guide and we were able to spend as much time as we wanted at each stop. It was great because I was able to picture myself in each place as if I was already a student!
Some notable stops include the Memorial Union Building, home to student life. That building alone was about the size of my high school! I also loved the true collegiate feel brought by Hamilton Smith’s architecture. The academic building boasts tall pillars and is in the heart of campus. Walking past it was another sign that UNH felt right to me. That early spring, students were already eager to enjoy some time outdoors. My family and I saw hammocks set up all around campus which introduced us to a vibrant part of student life. You’re sure to also see students spending time outside in hammocks, studying and playing games – even if there are still patches of snow on the ground. You’re not at UNH if you don’t participate in hammock culture!
Taking the walking tour also helped me get oriented with the UNH campus because we were able to practice navigating the paths that I use now on my way to class every day. It’s also a great resource for incoming first-year students because it acts as an interactive map. You’ll be extra prepared when you get on campus by already knowing which building is which! You can find the contents of the self-guided walking tour here.
After the tour, I could see Thompson Hall through our back window as we drove away down Garrison Avenue. I remember feeling sad because it felt like it was the last time I’d be on campus. That’s when I realized that if I felt that way, UNH was the right choice for me! It’s so important to visit any school during your decision-making process, and hopefully you too will be able to picture yourself on our campus when you do!
Since I did my tour of the UNH campus, there has also been the creation of a narrated driving tour. It’s another unique way to see campus on your own schedule and experience UNH by car. It’s definitely something to check out while you’re in Wildcat Country.
