Discover Loyola

Fame and legends!

Mother of mercy! This appears to be a candid shot of our very own famous and legendary LU wolf (I hope the cameraman survived this photo-op)! He’s rumored to have been showing up at all the DLs so far, maybe he’ll be at yours too! Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite- unless you’re a bulldog!

The DL sessions have been going fantastic so far, but let these following pictures speak for themselves! Here’s a few shots of my very own Discover Loyola groups:

Every session has been different, but they’ve all been great. All of the orientation leaders are really excited to meet you first-year students! Loyola’s going through a lot of constructional changes, but you guys have the ability to change Loyola personally. So for those who still have a Discover Loyola session to attend, prep yourself. There’ll be a lot of people-meeting, friendly competitions, and laughs all around. You’re just a short summer away from your college experience, getting a taste of it early is having your cake and eating it too.

Stop by next week for a Loyola/Chicago 4th of July edition blog post. It’s sure to be explosive.

This week’s list of things to do will be a little more specific, in case you’re one of those people who have trouble making decisions. With no further ado, read on to discover Must DOs for Your First Year at Loyola!

This is the entrance of LUMA, located on the Water Tower Campus

• Go to the beach! Unfortunately, it’s not warm all year long. Take advantage of the first month of school to study or relax on the beaches of Lake Michigan. You don’t have to go far to be able to lay out and soak in some rays before Chicago’s winter sets upon you.
• Check out the Water Tower Campus, even if you don’t have a class there. The Corboy Law Building has Nina’s  Cafe; this place is a great study or meeting spot. During your freshman year it can be a nice adventure to eat dinner at Terry’s Food Court in Baumhart Residence Hall downtown as opposed to the two dining facilities in Simpson and Mertz Halls on the Lake Shore Campus. Plus, once you’re on the downtown campus, you’re…well… downtown. So check out nearby attractions and stores!
• Go biking on the Lake Shore Path. Winding down the lake, the Lake Shore Path is 20.1 miles full of beautiful views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. Although maybe taking the whole path without preparation could be a little too much for an impulsive exercise, but taking a couple-mile-stroll could really bring you to a better appreciation of the beautiful city that you’ll be living in.
• Join a club at Loyola. No doubt Loyola’s list of clubs and organizations will satisfy a hobby or interest you had in high school, but be sure to drop by the org(anization) fair during the first week of school to see if there’s a club you’ve never heard of before. Have you always wanted to go exploring the outdoors, but didn’t want to be a boy scout? Try Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC). Interested in Turkish culture, or free language lessons? Try the Turkish Club!

There are a bunch of other things you’ll be doing once you get to Loyola, but keep these suggestions in mind to keep your first year fun-filled (that was such a guilty alliteration).

For those of you from cities who are already expert navigators of all things train or bus, please excuse my love affair with public transportation. For those of you who will be experiencing it for the first time (like I did when I moved here from OH-IO), get ready for something great. As a Loyola student, you will receive a U-Pass, which gives you unlimited access to the trains and buses. When you find out U-Pass pick-up time, get a move on! Then, let the exploring begin!

I am going to be a senior and I can honestly say that I wish I would have taken more advantage of my U-Pass during my first two years. Something that I have recently started that I will make sure to share with you is CHALLENGE: RANDOM STOP. My friends and I have taken to getting off random el stops to explore different neighborhoods.  We’ve found some neat restaurants and shops that we would have majorly missed out on if we had stayed in our rooms. Yes, Rogers Park is incredible (and I will take some time to share my favorite Rogers Park places) but if you take any advice, take this: get out and experience Chicago!

One of the greatest ways to get out is to use the CTA trip planner to help you know exactly which trains/buses to take to get from point A to point B. This website: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/trip_planner.aspx has been my saving grace multiple times!

I prefer the train, but I also know plenty of people who swear by the bus. So, here’s a couple quick pros/cons about the two:

THE TRAIN: Pros:  smoother ride (no bumps due to city streets), quick access to certain neighborhoods/areas, good to accommodate large groups, really speedy during morning and evening rushes. Cons: can be really packed during rush times, can be stalled due to intersection with other train lines or construction

THE BUS: Pros: drops you off right in front of many desired locations, quick and direct routes to many different places in the city, many options to get from one place to another.  Cons: can be really bumpy and crowded, long waits for certain routes, subject to street traffic

No matter what you decide, experience the city! However, make sure to be careful and aware of your surroundings.  It’s a good idea to ride in the first train car (close to the conductor) early in the morning or late at night. Also remember that Loyola has a shuttle that goes back and forth between Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses during the week.

Take care, keep enjoying your summers before joining us at Loyola (yay!) and keep your questions coming!

