General Education Student Life

Campus tours help students prepare before their first day

Reanna Gonzalez
03 June 2026
3 min read

One of the most valuable—and often overlooked—resources at Midwestern State University is the campus tour program offered through the Student Welcome Center.

For new students, whether incoming freshmen or transfers, arriving on campus for the first time can feel overwhelming. Without familiar landmarks, simply finding the right building can be intimidating. While a campus map can help, it doesn’t compare to experiencing the university in person with a knowledgeable guide.

For new students, whether incoming freshmen or transfers, arriving on campus for the first time can feel overwhelming. That’s where tour guides like Mallory Rodriguez come in.

Rodriguez, a junior studying radiology at MSU Texas, has worked in the Student Welcome Center for a year, giving tours. She enjoys the chance to connect with people and learn about their educational pursuits.

Rodriguez said there’s more to being a guide than just walking around campus. Tour guides are given detailed information about campus buildings, history, and resources. Every guide follows the same route, but each guide has their own unique style. Even though not every building is entered, all major spaces are discussed.

Tours highlight essential information any student would need to know, focusing on the buildings with offices, dining options, and study spaces. The tours explore some buildings in greater depth if they are relevant to the incoming student’s intended major. Along the way, they introduce campus traditions, events, and student life.

All of this takes place in about 90 minutes, giving students a comprehensive but manageable introduction to campus.

“There’s always gonna be some tours where you need to change the way

Mallory Rodriguez, MSU Texas Tour Guide — Mallory Rodriguez enjoys giving new MSU Texas students information which will make them appreciate the campus even more. (Reanna Gonzalez/MSU Texas)

Welcome Center 2026 — The Welcome Center is located in Hardin South at MSU Texas, near the Moffett Library. (Dylan Gandy/MSU Texas)

you give tours to meet someone’s needs, and that’s completely fine,” Rodriguez said.

Through her experience, Rodriguez has gained a deeper appreciation for the MSU Texas campus, a campus community, which has welcomed her like family.

She wants the tour experiences to feel just as personal as the classes do.

Tours cover more than just buildings. Guides introduce visitors to resources such as the Mustang Pantry, housing options, Greek life, study abroad programs, and student services. They also share the meaning behind campus landmarks like the Spirit of the Mustangs statue and the flags in the Clark Student Center Atrium.

Rodriguez said one of her favorite stops is Fain Hall because of its ever-changing exhibits and events. She likes to take questions, too.

“Sometimes there are questions I don’t know the answers to, but that’s OK. I can definitely point you to where you need to go to find the answers,” Rodriguez said.

At the end of each tour, visitors meet with an advisor who provides an overview of tuition, housing costs, scholarships, and next steps. Admitted students are connected with advisors in their field and receive a checklist to help them prepare for their first semester.

Students also receive goody bags filled with MSU items and helpful information—small touches that help make the experience memorable.

The tour is a time investment of 60-90 minutes that Rodriguez hopes will make each student’s time at MSU Texas a richer experience.

She also encourages prospective students to take advantage of the opportunity—and to speak up.

“If I could tell a new student one thing, it would be to never be afraid to ask a question, and don’t worry about asking too many questions,” Rodriguez said. “I would rather you ask a lot of questions than feel lost.”

The Student Welcome Center offers two tours a day on weekdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Weekend tours are offered on select Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Group tours require registration and begin at 10 a.m. For more information about how to schedule a tour or learn more, visit the Student Welcome Center’s Tour Page.