Loyola – Page 2 – College Admission at Loyola

All About Me

By | January 19, 2016

First Soccer Game I attended ! By the way, I am the short girl at the right. :) — First soccer game I attended ! By the way, I am the short girl at the right. 🙂

Hello Future Ramblers, welcome to my amazing journey at Loyola.

First of all, my name is Emily Carreno and I am just beginning my journey at Loyola. I am majoring in nursing and minoring in psychology. Many people ask me, “Why Loyola?” and I tell them because of the fascinating nursing program they offer. Loyola University Chicago has an outstanding nursing program where I am able to pursue my undergraduate degree. Also, the nursing program is rigorous and it will strengthen me as a student and prepare me for a career. I am thrilled to be one of the few incoming freshman accepted into Loyola’s selective nursing program.

Loyola also provided me the opportunity to be part of a TRiO program called Achieving College Excellence (ACE) at Loyola. ACE provides additional help to students to achieve college goals and has free one-on-one tutoring and individual advising and guidance. ACE gave me an opportunity to attend a transition program to help ease my transition to Loyola and college life. Another reason why I chose Loyola is because it is close to home. I wanted to see my two-year-old sister grow up from being a baby to being a toddler and teaching her many new things. But that’s not the only reason I chose Loyola, I chose it because of the mission they hold. They believe in expanding our knowledge through learning, justice, and faith and are “preparing people to lead extraordinary lives.” Loyola was just right for me and now here I am telling you why I chose to become a Rambler.

Job Hunting

By Stephanie Rodriguez | May 3, 2015

My graduation is T H I S Friday at 3 pm! I am so excited, but so are my parents so I can start job hunting! I want to share a website that has really helped me out to get organized on my job search. Sorry for the short post, but after having a semester full of detailed posts, I figured I would end by keeping them shorter. 🙂 One more post…wait for it!

Click the link below:

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/03/31/10-tips-for-college-students-looking-for-a-job-in-a-tough-market

Graduation Dress

By Stephanie Rodriguez | May 1, 2015

Graduation is quickly approaching, and who is freaking out about what to wear!? Luckily, I already knew what I wanted for my special day. I definitely wanted to go with a Lilly Pulitzer dress, so dress shopping was much easier for me. I went to the Von Maur in Lombard, IL because they were the only ones that carried Lilly, anyway. I found so many cute dresses, but I had arrived so late! 🙁 Most of the dresses were extra small or sizes way too big!

I was really hoping to buy a white dress, but I figured that would be too messy. Therefore, I chose the same dress that I liked in white, but in a very pretty light blue color. I hope it is not too bright, but it is very simple. I cannot wait to wear it! I am so happy that I bought the dress ahead of time because I hear too many people that are struggling. However, if you are graduation next year: DO SHOP EARLY. I mean about a month before, because two weeks before will only give you a dress that you like, but NOT love.

My boyfriend who will be joining me on the 8th was also debating on what to wear! If there are any guys that have any ideas, let me know down below! I want to hear feedback, please. 🙂 ttyl!

Recorded Lectures: a love and hate relationship

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 22, 2015

I cringe every time a professor tells me that they record his or her lectures. Why? Well, at that point, he or she is giving me the chance to not listen. I am tempted and the struggle is real. However, I understand why the professors do it. I really do! I love hand writing all of my notes. I am a fast writer, but sometimes I cannot get every single word that the professor is saying. Sometimes, it is so difficult to understand what he or she is saying. Sometimes, my thought processes are faster than my typing. There are pros and cons to every method of note taking. This is why recorded lectures have been very beneficial to me as well.

When reading my notes, I find uncompleted sentences and sometimes I do not even understand my own handwriting! However, these recorded lectures do allow me to follow my notes and clarify what the professor was saying. This is a pro, right! This is like listening to the lecture twice. Then, there are other days…

…Days which I find myself just sitting in class. Sitting in class and that is all. I am not listening to a single word the professor is saying. This is just very easy to do since I know that I can just listen to lecture later at home. To me this is a con because it is not fair for the professor or for you. The professor is obviously trusting that you will still listen in class, regardless whether she uploads the lecture or not. This is why I cringe every single time a professor says that he or she will record the lecture. It is a love and hate relationship! Do you love it more or hate it more? Please leave your comments below. What are your thoughts on this?