Peace, love, and U-Pass goodness,

Caitlin

Hello and welcome to Loyola! My name is Caitlin and I will be an orientation team leader for Discover Loyola, your awesome introduction to and inside look at life at Loyola. Along with Peter, I will be sharing some cool ideas of things to do at Loyola and in the city of Chicago as well as answering any questions you may have. And as far as questions, let me have ‘em! I will do my best to give you the answers you need! So, in case you feel like you are hearing from a complete stranger, here’s a little about me:

Year: I will be a senior…ahhh! Real world, watch out. I am coming!

Majors: English and Secondary Education. I am super excited about becoming a high school English teacher and I promise it’s not because of the summers off (though those will be nice!)

Minor: Pastoral Leadership

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Favorite snack food: dried apricots (super weird, I know)

Current obsession: candles! My apartment is FILLED with them.

Movie that I can obnoxiously quote: The Princess Bride. “As you wishhhh!”

With my friends in Chicago, I enjoy hunting down the perfect cup of coffee (as I cannot function without it in the morning, knowing where to find a good cup o’ joe is necessary), finding restaurants for EVERY occasion (cheap, splurge, post-finals celebration, birthdays, long conversations), and exploring the city. When I need some quiet time at Loyola, my favorite thing to do is go out and sit by the lake. I think that I was meant to live by water. But I digress. In case you haven’t seen it for yourself yet, here is a shot of that beautiful body o’ water taken at Easter this year:

My roommate Kirsten and Me (in blue) by the lake

I hope that you are all enjoying your summers (or the end of your school year) and I can’t wait to meet you! I have definitely found a home here at Loyola and hope you will too. Enough about me, though…what do you WANT to know?

Until next time,

Peace, love, and all things good,

Caitlin

This is not an exhausted list, but make sure to explore these options during your first year at Loyola!

This is the bean, which can be found in Millennium Park, downtown. Gets cheesy, but is a must see!

• Find a hole-in-the-wall. It doesn’t have to be the most sheisty little eatery out there, but try breaking from the Chipotle and McDonald’s mold by scouring Roger’s Park, Edgewater, or other neighborhoods for places that can pack a taste without placing you in debt. Suggestions: one station up from the Loyola stop is Morse. There you’ll find a taqueria named Los Portales. The authentic taste is worth the trip from the dining hall. (Tip: make sure you don’t get hammed and they overcharge you! Be smart!)
• Go to a museum. In a city with dozens and dozens of museums, you’d go horribly amiss not to visit one! No matter what tastes you have, there’s something out there that’ll interest you. Suggestions: check out the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, or Loyola’s very own LUMA.
• Check out a local sports team. Keep your eyes open for great deals through the CFSU (the student union) at Loyola. $5 Cubs, Sox, or Fire tickets are what it’s all about!  Suggestions: Don’t forget about Loyola’s athletic program! Seeing the No. 12 Ramblers trounce the Buckeyes this year in volleyball was oh so beautiful.
• Take a class YOU want to take. You’re done with high school; your course choices at Loyola will swamp the options you had last year. Test the waters and try something new. As you become an upperclassmen, you will settle on a major and take more specific classes, but take advantage of your first semester. Pick a class you need for your major, maybe fulfill some core requirements, and then enjoy yourself. Suggestions: We’re all different, so I won’t make any specific class suggestions, but I can tell you what interesting for-fun class I took my first semester. PHIL 172: Metaphysics. Although a challenging class, metaphysics was a great foray into philosophy and I’ve decided to pick up a philosophy minor because of it!

Check back next week for some more ideas. If you want me to cover a certain subject, feel free to leave me a comment!

Discover Loyola is more than an orientation, it’s your chance to join your future classmates in fun activities and informative discussions about what to expect when you arrive at Loyola this fall.

Sign up for classes.
Discuss academic and financial aid needs.
Find out about student activities.
Learn about all that is possible at Loyola.
Save the date!
Registration begins in early May. Choose from the following dates:

Freshmen
Session I: Friday, June 11-Saturday, June 12
Session II: Monday, June 14-Tuesday, June 15
*Session III: Thursday, June 17-Friday, June 18
Session IV: Monday, July 12-Tuesday, July 13
*Session V: Thursday, July 15-Friday, July 16
Session VI (Honors, Learning Communities, International students): Monday, August 23-Wednesday, August 25
Transfers
Session I: Tuesday, July 20
Session II: Tuesday, July 27
Session III: Thursday, July 29
Session IV: Tuesday, August 10
Session V: Wednesday, August 18

*Following Session III and Session V, Dance and Music placement advising will take place. Students interested in either of these areas of study are strongly encouraged to attend. To learn more, visit LUC.edu/dfpa or contact Jeffrey Wonders at jwonder@luc.edu.