Author: Lindsy Fagerstrom

Welcome to my blog! I'm an admission counselor here at Loyola, and I'm also a recent alum: I graduated from Loyola in May 2012 with a BBA in marketing and a minor in psychology. I was involved with many student organizations during my time as an undergraduate, and I absolutely love the University and the city of Chicago! Hopefully I can share some insights about Loyola and the admission process with you.
Most Common College Essay Mistakes

Most Common College Essay Mistakes

 

Every year admission counselors read hundreds and hundreds of college essays, and every year we are awed by both phenomenal essays, but we do still see essays that could use a little help. Today’s blog will cover some of the more common essay mistakes we see  when reviewing applications, so seniors – be sure to avoid these:

Not submitting the optional essay. This can really help you out with your admission decision. This is your chance to talk to your admission counselor right as they’re about to make an admission decision take advantage of the opportunity! It can be a personal statement, a short story, poetry, an excerpt from a high school paper, or whatever you like.

Not reading first. What is the question? How many words can you use? This is one of the biggest mistakes an applicant makes by submitting an essay that doesn’t answer the question or fails to stay within the guidelines (relatively speaking). While we don”t have a particular question or prompt you must adhere to, we do have a word limit!

Repeating the resume. You may be asked to submit a resume of activities as a part of your application. Do not use your essay to just reiterate your resume by listing all of your activities again. This is a new supporting document to your application, so tell us something we haven’t already read.

Not taking a risk. Some of the best essays I ever read started with an unusual statement. To this day, the essays I remember most are those who took risks and wrote about creative, unique, and unsuspecting topics; like my all-time favorite essay, which was about Skittles!

Forgetting the basics. Spell check. Read it out loud for grammar and transitions. Type it. Use a font size easy to read. If you used the same essay for a different school, take the name of that school off the top of the essay and/or check the body of the essay so it doesn’t appear there, either. If you e-mail the essay or upload it to your application account, put your name and address on it.

Uploading the wrong documents – Make sure you save essays and resumes clearly and that you submit the correct documents. We’ve received photos of celebrities instead of essays…. While entertaining, this will not help you out in terms of admission & scholarship awards. We’ll accept essays in most formats, but not via Google Docs.

If you have any questions about the application process don’t hesitate to reach out the Undergraduate Admission office at 1-800-262-2373 or via email at admission@luc.edu. Best of luck to everyone with their essays!

 

Choosing a College Major VS Undecided

Choosing a College Major VS Undecided

 

While there are over 80 majors and minors to choose from at Loyola, believe it or not, one of the most popular majors in college these days is UNDECIDED! So don’t be afraid or embarrassed if that’s your current major of choice; you have plenty of time to finalize your choice during the first two years.  If you apply as a traditional Undecided student, you will be admitted to the College of Arts & Sciences which is home to most of the majors on-campus (but you can easily do an internal-transfer to the other schools should you choose a different major). Or, if you know you want to major in something related to business, you can choose the Undecided Business major so you’ll be enrolled in the Quinlan School of Business, but you’ll have time to narrow it down from there.

If you apply undecided, there are many different resources on campus designed to help you choose a major:

There is only one major at Loyola that is impossible to transfer into and that is Nursing. So if you are interested in nursing, be sure to indicate that on your incoming freshmen application, as you can transfer out but you cannot transfer in (even if it’s only your second day at Loyola and you started as a Biology major). You are able to transfer into any other major, so again, don’t be hesitant to apply undecided!

It’s more important to submit your application in a timely manner instead of waiting because you can’t choose a major. However, if you are certain which major you identify with, be sure to indicate that on your application, because all of our programs are direct-entry, so you are admitted to them and will begin in that program on you first day of classes.

All of our majors fall under these different undergraduate schools:

Good luck, future Ramblers!

 

 

 

Welcome Class of 2019

Welcome Class of 2019

 

Happy first day of classes to all Ramblers, and specifically the Class of 2019!

