The Vibe
Vibrant, urban school nestled between downtown Chicago and the lake
What it feels like to go here
For those of you who want to go to school in Chicago but don’t want to deal with downtown’s traffic, Loyola University is a dream come true. Rogers Park, Loyola’s neighborhood, is filled with diverse shops and restaurants and you’ll find Lake Michigan only a few blocks away. You can head to the Loyola train stop steps away from campus and hop on the El for 20 minutes to get downtown. The school also has campuses all around the world, including Rome and Beijing, perfect for international travelers.
Awesome Alumni
The Windy City, Second City, Heart of America. No matter what you call Chicago, it’s bound to produce some talented people. Loyola’s on the north side of the city, and many accomplished and successful people have walked its hallways. You’ve got Ian Brennan, who created Glee. There’s Jennifer Morrison, who you might recognize from House M.D. and Once Upon a Time, along with Jim O’Heir, or Jerry/Gary/Larry on Parks and Recreation. Susan Candiotti, CNN Correspondent, used to be a Rambler, as well as William M. Daley, President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff.
Where We Hang
Every student gets a U-Pass to use on all CTA buses and trains throughout the city and some suburbs, giving them the opportunity to explore all of the neighborhoods that Chicago has to offer. The nightlife is great no matter where you go, whether it’s staying local or heading down south to the heart of the city. “For fun, a lot of people love going to a small bar we have right next to campus, Bar 63. Usually on Friday and Saturday, people try going downtown,” said senior Hazi Hyder.
Besides the surrounding neighborhood, you’ll also find lots to do back on campus. “I think a major hotspot at Loyola is the Damen Student Center. Inside Damen we have Halas, which has a rock wall. Loyola usually invites a couple of famous people to either talk and perform,” said Hyder. “Last year we had Trevor Noah and Gabriel Iglesias come by. We’ve had the Dalai Lama also come by in the recent years.” You’ll never grow bored at Loyola.
Q&A
1. How much are students partying?
“Loyola students aren’t known to be big partiers. If you meet people from one of the other schools in the Chicagoland area and you tell them you’re from Loyola they’ll probably make comments about the lack of partying and the expensive tuition,” said senior Irene Cho.
2. What will you get in trouble for at your school?
“Since Loyola is a private, Jesuit university, they’re definitely more strict than most colleges/universities. If you did anything to misrepresent Loyola and what it stands for, you’d probably get in some sort of trouble or at least have a conversation with someone about your actions. A ‘hot topic’ at Loyola right now is the misuse of funding for registered student organizations. Loyola is incredibly strict about the rules and regulations for getting fundraising for events, even as a registered student organization, in comparison to other universities,” said Cho.
3. What’s the hookup culture like?
“I would say its decently prevalent to be honest. Probably not on the level of a state school, but I think that’s just because of the amount of people and the type of people that go to state schools versus those that go to private schools,” said senior Iri Bandas.
4. What would you tell incoming freshman about your school?
“I would tell them to get involved by trying out a bunch of different organizations in the beginning and then choosing which ones they want to be actively involved in. Have fun your first year, but also remember that it is school. I’ve known many people who have transferred out because of the high costs of tuition, but I’ve also known a handful who have lost scholarships and are no longer able to afford the tuition. It’s amazing to make new friends and learn more about yourself, but what’s the point if you won’t be able to continuously build those friendships throughout your college career?” said Cho.
5. What’s something you wish Loyola had?
“I wish Loyola had better school-wide events. I’m confident that the general student body would appreciate a concert/festival type of event similar to Northwestern’s Dillo Day or UIC’s concerts,” said Cho.
