Maximize Your Time at Loyola’s Open House

By Lori Greene | November 3, 2011

Senior and Transfer Open House days are just around the corner. On Saturday, November 12 and 19, we welcome any interested high school seniors and transfer students to Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. This is a time where students and their families are invited to see all that Loyola has to offer.

The schedule of events is packed, so where do you begin?

Once on campus, look for Loyola students and staff members wearing gold name tags or stickers that say “Ask Me.” They can help direct you where to go. Head to the Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics to check in and pick up your folder of information. This is located in the middle of campus by the Gentile center and behind the shuttle stop. Check-in begins at 10:00 a.m.

After check-in, take a few minutes and review the full schedule in your packet and familiarize yourself with the campus. Notice that the schedule of events has multiple events that overlap. This is intentional. The goal is for you to create your own day seeing and hearing from the people you are most interested in talking to at Loyola.

Note that some of the events will be going on throughout the day. This means you can take part at any time that it is convenient for you. For example, you can take a campus tour and/or tour a residence hall anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

If you are interested in hearing information about financial aid, you will see that there are four choices in terms of time and locations, but these sessions are only offered at these set times. The same concept applies to other sessions on the schedule as well. Please note that some sessions, like “Multicultural and First Generation Options and Opportunities” are only presented once.

So, let’s assume you are a high school senior who has applied but you really haven’t had the chance to spend time on Loyola’s campus. You want to take full advantage of what is being offered that day. Here is a sample schedule of a possible itinerary to make the most of your day on campus.

10:00 a.m.
Check-in at the Norville Center. Get your bearings. Review the campus map. (Pardon our construction! The map will help you to know which paths will get you to where you want to go.)
10:15 a.m.
Attend the Freshman Financial Aid Presentation in Flanner Hall. Each of these sessions lasts about 30 minutes with time for Q&A.
10:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
As the financial aid session finishes, walk across Sheridan Road at the crosswalk and tour any of three residence halls. Go directly to Simpson, Regis and/or Creighton Halls and current Loyola students will guide you through each hall. Tours last about 15 minutes.
11:20 a.m.
Make your way across campus if you are interested in the Multicultural and First Generation session held inside the Student Union in Bremner Lounge. Or, finish touring one of the three residence halls suggested—at 11:15 a.m. the Department of Residence Life hosts a session in Simpson Multi-Purpose Room to answer all your roommate questions.
Noon
Walk to the Halas Center for the Academic Department Fair which runs until 12:45 p.m. NOTE: You do not have to be at the fair exactly when it starts nor do you have to stay the whole time. Each of the academic departments will have faculty present to answer questions when you are ready. This is set up in a reception style format where you can get questions answered, pick up information, and take time to grab some great food!
1:00 p.m.
By now, you’ve sampled majors and minors at the department fair, but now you have the chance to hear from the School or College you are perhaps most interested in. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY? Look at the schedule and choose one session to attend.

If you are caught between two major choices in two different schools, that is okay. You can still choose one session which will target some specific programs. It is okay to be undecided or to have a couple of opposing interests. Faculty will talk about the Core curriculum, advising, internship opportunities, and more. Stick around to hear from a panel of current Loyola students studying in these areas and they can answer many different questions for you as well.
2:30 p.m.
Head to the north side of campus and check out Campion or Mertz Residence Halls. When you finish, you still have time to take the full campus tour, which leaves continuously from the northeast corner of the Norville Center.
3:30 p.m.
Before you leave, exit the campus by the “L” stop and take a left under the tracks. About a block down you will find the Loyola bookstore, which is open until 4:00 p.m. in case you want to pick up a t-shirt or hoodie.

At the end of the day, we hope that you have all of your questions answered and you are able to see if Loyola is the right “fit” for you. THANK YOU in advance for visiting with us.