It was so great to see everyone here on campus at Freshmen Convocation last Friday:

Students gather for Freshmen Convocation to kick off Welcome Week 2015!
Students gather for Freshmen Convocation to kick off Welcome Week 2015!
The Dean of Students, Director of ALumni Relations, Student Body President, and Director of Undergraduate Admission lead the Class of 2019 through the convocation walk around campus.
The Dean of Students, Director of ALumni Relations, Student Body President, and Director of Undergraduate Admission lead the Class of 2019 through the convocation walk around campus.
convocation 5
Students walk through a tunnel of cheering faculty & staff during their Freshmen Convocation Walk.
convocation 2
Students walk through a tunnel of cheering faculty & staff during their Freshmen Convocation Walk.
convocation 4
Students walk through a tunnel of cheering faculty & staff during their Freshmen Convocation Walk.
convocation 6
Students walk through a tunnel of cheering faculty & staff during their Freshmen Convocation Walk.
convocation 1
Students walk through a tunnel of cheering faculty & staff during their Freshmen Convocation Walk.
The 10 BIGGEST Application Mistakes

The 10 BIGGEST Application Mistakes

 

Every year we read thousands of applications and every year we see the same common mistakes, while many do not instantly cause rejection, they’re still worth avoiding. Here are the top 10 common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid:

  1. Parents filling out the application – This is a student application! Not your parents. They should not be filling it out, You should.
  2. Missing the deadline – This is a horrific mistake to make because it can cause you to lose out on scholarship opportunities. The deadline for Freshmen applying for the Fall of 2016 is December 1st.
  3. Not submitting the optional essay. This can really help you out with your admission decision. This is your chance to talk to your admission counselor right as they’re about to make an admission decision take advantage of the opportunity! It can be a personal statement, a short story, poetry, an excerpt from a high school paper, or whatever you like. Feel free to get creative; one of the best essays I have ever read was about Skittles!
  4. Not submitting the optional resume. This can help you out a lot with scholarships. While it’s not required, you should take the time to give us this information – it doesn’t have to be fancy, a bulleted list in Microsoft Word will be fine.
  5. Using nicknames or incorrect information – This is a formal document, so use your legal information. Remember that you are committing to submitting truthful and honest answers in your application, so don’t lie (we almost always find out anyways).
  6. Not sending in your highest test score – if you’ve taken the ACT and SAT (or if you’ve taken one of the exams 5 times) make sure to send in your highest composite score since this will help you the most with admission & scholarship decisions.
  7. Uploading the wrong documents – Make sure you save essays and resumes clearly and that you submit the correct documents. We’ve received photos of celebrities instead of essays…. While entertaining, this will not help you out in terms of admission & scholarship awards.
  8. Asking the wrong person to write your letter of recommendation – Ask someone who will take the time to write you a personal letter (we can recognize the generic letters a mile away). Give them plenty of time to write your letter. If sending in multiple letters, don’t send more than 3 and make sure you’re only asking those who know you in a non-biased way – no moms/best-friends/sisters/neighbors/cousins/etc. I recommend asking people who know you in different capacities: a math teacher, a coach, a counselor, a supervisor, etc.
  9. Using the wrong email – 1. Use an appropriate and professional email address (nothing that you wouldn’t want your admission counselor to see, because we will see it!) 2. Again, do NOT use your parents email. This is not their application. 3. Using a high school assigned email address, as many times these emails are terminated right after graduation and we’ll still be trying to contact you after that point.
  10. Not keeping track of your information – Keep track of your username/email and password. This will allow you to easily access your Applicant Status Page throughout the year, which is your main portal for admission, event, and scholarship information.

Now go forth and complete your applications!

4 ways to get an early start on your college application

4 ways to get an early start on your college application

 

While it may be too early to actually start filling out or submitting your college applications, there is actually a way to get a head start before your senior year’s start – 

  1. Send in your test scores. You’ve likely already taken the ACT or SAT, so go ahead and send us your scores and we will match them up with your application when you are able to submit it. If you’ve take both exams or if you have take one of them multiple times, go ahead and send all of them. While we don’t super-score, we will use your highest composite score for admission and scholarship criteria.
  2. Request letters of recommendation early. Loyola requires one letter of recommendation from a teach or counselor, someone who knows you academically. Start thinking about who you want to ask – this should be someone who knows you well and someone who will take the time to write you a personal letter. Then go ahead and ask them so they have plenty of time to actually write and send in your letter.  You are welcome to send in more than one letter, just make sure all of your recommenders know you in an unbiased manner. If you are going to send in additional letters consider different teachers, counselors, coaches, supervisors, etc. that know you in a different way from your original recommender.
  3. Work on your college essay. While some schools may give you a question or prompt to respond to, many won’t. Here at Loyola we ask for an optional 500 word essay. This can be an excerpt of a high school assignment, a short story, poetry, a person statement, a story of a significant person or event in your life, or the reasoning behind your interest in Loyola or a particular major. My advice, write your essay and then put it away for a week. Then take it back out to edit it once before having others proofread it for you.
  4. Create your resume. This can be more time-consuming than you might think, so start early. As it’s optional, it doesn’t have to be fancy, so a bulleted-list will work just fine. Make sure you include everything from all 4 years of high school (athletics, clubs/organizations, volunteer work/community service, leadership positions, part-time jobs, music/theater involvement, research, etc.)

