Loyola University Chicago
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Ramblin' from place to place to win basketball games.
- Modeling. My Lake Shore campus is seriously gorgeous.
- Training future healthcare practitioners. If you ever encounter a nurse who has a Loyola diploma on the wall, you're probably in great hands.
- Taking care of business at Quinlan. The multiple distinctions and rankings for accounting and more are nothing to sneeze at.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- The entire gamut of clothing layers. Even before Chicago started doing that polar vortex thing in 2014, cold temps and wind nearly sent students levitating as if they were studying sorcery at Hogwarts. Then, when it gets hot, the lake basically boils like a cauldron.
- The public transit pass offered in the tuition package. You'll want this golden ticket if you don't have a car on campus. You can catch a ride anywhere on the Chicago Transit Authority grid with this baby.
- A messenger bag or something roomy with pockets to swing over your shoulder. This is the city equivalent to living out of your car. You'll carry it everywhere.
- A Zagat.com browser bookmark. Chicago has incredible restaurant options for every budget, and you'll want a dining guide.
- Tickets to at least one Chicago architecture tour. You can't go wrong with a booze cruise river tour on a nice day.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- Loyola University Health System is known for cutting-edge research and is ranked among the nation's best hospitals.
- U.S. News & World Report gave me a pretty sweet national university ranking. I'm #106.
- My founding fathers were the Jesuits, who rebelled against traditional Catholicism by standing up for education and human rights. To this day, the Jesuit heritage is known for excellence in scholarship and social work.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
Chicago weekends are magical as long as I put a little thought into planning them. I'm not the type to sit around waiting for someone to show up with a beer keg and a subwoofer.
Whether I live on or off campus, I've probably hopped the L train to meet up with friends and explore one of my favorite neighborhoods.
If we're in the mood for something low-key, we might be just off the Belmont stop in Lakeview grabbing Mexican food at Cesars, then catching an interesting film at Century Centre Cinema. Metromix knows what's up for the weekend when I'm in the mood for (inexpensive) live music, museums, and the like.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Pumping Company in Edgewater used to be a fire engine fueling station. It's now a beer-fueling station for drinking-age Loyola students. Good grub, too.
- Heartland Cafe is a super unique hangout that's been serving home-style food since the 70s. Conveniently, it's right next door to Red Line Tap, which is an eclectic tavern/live music venue.
- When the city takes its little breaks from extreme weather, Loyola Beach and Park are great places to catch some rays or hit the running trails.
- I caffeinate at Metropolis Coffee Company, an indie café with strong, delicious java.
- Tried-and-true chains Starbucks, Chipotle, and Five Guys are right across the street from campus.
Quirks:
- Social butterfly types and anyone craving college companionship a la The WB's Felicity might need to take some DIY initiative to create that community feeling. The school is very commuter-friendly, meaning that many students live separate lives off campus and only show up for classes.
- We have a campus in Rome, Italy. NBD. Around a third of students spend a semester abroad.
- Faculty/student relationships don't have that warm, fuzzy feel. Sure, you'll get feedback on your work, but mentoring isn't much of a thing around here.
Famous Alumni:
- Before committing to funny business, comedian Bob Newhart majored in serious business of the management variety.
- NBA player Alfredrick Hughes, who cultural critic Chuck Klosterman deemed one of the fifty greatest college basketball players of all time.
- Jennifer Morrison, actress from House M.D. and Once Upon a Time.
- Marsha Linehan, prominent psychologist and author.
- John J. Cullerton, Illinois Senate president.