January 2015 – Page 4 – College Admission at Loyola

Working Out with Reality TV

By | January 18, 2015

For the next several weeks, you will find me in the cardio room on Monday nights, watching ABC’s hit show, The Bachelor.

I admit that reality TV shows are not the most intellectually nurturing pastime. Nevertheless, there is something disturbingly entertaining about them. Recently, a friend has gotten me hooked on this season of The Bachelor, featuring a super-sweet, down-to-earth farmer from Iowa named Chris Soules, otherwise known as ‘Prince Farming.’

Last semester, my roommate introduced to me a more productive method of watching TV shows: watching them at the gym while doing cardio. Most of the time, when I’m on the elliptical, I listen to the radio or enjoy whatever is playing on TV anyway, so why not watch something that allows me to momentarily turn my brain off and de-stress?

Since I’m a Computer Science major who needs a daily dose of data, I felt compelled to seek out some interesting (albeit, not very important) facts about the show:

Audiences prefer The Bachelor to The Bachelorette (based on viewership). Psychologist Joyce Benenson, author of the book Warriors and Worriers, points out that “women are just as aggressive as men—just in cleverer, more fascinating ways.” Apparently, that makes for better TV.
Of eighteen seasons of The Bachelor, only one couple remains together, yielding a scathing failure rate of 94.5 percent. Contrastingly, ladies on The Bachelorette can boast five times the success rate. After ten seasons, two of them are happily married with children, and one is in the process of planning her wedding, while the other seven have called it quits.
According to the show’s Eligibility Requirements, “Applicants may not presently be a candidate for any type of political office and may not become a Candidate from the time the application is submitted until one (1) year after first broadcast of the last episode of the Program in which they appear.” So, if you’re a politician-in-the-making and are considering becoming a contestant, you may want to change your career path!
And, of course, all applicants must be single. For anyone wondering what that means, here is a legalese definition: To qualify as “single” the applicant must not currently be involved in a committed intimate relationship, which includes: any marital relationship (whether or not the parties are separated or currently in the process of divorcing or annulling such marriage); any co-habitation relationship involving physical intimacy; or a monogamous dating relationship more than two (2) months in duration.
In March 2010, the show’s creator/executive producer Mike Fleiss was quoted in Today’s TV Addict as saying, “We are very careful in our casting to develop characters that the audience is going to root for and root against.” In the same interview, Fleiss admitted that his show has less to do with “reality” than it does making good television.

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Searching for textbooks

By Therese Bennett | January 18, 2015

Hello again everyone! Since it is that time of the year where everyone is shelling out a lot of money on textbooks, I thought I would provide you with some resources and helpful tips on buying the cheapest textbooks out there. Since this is my fifth year of college, and I pay for all of my own textbooks, I am always on the lookout for the best prices and I have the expertise to help you!

First off, no matter where you get your textbooks from, RENT them! The only reason not to rent a textbook is if you will need it for more than one semester, but otherwise, ALWAYS rent. Renting is the cheapest way to get textbooks. If you cannot rent a textbook, buy a used textbook. Used textbooks are always cheaper than buying new textbooks. Yes, I know, sometimes it is nice have a fresh, brand new textbook, but it really is not that big of a deal if it used. Most used textbooks only have highlighting, marginal writing, and some wear and tear, but nothing that bad that you would be willing to pay double the price for a brand new book. Finally, as your last resource, buy a new textbook. But I am convinced that you will never need to because there is always an option of buying a used textbook or renting.

Secondly, compare prices! Yes, Loyola’s bookstore is extremely convenient, but they rarely have the cheapest prices out there. Amazon is where it is at. They usually have the cheapest prices on books and they even have rentals which are shipped back for free. Amazon has helped me save a ton of money in the past few years. Chegg is another great site to rent textbooks from, and if you rent a few, they always send your textbooks with a ton of free samples of different products such as mascara and Redbull. Always an added bonus. Other great sites to check out are Ebay, Valore books, Half Price Books, and AbeBooks.

Just make sure that you do the research ahead of time with plenty of weeks before school starts. You have figure shipping into your plan of attack. Also, make sure you are buying the correct edition that your course lists. No need to get the wrong textbook! Having to check all these sites and compare a ton of price listing is not nearly as fast as going to Loyola’s bookstore, but trust me, it is worth it. Every college student wants to save a few bucks, especially on textbooks. They may break our backs, but they won’t break our wallets!

The Journey to Roma

By | January 17, 2015

This trip has certainly been a long time coming. I’ve been dreaming of the day I would have the opportunity to study abroad in college for what seems like forever. And Loyola’s John Felice Rome Center was a huge factor in my choice to come here. But now my dreams are a reality and I get to post this…from Rome.

Loyola could not make it any easier for us to come abroad—especially to Rome. I’m quite literally attending Loyola University Chicago, just in Italy. The University has helped us with each step of the study abroad process. They provided an option to apply for our study visas on campus, a group flight rate—which included a shuttle to campus upon arrival, and even scholarship opportunities.

The physical journey here was not quite as pleasant as enrollment. Mine started with a missing passport scare—thankfully recovered with help from my roommates and uncle, then a quick flight from Moline (the airport closest to my hometown) to O’Hare, followed by a 2 hour layover, then the hop, skip, and jump over the pond to Frankfurt, Germany. Unfortunately, my flight was not as delightful as hopping, skipping, or jumping is normally. I was definitely lacking on the sleeping, but had the chance to catch up on some movies and reading.

