Changing the Face of College Admissions:  iPod Campus Tour Marquette offers prospective students one of the nation's first iPod video tours Released: Oct. 16, 2006 Prospective students have a new way to see the Marquette University campus – through an iPod.  When tour guides are not available, visitors wishing to tour campus can be assigned an iPod loaded with a video podcast featuring two students to guide them through campus and provide important information.  Prospective students may also download the tour to their personal iPods through iTunes at home.  Marquette is one of the first universities in the country to offer a college tour podcast. “The podcast allows us two new ways of reaching students,” said Robert Blust, dean of undergraduate admissions.  “First, they can download the tour at home to their iPods.  Second, if they are on campus at a time tour guides are not available, they can check out an iPod from the University Information Center to use as a guided tour through campus.” The tour takes potential students to various locations from the Alumni Memorial Union south through the Central Mall on campus.  It covers all academic buildings as well as other sites, including Raynor Libraries, Rec Center and Al McGuire Center.  The video is approximately 16 minutes from start to finish, with breaks that allow the visitors to move on to the next area in the tour. The tour, along with other pertinent information about Marquette including an application, is offered free of charge on iTunes or the Marquette Web site for download to personal iPods.    Other universities offer individual classes and lectures via iTunes but Marquette is one of the first to offer campus tours through a podcast.   “A campus tour is tremendously important in a student’s college selection process,” said Blust.  “We don’t see the podcast as a substitute for a personally guided tour, but as a resource while still at home or to accommodate those who are unable to make an admissions office tour.  This is a great second option, especially since so many teens are quite skilled with an iPod.” Since the tour launched in early September, prospective students and their parents from across the country including Illinois, Michigan, Texas and New York have taken advantage of the tour. Patricia Sherman, of Haughton, Mich., recently visited Marquette with her daughter. “I thought the iPod tour was great because we were looking at many universities.  Waiting for appointments was hard when you’re on the road and traveling far distances.  Offering the iPod tour was nice because we could take the tour at our own convenience and it gave us the information we needed,” Sherman said. Taking the iPod Tour  When a tour guide is unavailable, the iPod tour will be offered to parents and prospective students who can furnish a state issued photo identification.  The identification card will be securely stored.   A Marquette lanyard clearly identifying guests will be given out with each iPod for visitors to gain admittance into the libraries.    Each guest will be given a map which will clearly define the various points of interest on the tour and other tips.    Visitors who have downloaded the tour from the Marquette Web site or iTunes to their personal iPod are advised to visit the Marquette University Information Center to receive the Marquette lanyard so that they can go into the libraries. Media wishing to take Marquette’s iPod campus tour should contact Anne Broeker in the Office of Marketing and Communication at (414) 288-0286. Office of Marketing and Communication Contacts Anne Broeker Senior Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-0286 Send e-mail