Tag: Undergraduate Admission Office

College Application Resumes

College Application Resumes

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When I was an incoming freshman, writing a resume for my college application was optional, and though it still is, I think it’s beneficial to have one. From working on projects around the Undergraduate Admissions Office, I’ve had the opportunity to glance briefly at some resume layouts, and they’ve inspired me to write a blog with some of my personal tips on how to make your application resume as outstanding as can be:

  1. Make it as clear and to the point as possible. Mention your achievements and describe them, give all the relevant information, but don’t feel the need to write a paragraph for each achievement if there is information that can be left out. Give as much detail as you feel is important- things that you don’t feel are as relevant (such as volunteering for three hours one time somewhere) probably aren’t.
  2. Going along with the one above, clear and concise resumes should be just that. There is no page limit on application resumes because counselors want to know as much information about you as possible, but if you’ve only worked one job or volunteered at one place or participated in one extracurricular activity all through high school, it’s okay to just write this information. There isn’t a need to find minor things to write to make your resume longer. Remember, quality over quantity.
  3. This is regarding something interesting I observed, and that’s the fact that several resumes I noticed were in a chart format. This is neither wrong nor right, and some high schools (some schools actually format resumes this way for students) may tell you to submit a resume in this format, but there’s one thing to keep in mind. When making a chart resume, make sure it is neat and aligned, both on the computer and in print. It’s very easy for lines to overlap with words, for things to get cut off, etc.

Remember, the resume is a representation of you, and it can be one of the best ways to tell Loyola more about yourself. So if you decide to submit a resume (which I personally encourage), keep these three points in mind and know that if you follow at least this much, you can’t go wrong.

Informations Systems, Here I Come

Informations Systems, Here I Come

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Welcome to the middle of Week Four everyone! Week Three was a good one, even with the weather changes. Though it’s cold once again, I highly enjoyed breaking out my fall jacket last Tuesday for at least a few hours.

This week’s Tuesday was a chilly one, as has been the rest of the week, and right now there is snow all over the ground (not to mention slush). If it doesn’t all melt by Saturday, I’m hoping to go sledding with my best friend this weekend.

Last week, I didn’t post any blogs, so I’ll dedicate this blog to cover Week Three:

The most interesting moment of last week that stands out in my head is last Thursday when my INFS 247 class had a guest speaker come in. She was an Information Systems major when she graduated from Loyola, and she spoke to us about where she is in her career now and what brought her there, etc.

After hearing her speak, I did some research on the IS major and a career path after graduation, and I am beginning to seriously consider becoming an Information Systems major because it is not too late for me to change. Several general things I liked from what she said and realizations I came to are:

  1. She gets to travel with her job- I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity to travel, especially during my young years when I’m not settled down yet, but officially an adult at the same time. Having the opportunity to temporarily live in other states yet know my home is still Chicago would be amazing.
  2. My current job in the Undergraduate Admissions Office is direct work experience with Information Systems. Any work experience is always a plus, but my current job is very applicable to my potential future IS career because I have an equal balance of dealing with Information Technology and entering data into a database, and interacting with people such as visitors.
  3. Most importantly, the more I learn about Information Systems, the more the pieces seem to come together in my mind. I enjoy reading my class chapters and doing my Excel assignments, I’m a good problem solver, and I like being logical and using math; according to what my professor, Professor Nenad Jukic, said on Tuesday in class, having these kinds of passions are not only what make IS majors successful in the field, but happy in it as well.

My next steps now are to research some companies looking to hire workers and interns, and to attend the Spring Career Fair on Tuesday, February 26. I’m so excited that I’m finally putting together a plan for my future!

Choosing the Right City

Choosing the Right City

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Throughout the travel season, I’ve noticed that quite a few students are applying to a wide array of schools. Applying to many schools can be a good way to keep your options open, but it can also be quite time consuming. I would recommend narrowing the list to save your self some time (and money if there are application fees, which Loyola does NOT have). One of the easiest ways to shorten the list, spend some time considering the city your school is located in and whether or not it’s a good fit for you.

Some things to consider about cities:

  • Distance- Is it the right distance from home? Are you looking to stay close by or do you want to move further away to get a new experience? What forms of transportation can you take to get back & forth? Will you be able to afford to commute home easily for holidays?
  • Weather/Climate- Are you looking for a city with all 4 seasons or just 1? Do you want a snowy winter? Do you want to be near a beach? (Loyola offers both of those options!)


