Chicago – Page 2 – College Admission at Loyola

Picking a College

By Jessica Xi | April 5, 2016

Wow, a hefty topic. Crazy how big the decision is, too.

I don’t mean to scare you. But I do want to remind you that decisions are due May 1, and if you haven’t started thinking about what you want to do, well… Now is the time.

So that’s where I come in! As a student who made her own choice less than a year ago, I can tell you the tips and tricks I used, saw, and have learned about deciding where to go to start the Next Big Adventure!

Let’s get things straight from the get-go: whatever you do, it doesn’t have to be permanent. You can always transfer, or (though I don’t encourage it) drop out. You are not locked into a path that will define you for your whole life after this month ends. I know people who have transferred in their junior year of college, or transferred twice, or even chosen to leave Ivy League schools. Whatever you do, whatever you tell a college, you still have options.

And who knows? The person you are now might fit in perfectly at the school of your choice, but the person you might be in two years might say: this is no longer who I am, nor what I want. And that’s okay.

Now onto the key stuff: choosing a college.

A lot of people will tell you they just ‘clicked’ with a campus when they stepped onto it, and if that’s you, congratulations! Follow your heart.

A lot of people will get excellent scholarships and decide to attend a school solely based on that. Congratulations if that’s you! Very practical.

But sometimes people are strongly torn between two, three, or even four schools where all the factors seem the same.

Consider your life when you’re looking at colleges. Where is the college? How far is it away from home? Will you be okay being so far or so close to places you’re comfortable with? Do you like to explore and see new things in a city atmosphere, or will you just stay on campus or do outdoorsy things on a campus that is farther away from the urban jungle? Will you be able to be smart for the weather?

Would you be better at a large school, a medium, or a small? Are you undecided, or do you know what you want to pursue? I’d advise that either way, you attend a school that offers other things you’re interested in, just in case. Just trust me. Even the most stubborn people I know have gone on to change their major.

Now, if you’re sure you’ve considered everything, from financial aid to campus aesthetic, but you’re still torn, I’ve got ideas to help you.

Grab your most no-nonsense friend, a friend that’ll tell you the truth even when you don’t want to hear it. Give them a coin. This one’s for if you’re torn between an even number of schools, because, well, coins have two sides. Have your friend assign one school to one side, another to the other. Have them flip it, and tell you the answer. Now, I’m not saying this to have chance decide for you. When they tell you the answer, listen to your heart. Are you sad? Glad? Disappointed? Whatever your initial reaction was, take note of that. Add that in to your considerations. (Any other arbitrary decision-making process can be substituted in, like picking petals or eenie-meenie-miney-mo.)
Tour them like crazy. Even if you’ve been on the same tour five, six, seven times, do it again. Are you bored of the tour? Do you tire of seeing the campus, or would you rather break off and enjoy it on your own time, in your own path? Interact with the school as much as you can – after all, you might end up there for the next four years.
Talk, talk, talk. Contact your admissions adviser. Contact whomever would be your First Year adviser. Leave a comment here and talk to me. Go on Facebook and talk to other potential students from the school. Talk to current students that you meet on your tours. Even if it’s about the weather, interacting with people can tip the scale.
Write it out. Physically grab a piece of paper and divide it in half, or however many sections you need. Then use a pen and write out the pros of the school – and then the cons. If you find it’s very easy or too hard to write them, take note of that. Pay attention to what you’re thinking.

I chose Loyola because of a combination of good factors, from scholarship to location, even though I didn’t love it immediately. But now that I’m here, I can’t help but think that I could have avoided a lot of mental agony and decision-making stress by looking into myself and realizing why I kept it on my list of ‘to-consider’ was because it was really great, I was just being stubborn. I may be one of those people who make the most out of everything, but even still, I love Loyola and I’m glad I came here. I hope that, no matter where you end up going, you’ll love yours the same.

(And if you don’t, see above paragraph about how nothing is permanent, everything is permitted.)

Deposit Paid and Forms Signed: Now What?