I think that recorded lectures are great for reference use while studying, but you cannot solely rely on them! I understand how some commuters appreciate this because accidents happen and sometimes they are unable to make it to class. We are all old enough to understand that recorded lectures are not substitutions for class time. We should still go to class, right?

The end of my internship

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 19, 2015

Last Wednesday was the last day of my internship at Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. It was difficult to wrap my head around the fact that I had been interning for 3x a week for a total of 3 months. I do not know how 3 months went by so quickly! It was so sad to leave all of my good friends at Bear Necessities. The amount of time and effort they put into granting a “Bear experience” for a child with cancer is beyond amazing!

I never realized how time consuming it is to plan an experience with someone. We have to make many calls to find someone who is willing to help us with donations (trust me, there are people out there who are not willing to help). I have gained so much knowledge during my short time at Bear Necessities. I became a pro at sales-force and filing/sending non-profit paper work. I learned how to talk to businessmen and leave very detailed 10-second voice-mails. I learned that you do not stop at a no. I learned how a desperate and helpless mother sounds like, but I also learned how happy a child can sound like. I learned that people are not nice, but I learned that some are willing to give more than they have.

This internship, not only brightened me with new knowledge, but it touched me spiritually. Working as a Certified Nurses’ Assistant for 5 years, I became very good at talking to family members after the death of a father or mother. I became good at this because this was all I would see. I was able to talk about the wonderful life that this person lived, and reminisced with the other family members about his or her life. But what do you say to mothers who have lost their one year old? This internship opened up challenges, but nonetheless made more conscious about a different aspect on life.

I am happy to say that my time with Bear Necessities is not completely over, yet. I loved this internship so much that the 20 hours a week was something I looked forward to every week. I believe that it emanated to them because I was asked if I could keep volunteering with the Spanish-speaking families. All I have to do is make calls and translate; of course, I said yes! I look forward to this new adventure, because the excitement on the kids’ voices is indescribable! Next week, is my first week making phone calls with the Spanish-speaking families; I will keep you updated 🙂

Employee Appreciation Day

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 18, 2015

Walking into my exam, last Thursday I realized that I needed my coffee fix. I am a coffee drinker, yes. Coffee is on deck 24/7, like almost every other fellow rambler! I decided to stop and get a coffee when I saw Brenda! I have known Brenda for a long time, like Rambler Room long time! She has always been so welcoming and friendly. When I saw her, I had to stop her and congratulate her for Employee Appreciation Day. I only knew about it because I heard another worker talking about it.

The coffee shops were decorated with balloons and the employers were wearing beads. I thought it was a very nice gesture, and I hope they were thanked by all of their hard work! Brenda and I talked for a while about the new shop and how much Loyola has changed. We were both reminiscing about the Mertz dining hall and Rambler room. These memories made me feel so sad that I was graduating! It has been a long time coming and Loyola became my home. It is so difficult to wrap my head around the fact that I will never step foot as an undergraduate, again.

Brenda congratulated me for graduating and asked me what my future plans were. She told me that she was excited for me and that she hopes to see me again, some day! I think I will. The friends that you make at Loyola become lifetime friends. I never realized how true this was: you meet your best friends in college.

Thank you for the friendships, Loyola!

Southside Market

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 17, 2015

May 8th is quickly approaching and so are the final papers, presentations, research labs, and exams. As I was walking through Damen, I decided to stop at the smoothie stop. I figured why not? I am going to graduate soon, and I have not had the luxury to look at all the new buildings. I tried a sample of the smoothie, and it was delicious!

Then, I decided to visit my first dormitory as a freshman: Simpson. It brought back so many memories! It was bittersweet, as I saw all the new freshman walking into the dining hall. That used to be me. Time flies so fast that it is absolutely nerve-wrecking. However, I saw something that made me utterly upset!

The Southside market was gone. New offices have taken the place of the small, but efficient market. It was sad to realize that Loyola is everything that it used to be, but with newer buildings and people. Therefore, it is but it isn’t the same. Does that make sense?

It made me upset that new students will never know what the Rambler Room or the Southside market was. However, I understand that they are going to have many new memories with the new market on Sheridan Rd., Potbelly, and Damen. However, this is metaphorically what happens when you grow up right: everything around you seems to change.

RIP Southside: you were very convenient during finals week. ;(

Red Line Conversations feat. The Guy in The Blue Sweater

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 6, 2015

You hear the craziest of things on the red line. This is why I try to remember to pack my headphones. It is honestly such a sad experience when I forget them, but I cannot lie and say that is not entertaining! I have heard some of the most inaccurate facts that make me giggle, but leave me with a good time. Then, there are some conversations that just get you so angry.

