Hop on a University of Montana Campus Tour
Hello! Welcome to the University of Montana blog. Your student tour leader today is Julia Brink, and she’s going to showcase the many ways you – yes you – can tour our beautiful campus in the heart of Missoula, Montana. She’ll also provide some personal insight into making the most of your campus tour experience.
Meet Julia Brink, Lead Griz Ambassador and All-Star Student Tour Leader
Julia is a junior at UM studying cognitive neuroscience and communication studies with a minor in psychology. She’s led over 130 campus tours as lead Griz ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Advocate Co-Coordinator for the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).
Originally from a small town near Boulder, Colorado, Julia’s first campus tour helped her decide to become a Grizzly in Montana.
“I knew I wanted something smaller and engrained in the outdoor culture,” Julia said. “I remember I visited campus, and that’s just how it felt. It’s exactly what I wanted.”
Julia found a good groove at UM and the Davidson Honors College while connecting prospective students to the University. She helped put together a list of all available tours to see why UM is exactly the right place for her, you and anyone interested in gaining education under our Big Sky.
A Complete List of University Campus Tours at UM
Daily On-Campus Visits – Monday through Friday – Year-Round – 9:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Our standard campus tour is always a crowd favorite. These 90-minute walking tours cover most of campus, including a welcome introduction and a stop at our Turner Residence Hall showroom. Share your academic interests when registering for a tour, and Admissions will help customize your visit to explore specific programs, interact with faculty and gain insights into your future studies.
Admitted Student Daily Visits – Weekly Throughout the Year
These special tours are similar to the daily visits but are only available to incoming Grizzlies who’ve applied and been admitted to the University. This means you’ll tour campus with future classmates and dive deeper into your college life with a tour catered for inbound students.
Saturday Extended Visits – Fall
Join us for extended visits on Saturdays in the fall. These tours take advantage of the weekend with a four-hour excursion that includes several Community Sessions to discover the UM lifestyle. Enjoy student panels, faculty presentations and brunch at the Food Zoo while exploring all corners of campus.
Group Visits – Year-Round Upon Request
School groups, gaggles of peers and sleuths of bears are welcome to enjoy a customized group tour with advance notice.
Admitted Student Discovery Day – March and April
These spring events offer a detailed look into UM's academic offerings. Offered twice a year, these tour days are only open to students already accepted into the Grizzly community. Each event provides valuable opportunities to meet future classmates or faculty and start envisioning your academic journey at UM.
UM Honors Visit Day – March
This unique full-day event is designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in our Davidson Honors College (DHC). The extended tour and immersive program highlight a day in the life of the DHC, including a mock class straight from the first year’s curriculum.
Go Griz Days – May and June
These single-day events allow UM to showcase the fun on campus – and all your new friends to make. Every committed incoming Grizzly and their family are welcome to these celebratory parties that feature games, food and abundant community spirit.
Campus Tour Tips from Julia
Julia has led over 130 campus tours throughout every season in Montana. She can recite all the fast and fun facts about campus in her sleep. But she’s also gained valuable insight on how to seize the opportunities that a campus tour provides, which she’s happy to share:
Q: What’s Your Biggest Piece of Advice for Students Taking a College Tour?
Julia: I think my biggest piece of advice is to ask more questions. It’s really valuable for students to ask their own questions. Even if it may seem really small, even if they are like, “What if I don’t like my roommate?” or “What if this happens?” Those are all things we’ve all thought about and experienced. It’s why students give tours because we’ve been through it.
Q: What’s Your Biggest Piece of Advice for Parents on a College Tour?
Julia: Push your student to do some more talking and push them to think about their life here. In addition to asking questions, parents can really help in getting a student to engage in a tour and imagine themselves living here.
Q: Any Other Advice for Students and Families?
Julia: I always tell people to budget some time to explore Missoula. Because you come on a campus tour but you’re not going to spend your entire life on campus. You’re going to spend a lot of your time in Missoula. And always ask your tour guide for recommendations.
Q: What’s Your Favorite Part of the Campus Tour?
Julia: My favorite part of the tour is Memorial Row because it has a lot of facts about it, and I think it’s really an intentional spot that students don’t think about a lot. All the trees planted on Memorial Row are Ponderosa Pines. They’re planted to remember all the UM students and alums who fought and passed away in World War II.
Q: What’s Your Favorite Time of Year to Give Campus Tours?
Julia: Fall! I think summer is beautiful, and Missoula is very alive, but there are not as many students on campus, and fall in Missoula is incredible. The leaves are beautiful, and the University District is full of colors. It’s still that time of year when it’s cold at night and still warm during the day. Fall is always my favorite time of year to give tours.
Q: Is Winter a Good Time to Visit?
Julia: I think (the winter) is sometimes a good time to visit. People might think Montana winters are terrible, and that’s what I hear from all my family members that don’t live here. They think it’s just the worst. But if you come here and you see that people still go to school, people still go to class, people still walk around, we still have fun, and you see that life still happens in abundance when it’s snowy outside. I think it takes away that wall of Montana winters are so scary.
Virtual Campus Tours
Can’t make it to campus in person? No problem. Check out some of the virtual tour options available:
UM Virtual Tour
Take advantage of our fully virtual campus tour, created with omnidirectional cameras (360⁰ cameras). This immersive virtual tour hits several major spots on campus, including the University Center, dining halls, residence halls and the Fitness and Recreation Center.
Amazon College Tour
Check out UM’s featured episode of Amazon’s “The College Tour,” where host Alex Boylan dives into campus with help from students and the community. Don’t forget the popcorn!