Loyola University Chicago
Reviews

City but Also College

Chicago is such an interesting and lively city. I love the location of Loyola. The main campus, in Rogers Park, has a very comfortable college campus feel, with lots of green space and a beach just a block away. It's a very diverse neighborhood and pretty safe. We have a red line stop at Loyola and a free shuttle to downtown for students only. The Loyola Water Tower campus is located right on the magnificent mile (Lots and lots of Shopping!), and it's a convenient home base in the loop.

If You're Good, You'll Get a Job

Like any school, it's all about how you make of your own experience. If you want an accounting job, the accounting professors are pretty good at getting you one. The tenure professors are pretty well connected with the accounting world so just make sure you have at least a 3.5 GPA and any of the professors will be more than willing to help. This is the first year that Deloitte is offering summer internship opportunities to Loyola students so make sure to take advantage of that.

Being at a Private University

Loyola is a private, Jesuit University, so the polices are strict and rigid. The guest policy for freshmen living in the dorms is horrible and terribly, terribly strict. Campus safety is also extremely strict on parties and rowdiness. None is tolerated. If you get caught once, you are usually given a warning. But given the severity,you may even be charged on the first offense!

Chicago Weather

Follow the stereotypes you have heard about Chicago weather, pack accordingly, and you will be fine. Also, it is extremely wise in investing in a good pair of snow boots and a winter coat.

Everything Tastes the Same

At first the food seems great. Then you gain weight and visit home the first time and come back and everything tastes the same. The vegetables taste like the fruit, the fruit tastes like the dinner rolls, etc. There is always salad though, but that even gets repetitive.

Big City Living

Because it is located in the big city of Chicago, there are often reports of robberies/shooting at Loyola University. The train station is commonly known for having pick-pocketers and gunmen.

Non-Existant?

Not really sure why so many reviews on here give Loyola an "A" for diversity. Statistically speaking, Loyola is not very diverse. The majority of students here are middle-class, white, females who walk around in North Face jackets and Ugg Boots. The largest minority groups I've noticed on campus are Muslims and Asians. If you actually venture away from campus, you will walk into one of the most diverse communities in the nation. It's just that not many students do.

You Get What You Put in

I transferred from a community college. The teachers are no better or worse than the ones I had there. However, I admit that the students at Loyola are slightly smarter and more dedicated. That being said, there are still a lot of dumb people here. Basically, if you are a good student already, you'll continue to be. Your educational experience is what you make of it.

Small Program With Too Much Money

It's obnoxious that they just built a new athlete-only building. Tuition is way too high, and our athletics program is not good enough to warrant it. Focus on academics, first!

Dress

Guys and girls for the most part dress like hipsters. We are in the city, so that could be why. Girls where leggings and boots, guys where jeans and fake prescription glasses.

Greeks Are There but Not Everywhere

You'll hear about Greek life at the beginning of every semester when "rushing" occurs, but other than that they aren't really too common.

I Don't Know

I don't party here so I can't tell you what the drug scene is like...alcohol is pretty available though

Don't Come Here for Athletics

If you want a school big on sports and school pride...don't come here. There is no football team which is a massive blow even though I hate football personally...it is necessary for a university to have

Dining Halls

The dining hall food is pretty bad. Most of the dishes optional are tasteless carbs, or flat out gross looking. The only thing I eat from the dining hall would be lots of sandwiches, soup, and cereal. Breakfast, however, is the only decent meal when there is a good array of choices. There are two main dining halls on campus, with a separate dining place that has the best food on campus, but takes actual money and not your meal plan. Everything at the market is highly overpriced, and flex dollars go quick from the lack of good food with the use of your meal plan.

Crime

On campus, we have large emergency 911 towers with blue lights on the top of them to call campus safety and the police at any time. Also, each student gets frequent emails from campus safety alerting the student body to any and all current problems with safety on campus or on the L. We also have an anonymity policy, where if someone you believe is suffering from any type of over intoxication and you are also intoxicated, you will not be punished for getting help. This really does help more students on campus to getting the kind of help they need from proper medical authorities. On campus itself, I feel pretty safe. However, I feel I have a decent amount of common sense to be taking active measures when it comes to going out at night to not be in a dangerous situation.

Hard for Under 21

Chicago is great, and a lot of people take advantage of the city. However, there aren't many on-campus options. There aren't houses for fraternities or sororities, so they rarely have parties, and you have to be 21 for clubs and bars, so it can be difficult to find parties around campus. However, the el train and cabs are always available for transportation.

Residence Life

Loyola has a policy of guest check ins which can be good for security purposes but at the same time seriously inconvenient for the student as you are required to be with a guest at all times and be with them at the time of check in and check out.

A Bit Difficult

I received a decent amount of financial aid, but it was not a breeze getting and I also had to take out many private loans on top of the aid.

Boys and Girls Seem Focused

The boys and girls at Loyola seem pretty focused on what they are doing or studying. They are very into working towards their goals. Many of them seem to be very wealthy as well.

Off Campus Dining Experience

Most of the food around campus is pretty much repetitive. There isn't much variety around the 2-3 blocks near campus but if you are willing to walk a mile or two there are satisfying restaurants. The cost of it is average depending on what you buy and the quantity of it. It can be as cheap as $3 if you just buy one item from a local fast food restaurant. There is not much student discount around campus- everything is full price. Personally, the best places to check out are Five Guys, Chipotle, Red Mango, and Waterfront Cafe.

Expanding

Greek life is awesome if you're a part of it. Over the past few years, it has been expanding and will be expanding a lot more in the coming years. A lot of people think it's not that great, but it is a lot different then what people perceive it to be.

What Aid

It is very difficult to maintain a scholarship when you are in a science program. The scholarships barely help with the large tuition fees.

Wind!

This is the windy city, not only for its politics but for the actual wind. Winter weather is fierce, but we all survive. When the warmer months arrive, it is absolutely gorgeous.

Scholarships

The available scholarships are less than what I had hoped for. There are some available ,but they are limited.

A Bad Ratio

The girls to guys ratio is 70:30, and of those 30, 15 are homosexual. If you are a single girl looking for true love, odds are he won't be a fellow student. All types of personalities, with the majority seeming to be partiers. Slight Chicago accent which stresses the "a" in a word.