Good Luck!

How to Choose the Right High School Classes

How to Choose the Right High School Classes

 

Everyone wants to know the secret recipe of high school classes to earn admission at Loyola, and while there is not one right combination of classes to choose, I am going to share some of my personal advice for making these decisions:

How are Honors, AP, or IB Classes perceived by Loyola?

  • It’s always nice to see students challenging themselves by taking some of these high level courses. However, it’s not a good move to stack your schedule with these classes if you’re not going to be successful in them. A transcript full of failed AP courses is not going to impress an admission counselor, so talk to your teachers and counselors to find the level that is really the best fit for you. It’s also important to know that you can be admitted without taking these classes, so don’t feel the need to force yourself into one of these classes that might be too much for you.

So is it better to take an honors class and get a B or take the standard level and get an A?

  • In my opinion, take the AP class and get a B. We accept weight GPA’s so if your school weights AP, IB, or Honors classes, you’ll still benefit in regard to your GPA (but keep in mind, your GPA isn’t everything… all aspects of the application are used to make decisions).

Should I take AP or IB exams?

Speaking of exams, should I take the SAT subjects tests?

  • Loyola doesn’t look at these scores at all during the admission and scholarship review process, so no. However, make sure you know the requirements of others colleges you might be applying to in the fall.

Should I take the writing portion of the ACT or SAT?

  • While we don’t look at this section for admission and scholarship purposes, other schools might. If you’re interested in doing the Dual-Acceptance Pharmacy Program with Midwestern and Loyola, Midwestern will want to see the writing portion to make their admission decision.

Will I get transfer credit from Loyola for Dual-Enrollment Courses with other Colleges or Community Colleges? And is there a limit to how much credit I can receive? 

 

If I want to go into the following major or advising track, what classes should I take?

  • Nursing – Definitely focus on taking higher level and elective classes in the maths and sciences.
  • Engineering – Physics and Calculus are must-haves and then solid results in  your other math and science classes.
  • Pre-Med – Again, focus on the maths and sciences.
  • Pre-Pharmacy – Maths and sciences are key again, specifically Chemistry.

Do I need 4 years of a foreign language?

  • Not necessarily. Loyola will be content with less as long as you still meet your high school’s graduation requirements. This goes for other subject areas, as well.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

 

Sweet Home CHICAGO

Sweet Home CHICAGO

 

There is no better place on earth than Chicago and let me tell  you why…

  • Explore: Get to know the city through the CTA (Chicago’s public trains and buses). Students get U-Passes which provide unlimited access and serves as your passport to the city. This is a great way to explore different neighborhoods all over the city.
  • Cheer on Your Team: 24 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the 3rd time in 6 years, Chelsea Dagger is still playing in my head. Now Chicagoans are tracking the cup (AKA Lord Stanley) as it travels all around the city and prepare to continue the celebration during the parade and Rally at Soldier Field on Friday. Chicago is not only a hockey dynasty but also home to the Chicago Bears,  the Bulls, and crosstown rivals – White Sox and Cubs. Even if you’re not a die-hard Chicago sports fan, you can likely cheer for your hometown team with they compete in town (and Loyola students often have access to tickets ranging from $2-20 to check out these events)! This year not only did the Bulls make the playoffs, the Blackhawks win the championship, and the NFL held the draft in Millennium Park, but our own Loyola Ramblers won the Division 1 Men’s National Volleyball Championship for the second year in a row, but the Men’s Basketball Team also won the CBI tournament this spring. There really is no better place to cheer on both your collegiate and professional teams
  • Enjoy the Waves: Have you ever sailed before? Kayaked down the Chicago River? Or is the beach more of your scene? Or hop on an architectural boat tour of the city from Navy Pier. Either way, there are countless ways to enjoy Lake Michigan.
  • Get Fit: Work out at Halas, Loyola’s awesome new fitness center (complete with a new pool and rock climbing wall) that hosts several club, recreational and intramural sporting events and teams throughout the year. Or join a beach volleyball team, do yoga in Grant Park, run along the lake, or rent a bike from Chain Links or Divvy.
  • Bon appetit: Chicago has some amazing places to eat from Portillo’s  to Lou Malnatti’s to Taste of Chicago where you can try all of Chicago’s tastiest items (may we recommend a Chicago style hotdog, italian beef, and deep dish pizza). This is another time to hop onto the CTA and go to Little Italy, Chinatown, or any other cultural neighbordhood in the city to try some of the best ethnic food.
  • Appreciate the Arts: World-class artists & performers swarm the city throughout the year so catch a Broadway Show, the Joffrey Ballet, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, a late night show at The Green Mill, or concerts at venues all over the city. Looking to see an inexpensive show on campus, learn what Colossus means at Loyola (it’s one of my favorite Loyola events)!
  • See the Sights: It’s never too late to play tourist and find out why everyone takes selfies at “The Bean” or see why everyone loves Sue at the Field Museum. Don’t forget to check out the view of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium, the SkyDeck in the Sears Tower, or from the Signature Room in the John Hancock Building. While you’re at it, just hit up the rest of the museum campus – The Shedd Aquarium, and The Museum of Science & Industry (thought some of the smaller, more niche museums are among my favorites).