By Jessica Xi | March 29, 2016

Well done, you. So you’ve done everything the UAO asked you to do – took the placement tests, promised to keep doing good senior year (right?), turned in your money, signed away your life. Now all there’s left to do is… what?

Chances are, you’re going to go into this whole process without knowing where you’re exactly going to live, without knowing who you’ll be rooming with, without knowing how you’ll handle being away from home for a big chunk of your life for the first time. And you’ve got all summer to worry and get yourself into a frenzy about all the unknowns.

Let me give you the number one pro tip that saved my life.

Join the facebook group. Whatever your class will be, Class of 2020, 2021, 2050, join or make the facebook group. Chances are it’s already been made, but you never know. Go join it. And then, if you’re in any other groups, join or make those too – like Honors, or your LC, or even ‘Loyola Class of 2020 Students from Michigan.’ Anything like that. And then get involved in them.

Now, I’m not saying use it like a blog, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to make introductions and put your opinion out there on some questions, or do some research and help to answer some questions people with less Googling skills than you might have. Be active. Make friends. Make a group chat. Go into campus with people you already know, so that you can start with a solid base of people to branch out and hang out with, if only for that first week before you make other friends.

Now for number two: communicate with your roommate, when you get them.

Text them. Call them. Pack your stuff while Skyping with them. Meet up with them, if you can. You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but if you start it off with a foundation of friendship, or even mutual respect, it’s gonna be a whole lost easier. Disliking people you live with is something you want to try to avoid all your life – it’s just not good. It helps nobody.

For a lot of things, you won’t know until you get here which of you is more likely to wash dishes or take out the trash, or if they scratch in their sleep, or if they’re the type of person that will go out every. single. night. Most people haven’t gotten the chance to learn who they are in a non-monitored living environment, so they can’t tell you honestly whether or not they’ll go to bed late or if they’ll eat in their bed, just because they can. All those sorts of things are totally unknown until you find the rhythm that works best, so you have to try to start everything off on the right foot.

Number three: when it comes time, make a packing inventory list. Make a packing list for things you’ll need for college, but don’t set it in stone – be willing to add or detract things you find you might or might not need. But write it all down, and make some sort of note when you definitively have packed it. You’ll know what you have left to pack, what you have packed, and what you have overall so that you’re not at the very last moment going crazy on whether or not you’ve packed deodorant or gotten all your school books.

And, if you have forgotten something, don’t worry. I’ll tell you in advance that a time-honored tradition of Welcome Week is a late-night Target run for everything you didn’t know you’d need.

Number four: enjoy your time right now. Enjoy the last few weeks of your senior year, enjoy your parents cooking and your hometown. Enjoy each and every moment you spend with your friends, cause it’s gonna be a lot harder to get together when the fall rolls around again. Give your pets as much affection as your heart can handle. Lie around and watch tv. Recognize that your job is gonna be useful when you’re in college and all you want to do is go down to Molly’s Cupcakes and get some cupcakes, and you can do that because you have the funds.

Really, don’t dread it – be excited! This is whole new world and an opening to experiences you can’t even begin to imagine right now. It’s going to be great. I’m excited for you!

Decision Time

By | March 27, 2016

You’ve made it. You’re nearly finished with your senior year of high school and you can’t wait to take the next steps toward your future in college.

College…that’s the tough part isn’t it? By this point you’re probably dizzy from all the campuses you’ve toured and the pile of acceptance letters at you’ve accumulated. Now that you’ve seen the scholarship options from these schools you’ve probably nailed it down to a top two or three. And by this point you just want to make a decision so that you have a concrete answer to the dreaded “What are your plans for next year?” question.

