Furman campus tours help future Paladins find where they belong

With the wind in their hair and a smile on their faces, Furman University’s student tour guides work daily to show guests what makes the Greenville, South Carolina campus a great place to study and live.

Visitors can schedule a tour online to meet with current students and take a guided walking and riding tour of campus.

“At the core of every visit, we want students to be able to answer some essential questions: Can I see myself living here, and even more, do I feel a sense of belonging here,” said Carly Bailey, associate director of admissions.

Visits to Furman’s campus are split between guided riding and walking tours after a 30-minute information session featuring a panel of current students. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

So far this fall, Furman has welcomed visitors from 38 states and 392 different high schools, said Elizabeth Martin, director of recruitment. Among these visitors, 74 prospective students have been welcomed into classes and individual meetings with students or faculty.

“For students who choose Furman, those first visits stick with them and by move-in day they’re coming back to a place that already feels like home,” she said. “That sense of familiarity and connection helps them confidently dive into everything Furman has to offer.”

Campus visits start with an information session featuring a panel of current students offering insights into how they paved their own pathway through college with the help of Furman’s faculty, staff and programs. Admissions counselors help answer questions and provide practical information about the application process and financial aid. Guests meet their Paladin Admissions Liaisons, or PALS, and catch a ride on one of the trolleys weaving their ways through campus for a guided tour.

While people can learn a lot about Furman online, Martin said there’s no substitute to experiencing the rhythm of campus life and the warmth of its community.

“We’ve seen students who hadn’t planned to visit leave with a new perspective and a new sense of excitement,” she said.

Chemistry major and tour guide Hope Cook ’26, from New York, New York, was able to tell her tour group a bit about what it was like adjusting to life away from home. Student groups like the Furman University Outdoors Club helped her find community and build friendships that have lasted her whole time here. She’s been a PAL since spring of her first year.

“I have had a really amazing experience connecting student visitors with the campus community, and I love helping them find a home here,” she said.

Vuyo Mkhatshwa ’26 leads a campus tour outside Johns Hall on Oct. 6. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

Fall is a great time for a tour; cooler temperatures and changing leaf colors highlight Greenville’s natural beauty. That’s part of why Gavin Renna and his mother, Jen, visited from Boston. While Gavin is interested in studying creative writing, he said Furman’s campus made it a must-see. “And honestly, the weather is a big draw. I want a milder winter,” he said.

The tour showed off Blackwell Hall, the first-year residence that opened last year, plus recently renovated North Village apartments, the Physical Activities Center, academic buildings, libraries, the Rose Garden and on-campus dining options, along with the iconic Bell Tower at the heart of Furman Lake. By the time a campus visit is finished, guests have met and spoken with several current students to get a sense of day-to-day life on campus.

“It genuinely seems like Furman really cares about its students,” said Tameka Buck. She and her daughter Teagan Buck, a student at Greenville’s Christ Church Episcopal School, said what makes the difference in a campus visit is personal attention and the opportunity to interact with current students.

For guests paying campus a visit, “you’re not just a face in a crowd,” Bailey said. Guests get to speak directly with admissions counselors and get one-on-one interactions with current students. This personal attention is part of what makes Furman unique, said Bailey.

“Students often visit many schools in a short period of time, so the facts and figures can get fuzzy, but they will always remember how each school makes them feel,” Bailey said, “and we hope they feel that sense of belonging and support when they tour.”

Visit Furman Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., or select Saturdays at 9:45 a.m. For the daily visit, the information session lasts about 30 minutes, followed by the 90-minute guided riding and walking tour. Seniors can add on experiences like sitting in on a class, meeting with faculty members or having lunch at the Dining Hall with current students. Juniors are also welcome to sit in on a class or have lunch in the dining hall.