Tour Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Guided campus tours run approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

Yes, all campus tours are walking tours. In addition, there is one special observation deck that is only accessible by stairwell. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the Alabama weather.  

Let us know at registration if anyone in your party needs golf cart accommodations, and we can modify tours as needed.

Faculty meetings are not scheduled as part of the guided campus tour experience. If you wish to meet a faculty member or visit the department of your program of interest, we strongly recommend making that appointment first and then scheduling a guided campus tour around those meetings.

To find information for a specific academic program or Graduate Program Officer (GPO), please see our Areas of Study page, and select the program of interest for website and contact info.

Yes! Bring a friend, a significant other, a roommate or a family member. Our individual guided campus tours are led by a Graduate Student Ambassador and can easily accommodate up to 4 people.

If your +1 is also a prospective graduate student, we ask that they register separately for the same tour time so we may provide both of you with a customized swag bag and program-specific information. 

No, we offer tours during weekdays when classes are in session. Graduate Student Ambassadors serve as tour guides, and they need their weekends to study for class and conduct research for their thesis or dissertation. We also do not offer weekend tours due to the busy campus environment around both football and basketball seasons where access to certain campus locations is limited. 

We want you to have the best campus visit experience possible, so we make every attempt to pair you with a Graduate Student Ambassador in your program of interest or a closely related field, which requires time to coordinate. We also request behind-the-scenes access to restricted areas so you can get a bird's-eye view of campus from one of the tallest buildings in the city (weather dependent). Lastly, we prepare a customized swag bag of goodies just for you. It takes time to be awesome.

You will immediately receive an automated email confirming receipt of your request after submitting the tour form. If you do not receive an email after you register, please contact our office at (334) 844-4700 to make sure the email address has been entered correctly. You may also want to check your spam folder to see if it might have been sent there.

Within three business days, you will receive a personalized email from a real human being, confirming the exact date and time of your tour. To ensure that you are also a real human being, we will ask that you reply and confirm your tour time. It's way better than selecting all the motorcycles on a reCAPTCHA.

Visit the Auburn-Opelika Tourism website for local hotel information. There are a few hotels within walking distance to the Graduate School, and many options in our area at a variety of price points. In addition, there is a robust short-term home rental market as well as a state park nearby with accommodations. 

We're gonna be sad, but we understand life happens. We ask that you please provide as much advanced notice as possible if you need to reschedule so our Graduate Student Ambassador tour guides can plan accordingly around their classes, teaching or research. To reschedule or cancel, please reply to the email you received confirming your tour date and time, or contact gradcom@auburn.edu. For immediate assistance, contact us at (334) 844-4700.

Faculty meetings are not scheduled as part of the guided campus tour experience. If you wish to meet a faculty member or visit the department of your program of interest, we strongly recommend making that appointment first. Faculty teach classes, have research, serve on committees, and meet with other students, so it's best to get on their schedule early and then plan your campus tour around your meeting time. 

To find information for a specific academic program or Graduate Program Officer (GPO), please see our Areas of Study page, and select the program of interest for program website and contact info.

We love a planner! Group tours are requested through an online registration system at least five weeks in advance, typically by a program staff or coordinator from another institution. For dates farther out than our request form, you can contact us to schedule future dates.

We offer half-day programs on select Thursdays and Fridays during both fall and spring semesters. Sample itineraries for morning or afternoon sessions are available to help plan your visit to Auburn. Customized itineraries and standalone group tours are available by request. Please contact us at gradcom@auburn.edu for more details.

Start by downloading our group roster template. This completed form can be submitted at the time of registration, or shortly after. We request individual student information for each attendee so we can provide a customized experience that includes a T-shirt, program information relevant to their interests, and a meeting with program faculty during their visit. We also ask for any dietary restrictions and/or accommodations needed at the time of registration. 

No, we offer tours during weekdays when classes are in session. Graduate Student Ambassadors serve as our tour guides, and they need their weekends to study for class and conduct research for their thesis or dissertation. We also do not offer weekend tours due to the busy campus environment around both football and basketball seasons where access to certain campus locations is limited. 

If the rain is light to moderate, your tour will most likely continue as planned. We can provide umbrellas for tours if unexpected rain suddenly finds us. If severe weather conditions occur, nobody wants to do a walking tour outside, and safety first, you know. In this case, your Graduate Student Ambassador will offer a virtual tour of campus in our conference room, followed by a meet-and-greet with the deans in our office. We're going to make some lemonade if life gives us lemons, but it will be Toomer's Drugs Lemonade for sure. 

Dress for the walking tour is casual and comfortable shoes are recommended. For tours during the summer months, you may want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. If rain is in the forecast, don't forget an umbrella or poncho. 

For individual guided tours starting at Hargis Hall, home of the Graduate School, we recommend downtown street parking in the City of Auburn. Parking is available on a first-come basis and payable via the ParkMobile app. You can visit the ParkMobile website, download the mobile app, or call the toll-free number on the ParkMobile sign (866-727-5044) to register for a ParkMobile account; you will need your license plate number, parking space number, and a payment method.