When it comes down to it here’s a few questions to ask when making your college decision:

1. Does the school offer the major you’re interested in? (And a variety of others in case you change your mind?) Students change their majors much more often than you may think, so even if you can’t predict what you might change your major too, at least look for schools that offer a variety of programs that appeal to you.
2. Are you comfortable with the distance from home? Whether you want to go to school across the country or in your hometown, be sure to think about if you’re comfortable with the distance from home. Consider how often you’ll be able to make the trip home (and how worried your mom will be if you go too far away).
3. Were you offered any grants or scholarships that will make paying for school manageable? College is expensive, which means that schools that don’t offer you large enough scholarships will probably have to be thrown off the list. Don’t forget to look for outside scholarships that can certainly help you pay your way.
4. Do you like the campus? It’s layout, the way it looks, the residence and dining halls? Even if you like everything else, if you don’t like the way a campus looks or feels then you probably won’t end up loving the school. These are the buildings you’ll be taking classes, studying, eating and living in for the next four years—liking them is important.
5. What are the major pros and cons of coming to school here? Go ahead and write it out, when you’re able to see your likes and dislikes in front of you may be able to better understand what is most important to you.
6. Will you be happy calling this school home for the next four years? Loving everything about the college you choose may be impossible, but if this is a place where you can be happy, see yourself grow and ultimately become a better person, then without a doubt, that is the school for you.

Now I must admit that the college decision was much easier for me than it is for most people. In fact, I did exactly what all admissions counselors tell you not to do and only applied to one school. Thankfully, Loyola wanted me and offered me a generous scholarship. For me, LUC checked off all the boxes I needed: plenty of majors, a beautiful campus, academics that would challenge me, Chicago (enough said), opportunities to study abroad and ultimately a place where I could be transformed.

8 Free Apps You’ll Need for College

By Jessica Xi | March 22, 2016

Ah, modern technology. Isn’t it great? It allows us to connect with each other, it allows us to create, to learn, and to share.

Incidentally, it also allows me to write this to tell you about apps you’ll be needing in college. Some of them are Loyola-specific, but the ones that aren’t will be useful anywhere, I guarantee. Mind, I have an iPhone, so I don’t know if they’re all available for Android products. Also, I’ve been sponsored by 0 of them, tragically.

Mint

This app is a life saver, and I decided to start out with it because it deals with something everyone panics about once in a while: money. But in a good way! Mint links to your bank accounts so you can easily see how much you have and how much you spend, but you can also create budgets for yourself. It can tell, based on your shops, what category you’re spending in, and will yell at your accordingly. Of course it’s not always right, but that’s why you can always go back and edit it. Additionally, it can show your credit score, you can add cash transactions, and it’ll tell you your spendings and earnings over time or just in the past few days. I love it so much, takes away so many worries about moolah.

2. Venmo

I know, I know – another money app! But this one’s less about you and more about that situation you get into with your friends, where maybe you’re out of cash and you owe them or you want to keep the score even and watched-over. Everyone knows those people that try to wriggle out of debts, and when you’re a college student and money is very, very precious, Venmo makes it much easier to ensure your friends send you the money immediately. Plus, if you’re not the type to carry cash or don’t have the change to split and give to someone you owe the money to, you’re covered with Venmo.

3. The Loyola App

Yeah, Loyola has its own app! Through this, you can access your class schedule, a map of campus, Sakai, Locus, your financials, and on and on! It saved my life so many times during the first few weeks of school. No more printing out the class schedule – it’s right there on your phone! Plus, you can see what books you’ll need for your classes, how many people will be in your class, your syllabi – and so much more. It’s really great.

4. Campus Dining

What’s this? Well, our three dining halls have an app! That way, you see what’s being served where, and when, and for how long. So if it’s Wing Wednesday at Simpson but you’re nearer to Damen, but you don’t want to swipe in and regret, you can look up what’s in Damen before you make the decision! It’s really useful and great.

5. GroupMe

If you don’t have this yet, download it immediately! Before I had GroupMe, I had a variety of other chatting apps like LINE and WeChat, but they both take up so much room on my phone that eventually I caved and just deleted them. Then, I made a GroupMe groupchat with other people on the Class of 2019 facebook page (this was the end of senior year of high school) and bam! With easy texting between everyone with different phones and easy adding more people as they joined, we became really tight. It was a load off my shoulders that when I arrived at Loyola, I already felt like I really knew people here because we had talked and even Skyped so much. Nowadays I use GroupMe with all my friends, both here and back home, and since it’s so easy to make groups and organize them, I use it for group projects constantly!