  • Rural Life Vs. City Life- Are you looking to study in a small, rural town or do you want to experience fast-pace, city life? Are you looking for a quiet environment or are you okay with a little city noise?
  • Transit- Will you be able to easily commute to grocery stores, restaurants, etc? Do you need a car? How does parking work on campus? Can you rely on public transit to get around? Or is everything within walking distance? (At Loyola you can always rely on the CTA, Chicago Transit Authority, to get you around the city at no cost with your U-Pass!)
  • Diversity- How diverse is the campus & the neighborhood? Will you get a different experience from your hometown? What opportunities are there to explore different cultures, beliefs, etc.? (Loyola is in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, Rogers Park.)
  • Internship/Job Opportunities- Are there businesses nearby who will provide internship opportunities? How far will you have to commute for work? How far are you willing to commute for an internship or job? (Being in Chicago, Loyola is very close in proximity to uncountable internship & experiential learning opportunities.)

There’s no right or wrong answer to the questions listed above, they’re all things you need to consider and answer honestly for yourself when deciding if a college or city is a good fit for you.

Good Luck!

Fall’s Fun Functions Part 1

Fall’s Fun Functions Part 1

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I have survived nearly a month of school, and I feel quite good about myself. I had my first test of the semester, my Accounting test, this morning, which gave me one of my first official feelings of school being back in session. I have settled back into a nice routine for the semester, so now it’s time to get back to writing and crank out some blogs.

Last week, I didn’t write any blogs (no excuses, shame on me), so I’ll write multiple for this week to try and make up for it. Last week’s main piece of news is that my work has hired new employees. I work in the Undergraduate Admissions Office, and this is the time of the year when we welcome new student workers, so welcome guys!

We had a group meeting last week in which we went over our new computer program where we will be entering data, and afterwards we all had pizza, courtesy to our awesome boss for getting it for us. Our meeting felt like the introduction to a new work year, even though I’ve been working since the school year started. We’ve got lots of work to do, and I’m excited to get started. Go data entry!

Some other news is that one of my best friends just turned twenty-one on Saturday, and to celebrate, she and I went to Dave and Busters Friday night. She hadn’t been there since high school, and I hadn’t been there since I was about three years old, so it was definitely a good time finally going back.

We had dinner at their restaurant before hitting up the games with the Power Cards that we purchased. We wanted to get some prizes, so we mostly played the games that offered tickets. When we were done, we bought some fun little gifts with our tickets, including pens with silly heads on them.

On Saturday, I was invited to go to Wheels Family Day with my boyfriend’s family, which was the perfect day for the event. It took place in Des Plaines, and was a six hour event filled with karaoke, games, psychic readings and lots of food.

The first thing I did was I got my fortune read by a tarot card reader. She said some interesting things, including that I will one day be involved with politics somehow. This was funny to me because I’ve never been interested in politics, so I decided to get a reading from the other fortune teller later in the day. All I can say about psychics is that we are the only people who make our future because the answers I got for some things not only varied, but I personally knew that they weren’t true. Hooray for fortune tellers.

There were several other cool things that I got to do there, but those I will save for tomorrow’s blog, so stay tuned for my continued weekend adventures. Until then, go try and read your own palms and tarot cards because you and the internet will probably be as accurate as the real deal.

An Addition to My Junior Year

An Addition to My Junior Year

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This semester I am taking a total of 15 credit hours at Loyola University Chicago. The scheduling also worked out very well so I could have the option to find a campus job to earn in between my classes.

I was able to get the opportunity to be a student worker with Undergraduate Admissions! Working twice a week, I will assist the receptionist, aid counselors with data entry, and be a new face that prospective students will see.

This is my first campus job during my time at Loyola. I would previously work in my hometown during the summer and winter break, but I thought I could help myself with the expenses of being an out of state student living downtown.

Being my first week, I was a little nervous because I was unfamiliar with the ins and outs of admissions. The staff and the experienced student workers were a huge help! The training that we gained with the new data entry system will also make sure that my work will help the staff a long way this year.

I will also have the opportunity to help out at the open houses this semester. I am excited to see students and their interests, just as I was in their position three years ago!

Coming to a School Near You…

Coming to a School Near You…

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Happy fall! What’s not to love about this time of year? Students are back on campus, the summer heat is slowly disappearing, pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks and it’s travel season for Admission Counselors!