Well, this was the case the other day. The other day, I was on the red line, minding my own business, like usual. All of a sudden, I saw a guy look at my Loyola brand tote, which I proudly bought at the Loyola Bookstore, and he he started talking to his friend about college. He was saying remarks like: “college is not important, why do people waste their time on college, I can get rich without school, etc.” Here I am thinking like is this guy serious? I mean, his opinions are nonetheless, his opinions. I, also, do not disagree that there are some super successful people out there who never got a college degree. This is fine, but the way he was talking was not okay.

It made me reflect and really think about college. Instead of upsetting me, I turned it around and made it into something positive. A college education is not for everyone, but that does not mean that one should start discouraging people from attending college in the first place. There are so many reasons as to why one should go to college. The most important one to me, and the one that I felt like telling him, is that a college degree gives you credibility, knowledge, and makes you a competitive employee.

If those three things do not stick out to you then I don’t know what to tell you. There are many people in college who do not end up making it, but that all comes down to persistence. How willing are you to stick out through the highs and lows of college? College are for the people who are willing to put in the work. College is work and it is not for everyone! We are a few of the lucky ones, so next time you’re feeling down remember this: you’re a small percentage and your education is worth it.

The Guy in The Blue Sweater: you were wrong.

How did I forget to register for graduation?

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 6, 2015

I am excited to graduate, but I forgot to register for graduation. The irony, like how does that even happen!? This is what happened. My biochemistry lab partner has a big family and since we only get 4 tickets per graduate she asked me if I had any extra tickets. I am an only child, and I only need two or three tickets. She would ask me every week, and I kept forgetting to ask my mom if we were going to use the extra ticker for anybody else. I kept putting it off and telling her that I would find out later.

Later never came, guys! It wasn’t until my best friend, Therese, asked me if I had registered for the tickets, yet. I was like, wait – what!? I am supposed to register? I guess that annoying e-mail that kept coming up in my inbox was actually pretty important. I do not know how this happened. I do not know how I never questioned it.

So, here I am in biochemistry lab, last Thursday, answering the questionnaire and registering for my tickets. I was late so all of my 4 tickets are in the 200 level, all the way to the back. I was little upset at myself for not being more responsible and careful! However, with everything that is going on, I figured that the 200 level tickets were okay. I remember when we went to see Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and the set up was nice; I’m assuming that on Graduation Day, it will be the same.

This was crazy, though. I really thought that I was not going to be able to get any tickets! I am so glad, I did. This goes to show to not leave anything until the last minute. 😛

Senioritis is on point right now.

A Short Ramble (no pun intended)

By Stephanie Rodriguez | April 2, 2015

35 days until Graduation Day, but no one is counting. Wow, Class of 2015, we did it! Guys, it is so hard to not make this a mushy post. I really don’t want to, but I might have to. The other day, as I was walking to my Tu/Thur 10 am class, I ran into an old friend who was just leaving Biochemistry class. I spoke to her briefly and we caught up on our plans.

She asked me why I was not pre-medicine anymore, and I told her my interest in pursuing a graduate degree in something else. She has always been so sweet and when I found out that she was still pre-med, I was so excited! She has worked so hard and has gotten exceptional grades. You want to know how? She did not have to tell me for me to realize her smart techniques! I know she tried very hard in each class, but she always…ALWAYS…made study groups.

If you are new to Loyola, or if you are already a Rambler, listen carefully: make study groups. Besides the fact that it is much more fun (avoid going with your best friends because you will just end up having rap battles – true story), it is very helpful! I am not sure why this makes us remember information better. Perhaps because we are making connections between the time when Amanda sneezed while she was explaining the Krebs cycle? (What is this: true story #2?) All I know is that this is how I made many of my friends, as well!

I am going to get mushy, now. When my friend told me that she was studying every day for the MCAT, it made me feel so proud and happy about being a Rambler. I did feel sympathy because I remember studying for the MCAT, but the sole fact that she was studying was what made me happy. I am so appreciative that I had the opportunity to study in such a prestigious University; nonetheless, the people here are beyond smart and helpful. My peers are amazing people and it is such a great feeling to share a passion for education with all of these people.

If you are debating between which university to attend, let me give you a hint: pick Loyola. You will not be disappointed! 🙂

Until next time!