6. YikYak

You might already have this, but trust me when I say YikYak is best on college campuses. I can’t guarantee it’s quality content, but what I can tell you is that it’s the fastest way to learn about things happening on campus that you won’t see flyers for – not in a bad way, but if someone gets hurt on campus or there’s a dorm that’s being evacuated due to a water incident, YikYak’ll be the first to know. That way, you can avoid going to Late Night Dining on nights where the entire population of Campion is going to deNobili because they got kicked out of their dorms while the authorities dealt with the rogue sprinklers. True story, folks.

7. Spotify

College is a place where you’ll find like-minded people, and it’s incredibly easy to find people with the same music taste as you. Spotify can not only hook you up with new music from them as you see what they’re listening to, but it saves money – Spotify Premium is way cheaper than constantly buying new songs on iTunes or trying to download them from filesharing sites (which, I may add, is illegal.) Plus, since there’s wifi everywhere on campus, you won’t ever be without music.

8. Uber

You’re gonna find yourself needing this some time in your college career in Chicago, I guarantee it. It might not be so useful if you’re going to college in the middle of nowhere, but in Chicago it’s invaluable. You never know if the L will be skipping your stop for the day, or if you’ll need a ride back from the airport because otherwise you’ll be late for something, or even if you’d prefer not to take public transportation after an evening downtown. You could also get Lyft, I suppose – either way, you get what you need, it’s fast, it’s worth the price.

I love technology, I could go on and on about different I’d recommend, but these are the top 8 essential apps. WatchOverMe, Outlook, Kite, probably even Plant Nanny I’d recommend as well, but then the list gets really long and eventually I’d just be telling you my favorite apps, which are a little different and off-topic. Anyway, keep these in mind! I hope I help!

Where to Work as a First-Year Student

By Jessica Xi | March 19, 2016

Ooh, a job. For some of you, it might be a scary, new prospect that just a reminder of the incoming doom of life after school. For others, it’s something you’ve known for years. Whether you’re looking to get a job to help pay for this expensive (but worth it) school or just so you can get bopngrill every week, let me tell you about the state of jobs and Loyola, both on and off campus.

Even if you live just down the block from Loyola, things change when you get here. In the job quest, you might qualify for work-study – or you might not. Luckily, no matter your needs, Loyola is here to help! We have job fairs every single semester that host companies looking to hire college students and RamblerLink, a website that also connects prospective employers to potential employees.

Of course, there’s more than that, too. That’s mainly off-campus. Near-campus opportunities include working at The Coffee Shop, Subway, Insomnia Cookies, and so on, and so on. Businesses hire, and you don’t have to take the CTA to get to work! There’s also online freelance jobs perfect for students, like writing for The Odyssey.

It’s Chicago. There’s lots of job opportunities, if you’re willing to go out and get ’em! And if you’re not comfortable leaving the campus or your schedule won’t allow for a thirty-minute commute, then on-campus is for you!

On-campus has a lot, a lot of opportunities. Unlike other schools, our dining halls are run entirely by Aramark employees, so you don’t have to resign yourself to working to feed your peers. Instead, you can work at the Undergraduate Admission Office, like me! Or you could become a Desk Attendant, an RA, a lab assistant, or a tutor. You can work at the Phonathon, or with Campus Reservations, or even Conference Services. There’s also Orientation Leaders, Welcome Week Leaders, College Coaches, and on and on and on. You could be a security guard at LUMA if you wanted to give that a try. If you can dream that Loyola has a need, then there’s a job.

So where will you work? There’s so many choices, it’s really up to you, your circumstances, and your need. Trust me when I say that the job market isn’t something you have to worry about being too small here in Chicago and on campus. Happy hunting!

Going Greek!

By Meredith Simmons | February 12, 2016

Since beginning my time at Loyola, I’ve been unsure of whether or not sorority life was for me. Where I come from most of my friends go to big state schools and greek life there is wild. The thought of sorority recruitment had always scared me, the horror stories from high school clouded my judgement even as I learned more about Greek life here at Loyola.