Really though, the only way to fall in love with Chicago is visit and explore it yourself!

Facing Finals

Facing Finals

 

Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, you’re final exams are incredibly important to your collegiate futures. Colleges pay close attention to your freshman – junior year grades when making admission and scholarship decisions and colleges can revoke admission or scholarship awards from seniors who let their grades slip. All of this just stresses the importance of final exams no matter your year in high school, so below, I’m sharing a few tips on how to do your best on these tests:

  • Sleep: Make sure to get some sleep two nights prior to the exam. Not only does the night before matter, but so does the day before. You’ll want to make sure you’re rested and alert, so avoid pulling all-nighters.
  • Eat: Make sure to eat before your test as you don’t want to be distracted by your growling stomach or the number of minutes until lunch.
  • Maintain a Routine: Sitting in your normal seat and retaining your normal schedule before the exam can help you feel more at ease and might even help your memory.
  • Ask Questions: Ask as many questions as possible about the test so you know what to expect. Make sure to clarify any uncertainties with exam content with your teachers before the test. This means you’ll have to study and review early enough in advance to figure out what you don’t know; then spend the rest of the time learning those items.
  • Learn how to Study: Not everyone learns the same way, so figure out if study groups, re-reading the textbook, making note cards, writing outlines, etc. works best for you. It might even be more beneficial to study a couple different ways to make sure you’ll be ready to ace the test.
  • Avoid Senioritis: Even though there is so much to be distracted and excited about, you need to maintain your focus and motivation to do well on finals. As listed above, there can be some very serious and expensive consequences if you let your distraction get the best of you!

GOOD LUCK!!

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

 

This week on campus we are celebrating the 145th annual commencement ceremony of our Class of 2015 graduates! Needless to say, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the thousands of students graduating after putting in years of hard work and effort. You can’t miss the mix of emotions in the faces of the grads as they walk across the stage and are handed their diploma, it’s a mix of excitement, fear, hope, sadness, optimism, relief, and maybe even a little exhaustion leftover from finals week.

The Loyola community is incredibly proud of this year’s class and knows they will go on to lead extraordinary lives and that they will remain part of the Loyola community as newest alumni.

While many of our students are completing their time at Loyola, we’re equally as excited to welcome the Class of 2019 to campus next fall! But before we can do that, we know they have graduation ceremonies all over the world to attend first, so to them we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Embrace every last moment of high school and make sure to thank and cherish all of those – teachers, counselors, coaches, supervisors, lab partners, teammates, classmates, parents, grandparents, relatives, siblings, friends, and best friends – who contributed towards your experiences and success.

Completing high school is an accomplishment to be proud of, but your journey is just beginning. We look forward to transforming your life during the next 4 years so that you, too, can become Loyola alumni who are leading their own extraordinary lives!

 

Congrats, grads!

Spring on Campus

Spring on Campus

There is nothing better than Spring time on campus when all of the snow has melted away and the flowers begin to bloom. Even on a cloudy or rainy day, Loyola’s campus looks beautiful. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite photos of campus this season:

Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom
Tulips bloom near the Mundelein Center Fountain at Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom

 

Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom
View of Chicago’s historic Water Tower from Loyola’s Water Tower Campus. Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom

 

Photo Credit: @marcellobdm via Instagram
Taking in the view of the East Quad at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @marcellobdm via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: @m1ggyy via Instagram
Enjoying the view of the Information Commons at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @m1ggyy via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: @wheresjennau via Instagram
Trees being to bloom outside of Cudahy Hall at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @wheresjennau via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: Christina Hernandez
The sun reflects over Lake Michigan at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: Christina Hernandez

 

If these photos haven’t sold you on Loyola, come visit campus for yourself! If you’re an admitted student who’s ready to commit to Loyola, submit your deposit now before May 1st!