This will be my first travel season and I’m ready to hit the ground running after weeks of phone calls and emails trying to schedule as many high school visits/college fairs as possible. I’ll attend 62 school visits and 12 college fairs in just 26 days in the following 4 states: Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and New York.

All of the Admission Counselors are putting the finishing touches on their schedules, and we will be traveling just about EVERYWHERE! You can check out the travel schedule online to see when a Loyola Admission Counselor will be at your school or town. My advice if you do meet with an Admission Counselor- Ask Questions! Take advantage of the opportunity to meet with us in person; we can provide you with tons of information about our school and the admission process.

Not only is the office busy with fall travel this month, but we are also busy planning the first Open House of the year, which is Saturday, October 20th! If you’re up for a little traveling of your own, Open House is definitely a great way to visit campus and get a taste of Loyola University Chicago!

I’ll spend much of the next two months in planes, trains, automobiles, and hotel rooms, so that should allow me some time to blog and share tips about the admission process and Loyola!

Applicant > Student > Alumna > Staff

Applicant > Student > Alumna > Staff

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The title of this post sums up my Loyola experience, and I have to say, I’ve loved every second of it. It’s true, I even loved Loyola’s application process. I appreciated that there was NO application fee, that I didn’t have to answer some crazy question for my writing sample, and that the application was completely straightforward.

After completing the application process, I went on a tour of campus with a  friend who was already a student at LUC. After that, I was hooked. How can you not fall in love with this campus, the IC, the Lake, and the fact that it’s in Chicago, the world’s greatest city!? I began my undergraduate career here at Loyola University Chicago in the fall of 2008 and I spent 4 years here studying marketing and psychology.

As a student, I was very involved with student activities on campus and they had a huge impact on my Loyola experience. ((dop)) or the Department of Programming, a student-run organization that plans events on & off-campus, provided me with so many great experiences during those 4 years. I went skiing, kayaking, to a White Sox game, saw a Joffrey Ballet performance, took photos with live wolves, watched Harry Potter, built a stage for Gym Class Heroes, met Jim Gaffigan, ate a lot of free food, and collected tons of free t-shirts. But more than that, getting involved on campus led me to new friends, mentors, jobs, travel opportunities, leadership experience and unforgettable memories.

Then came Saturday, May 12th 2012… Graduation Day… the day I transitioned from student to alumna. I absolutely dreaded this day. I was not ready to say goodbye to Loyola, to the campus, to the Jesuit values that guided who I’d become, to the staff and faculty who became mentors and close friends, but thankfully, I didn’t have to do that. Just 10 days after graduating from Loyola, I had my first interview for my current position as an Undergraduate Admission Counselor! I remember when HR emailed me the job offer and I literally screamed out loud. I smiled ridiculously the rest of the day knowing that I was still going to be able to call Loyola home.

So here I am, working at the University I fell in love with and working with students to see if Loyola might be that perfect fit for them, too. My blog will mostly cover admission tips and life at Loyola University Chicago. Best of luck to all applicants, it’s such an exciting time in your life so make sure to embrace every moment!

Presidential Scholarship & Acafriendzy

Presidential Scholarship & Acafriendzy

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Friday night was a busy, but fun, night for me.

It was one of those times when my Event Manager job for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts coincided with my job with the Undergraduate Admissions Office and my social life.

I was contacted by one of the Undergraduate Admissions Counselors, Suzannah Magnuson, a while ago asking if I could help with the audio support for their presidential scholar reception. It was a weird role conflict because I work for her department, but the job she was asking me to do was out of the scope of my job description. Instead it landed within the scope of my event work for the DFPA. But we figured out the best way to arrange payment and it was no problem. Sometimes the system works.

Anyway, I was later contacted by a representative of three of Loyola’s a Capella groups. They were putting on a combined concert in the Auditorium and were in need of sound assistance. Once again I agreed to help, and that’s when things got rough: both events were on the same day.

This did have it’s advantages, however. Even though the events were back to back with little time in between for setup, I was able to do a little work before the Undergraduate Admissions Event kicked off. Once again I had problems locating microphones, and it seems as if the wind shields for some of the microphones have disappeared, but I found enough various mics to set up a working solution.

The presidential scholarship reception went off without a hitch (plus I got to enjoy some of the great catering!) and then the Acafriendzy show went exceptionally well, given the circumstances (little set-up time, missing equipment). I even got a cupcake out of the Acafriendzy group too!

A lot of work, but totally worth it. The concert was great and I’m always glad to help out when my skills match the needs of some other group.