Convinced by my friends and an amazing PA to give recruitment a chance, I signed up. I definitely did not go into the weekend with the mindset that this would be worth my while. But I was wrong.

How recruitment at Loyola works is a little different from what you might find at other schools. Starting on Thursday all the PNM’s (perspective new members) were invited to a meeting where if you had signed up and paid your 30$ fee, you would be put into a group with a recruitment guide (Rho Gamma) and get the basics of what was about to happen in the coming weekend. Friday the parties started. Everyone visits each of six sororities for 25 minuets. It’s a long night, but it’s worth it. At the end of round one, or scholarship round, you pick your top four chapters.

Depending on if they pick you back, you’ll then visit those four chapters again on Saturday. Saturday is Philanthropy round, paying a visit to your top four for 50 min you discuss each chapters philanthropy or Charity work. At the end of Saturday you preference your top two chapters in preparation for Sunday, Preference Round.

The last round of recruitment is meant to help finalize your and your future chapters decision. These parties are 50 min long and you experience more of each chapter and have more personal conversations with the active members. After this you have to pick your first and second choice and cross your fingers as you wait for bid day later that night!

Bid day was a whirlwind, the excitement was palpable. The room was literally buzzing with excitement as we sat on our bids waiting to find out if we had gotten our first choice. Finally after the recruitment guides revealed which chapter they belonged to we were allowed to open our bids. There was a lot of screaming and jumping and running to get our tee shirts and find who else was going to be a part of your sorority.

If you’re considering greek life at Loyola, I urge you to at least give recruitment a chance. You, like me, may find your home. I found my home in Chi Omega and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I won’t give away everything that happens on Bid day because the surprises only make it more exciting. Take the chance to find your greek home, it might just be the best decision you’ll ever make! #GoChiO

For more information on Sororities at Loyola check out Loyola Panhellenic !

-Mere

Chicago and Unpredictable, Crazy Weather

By | January 25, 2016

If you are a native Chicagoan, this post heading should not be any surprise to you. Chicago weather, not matter what the news say (even if it’s Tom Skilling), the weather will not be exactly what you expect it to be. The winter season, especially, has been very funky lately. We haven’t had a white Christmas in years and snow does not fall much until late January and much of February. Luckily, we haven’t had much considerable snowfall yet, or at least not like the northeast states just recently.

The mornings can be super cold and freezing, yet in the afternoon and evening, it can be so warm that you’ll find joggers outside in shorts (and no, I’m not being dramatic).

Especially with Lake Michigan located right next to the Loyola Lakeshore Campus, students experience a lot. From lake effect snow to lake effect winds, or even both, things can get crazy- the lake waves are a visual sign.

One moment in particular, as I remember it, it rained in the morning, hailed in the afternoon, and toward the evening, it rained. Another day, it was so windy that some students fell over the sidewalk and rolled onto the grass ( I may be slightly dramatic here…). Nevertheless, it was funny to see what Chicago weather can do.

One more thing. ‘Snow days’ are rare at LUC. So let’s all assume that we all have sled dogs and snowplow machines as we make commute in the “last-judgement/end of the world” snow blizzard (if it happens).

On a lighter note, LUC students are more/less prepared for any weather. We are strong! The city and Loyola University are prepared for any crazy weather and will make sure sidewalks are shoveled and free of slippery ice. Not much longer, spring will come and then we’ll relax back outside on the quad playing Frisbee and reading books.

Stay Warm!

Life at Loyola

By Meredith Simmons | January 22, 2016

Hello to anyone reading this! I’m Meredith Simmons and I’m a Freshman here at Loyola, this is my first post as a LUC admissions blogger so introductions are necessary. I am a marketing major and I grew up in Northwest Indiana about an hour outside the city. I love reading, music and exploring the city. I chose Loyola because I love Chicago and wanted to go to school in the city.