Overall Experience
“My experience at Loyola has been an eye opening experience for me. Coming from a very sheltered community, moving to Chicago and meeting people from all walks of life helped me to understand my place in the world, who I stand for and what I believe in. Through Loyola I have made my closest friends and made my best connections. I hope my experience here only gets better.” – Celestina Devarapalli, Class of 2019
“My overall experience at Loyola had been a positive one. I’ve met so many great people and done such memorable things with them that I’ll never forget.” – Hannah Cho, Class of 2019
“Schoolwork is stressful and definitely challenging but I really believe being a student at Loyola is an experience I will value forever. The friends I made at Loyola are some of the best people I’ve met and they are probably the best part of my college experience as well.” – Michelle Song, Class of 2019
“I love the people that I have met at Loyola. Through the hardships I’ve faced throughout my three years at Loyola, my friends have always brightened up my day. The school work is pretty heavy but for the most part, it’s worth it. Sometimes I think for the price I’m paying I could be receiving a better quality education, but many of the professors I have met at Loyola are absolutely great. Though my experience at Loyola has some downsides, I absolutely do not regret going here.” – Alyssa Van, Class of 2019
“My experience at Loyola has been awesome so far! I feel like the professors and staff at Loyola have been very kind and caring than the other college I have attended. I have met my lifelong friends at Loyola and I love the campus! Restaurants and shops nearby also give discounts to students which is great!” – Sue Kim, Class of 2018
Top 3 Majors
1. Business
3. Psychology
Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations
1. Greek Life
According to Loyola alum Janki Patel, Greek life at Loyola is different from some of the media stereotypes, or even at state schools. You’ll find a large emphasis on philanthropy, as Patel noted. “Everybody was always supportive of other Greek and non-Greek organizations by either spreading awareness, donating or fundraising. Being involved in Greek life and having the opportunity to serve as Treasurer of Chi Omega allowed me to further develop my leadership skills, network and give back to the community,” said Patel. Patel believes joining Greek life was one of the best decisions she made during undergrad, so if you’re thinking about it, take the plunge.
2. Ethnic Groups
With a city as diverse as Chicago, ethnic groups support all of the different cultures on campus. “I’m the president of the Korean Student Organization at Loyola,” said Cho. “Our mission is to introduce the Korean culture to the students and great Loyola community through events like our annual Korean Festival and our annual Running Man,” said Cho, president of the Korean Student Organization. “We try to immerse guests in the culture through traditional and modern dances, music, movies and food.” Groups like KSO celebrate their cultures in many different ways, including collaborating with other Chicago-area universities and putting on philanthropic events.
3. American Medical Student Association
Loyola contains a large pre-med population, so it’s no surprise that students join clubs that prepare them for the medical world. “I joined because I thought it would be a great resource for learning about the admissions process for medical school and what the general expectations are for medical school,” said alum Ahad Bootwala. “They like to bring in advisors, admissions counselors/officers and physicians too so that students get to learn about med school admissions and curriculum from different perspectives.” Not only do members get tools to prepare for med school, but they also get more insight into what med school holds for them. Also, just imagine all the networking opportunities a prestigious organization like this provides. According to Bootwala, upperclassmen use those opportunities to shadow a current medical professional or do research. Talk about jumpstarting your medical career.
Getting In
Loyola University requires a high school transcript and accepted students have an average 3.7 GPA. In other words? Start hitting the books. If you don’t know whether to take the ACT or SAT, you’re in luck, because Loyola accepts either of them. Generally, their average ACT score equals 26, and their average SAT score equals 1719 (out of 2400) and 1230 (out of 1600). Make sure you also include a letter of recommendation in your application if you want to call Loyola home someday.
Stats
Location: Chicago, IL
Tuition & Fees: $41,720
Room & Board: ~$13,700
Total Cost On Campus: $59,052
Undergrads Enrolled: 11,420
Grads Enrolled: 5,253
Total Enrolled: 16,673
Acceptance Percentage: 70,6%
Percent Admitted Who Enroll: N/A
Percentage of Male Students: 34%
Percentage of Female Students: 66%
Percentage Receiving Financial Aid: 98%
Percentage Receiving Federal Grants: N/A
Percentage Receiving Federal Loans: N/A