As we enter the second semester of the school year I want to reflect upon my first semester as a Loyola student, and really as a college student! It’s so hard to judge what life is going to be like as a college student. I think that everyone has a preconceived idea of what college will be. Some imagine the classic University from the movies, others imagine fast paced city living, for me I was really unsure of where I wanted to be after high school. I was torn between the fear of missing out on a “normal” college experience if I didn’t go to a big state school and the fear of missing out on the opportunities and excitement of living in the city. I found the perfect balance here at Loyola.

I didn’t know, of course, when I first applied to Loyola, that I would end up loving it as much as I now do (or even that I would end up a Loyola student at all). The decision was difficult, but Loyola became the best option for me. Though, I knew that I would be fine where ever I ended up, my decision to go to school in the city was the best decision I had made in a while. The first semester absolutely flew by, and I know everyone says that, but it’s true.

The adjustment to college classes took me a few weeks. I was truly scared that I wouldn’t adapt well to my new schedule, I think that’s a common fear for anyone starting college, but it didn’t take long for me to find the right balance of fun and work. Going into second semester I have already formed my study habits and found my favorite study spots. You can find me doing homework at Metropolis Coffee Co. or the second floor of Damen any weekend.

Overall I am very happy with my choice to come to Loyola. Everyday I find new reasons to be happy, whether it be with the amazing friends I’ve made or discovering new parts of the city. If you’re a senior in high school considering Loyola, I urge you to visit and take some time to get a feel for the amazing community and location that Loyola has to offer in addition to the phenomenal academic opportunities.

I can’t wait to continue sharing my journey as a Loyola student and am so grateful for the opportunity to write about it for you! See you next time!

-Mere

Giving Thanks For LUC

By | November 29, 2015

I feel bad for Thanksgiving. This perfectly good holiday has become overshadowed by the upcoming Christmas season. Rather than serving as a pause and time to give thanks with our loved ones it has become the perfect long weekend to get the best deals on the perfect presents and set up the Christmas tree. I’ll admit that this year I was out shopping on Black Friday and had been listening to Christmas music since the week before, but I still think that Thanksgiving should be given the credit it deserves.

I want this holiday to receive the credit that its due, because I for one have so very much to be thankful for. My thanksgiving weekend was filled with quality family time, reuniting with high school friends, and of course good food—all of which I am insanely thankful for. But I’d like to send some thanks Loyola’s way because it too has brought me plenty to be thankful for in the last 2 ½ years.

LUC thank you for…

The city. I’m grateful that you have given your students the city of Chicago to explore. You’ve never tried to keep us hidden on the Lake Shore Campus, but instead encourage us to enjoy all the exciting things our neighborhood and our city offers us. And I’m always grateful that we’ve got a UPASS to get us around, plus a campus right in the middle of downtown.
Jesuit values. Before I started school at Loyola I didn’t even know what a Jesuit was, but now that I’ve seen them in action I’ve become grateful that it was upon their values our school was founded. Our mission for social justice is one that seeps into nearly every course I’ve had and is certainly a message I will carry with me far beyond my college years.
Experiences abroad. I quite honestly would not have become the person I am today without having spent a semester at Loyola’s John Felice Rome Center. LUC thank you for encouraging your students to take a leap of faith and spend time abroad while we are in college, and thank you for making that opportunity so easily accessible to us.
Caring for the environment. You were not given the title of “The Greenest University in the Midwest” on accident. The initiative you take to make our campus one that will leave a small footprint on this planet is widely appreciated by your students. Thank you for recycling bins, water bottle refill stations, and geothermal powered buildings; your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
Our professors. The reason we are here is to receive a high quality education and that would not be true of this institution if your professors didn’t strive to meet that standard. I’ve seen professors teach classes of 200 and still show us how very much they care and each semester I have a professor that blows me away with their knowledge, expertise, and ability to inspire.

Thank you Loyola, for all that you do.

Sweet Home CHICAGO

By Lindsy Fagerstrom | June 16, 2015

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).

Get Festive: Rock out at Lollapalooza, celebrate equality and Northalsted Market Days, or get artsy at Old Town Art Fair. There are hundreds of festivals to check out all year so boredom is never an excuse.

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