When our crowd of “JFoRCers” landed in Frankfurt we all drowsily made our way to the gate and tried to stay awake for the next few hours until our next flight would leave for Rome. After a slight delay we boarded our short flight headed for Italy. I foolishly missed out on that napping opportunity and opted to read. And of course catch my first glimpses of the Eternal City from above.

Upon arrival to Rome, a friend and I had to take a cab to campus because we did not book the shuttle with the group. Which really wasn’t so bad after all, it turned into a bit of an adventure. Two other Loyola students ended up splitting the van-style cab with us. Driving in Rome for the first time was pretty intimidating. But I’m sure the crowded streets and aggressive drivers would make anyone uneasy. I was a little more worried when our cab driver parked in front of the “Hotel Massimissi”, not the JFRC campus. Apparently she had written down the wrong address. We weren’t too far from where we were supposed to be, so after another zip around the neighborhood we officially arrived to the JFRC.

We didn’t have a chance to rest easy though, our evening was packed with meetings, a walking tour of the neighborhood, speakers, dinner in Mensa—our dining hall, and plenty of important information that would’ve been much easier to grasp if we hadn’t been so jetlagged. Let me tell you, going to bed at 8:30 that night was perfecto. And I hope the rest of my semester is perfecto, too.

Waiting for Spring

By | January 16, 2015

Eventually the snow will melt and the vibrant colors from the green grass and flowers will bloom. I cannot wait for this time of the year to come as I am a little exhausted with the things winter currently does to people. With winter, comes slush, traffic jams, slush, overly sized puffy jackets, and more slush; getting up for school during the winter time can be hard without the sun’s appearance yet. Snow can look so beautiful, but the color of white can get tiring as it already is for me. I would love to see the warm, bright sun out more frequently to bring the students outside of their resident halls and hang around outside for a walk for crisp, fresh air.

I digress, that is just me daydreaming in Damen near a warm radiator. My first week of second semester went well as I was able to attend and enjoy all the classes I enrolled in. Luckily, I am fortunate to have friends in each class. With that being said, I know I can do better academically and relieve some of the tension I brought upon myself last semester when I did not know anyone in class. There is always room for improvement. I am not waiting for spring for that to happen, rather I start now because it is never too early or too late to be a better person for yourself and for others to see.

Tips For Getting And Staying Organized

By | January 16, 2015

With the start of a new semester, it is easy to get unorganized at first and hard to get back on track once becoming unorganized! In this post, I will post some tips for how to start the new semester organized and to help keep oneself organized as the semester progresses! Some important tips for starting the semester organized are:

• Buy your books before the semester begins, to avoid long bookstore lines and making sure your books come in the mail on time!
• Color-code your notebooks and folders to match for each individual class that you have! This will make grabbing the correct materials easier and faster!
• Create to-do lists and calendars to plan events in advance and write down all of your homework so you never forget to finish anything!
• Create a study schedule for big tests and projects so as to not overload yourself with studying all in one night
• Keep notes organized so you can easily find them for studying
• Start the semester with a clean and organized dorm room

In order to beginning the new semester organized, it is important to remain organized throughout the entire semester. If you begin the semester with organization, it will be easier to keep it up! No one likes forgetting, losing, or being unprepared for classes and schoolwork for the next day! Find an organizational plan that works for you and stick to it, and I’m sure you will succeed! Have a great semester!

Get (Yourself) to the Greek

By Samantha Eddmeiri | January 16, 2015

Panhellenic recruitment registrations ends today, at 5 pm. There is a $25 fee associated with registering.

If you’re having trouble finding your niche here at Loyola, or just want an excuse to make a bunch of great friends, going greek is the thing for you.

While I personally will not be rushing (due to the amount and difficulty of the classes I’m taking, as well as a few other actors), I’m here to tell you why you should at least go through registration and the rush process.

You’ve heard it a million times before, go greek to meet your new favorite people. While no one can really guarantee that you’ll meet your new best friend, you will meet a ton of new people. Even at recruitment events you were introduced to a large number of your peers, and the whole process really encourages new friendships. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people with similar interests as you and make new friends.

If you don’t want friends out of this (I’m not sure why you wouldn’t, but who knows) then there’s also the “it looks good on a resume” deal out of being in a sorority or fraternity. Loyola’s greek life is very philanthropic, there is a heavy focus on giving back and engaging in the community, and businesses know it. The greek life on campus does not equate to the crazy parties and severe rule-breaking, gossip filled episodes of popular media. There are constant charity events and ways for you to help out and get some volunteer time on your hands.

I hope you all at least consider rushing, and find out the facts before you say no. I wish I could, but maybe next year when I’m not enrolled in the maximum amount of credits. It is a great experience, and you can make it whatever you want it to be, the level of commitment is absolutely your choice.

Savoring my final days at Loyola

By Therese Bennett | January 15, 2015

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a fantastic New Year. My Christmas break consisted of me sleeping in late, baking way to many cookies and French pastries, doing some writing, and spending time with family and friends. So, basically all the good stuff that sort of gets put on the back burner during school time. But now that I have finished my last first week of college, I cannot believe that it is my LAST first week of college!

Loyola has been amazing. I could have not asked for a better college experience. The professors have truly cared about my education and my future. They have always tried to help me in any possible way they can. My employers on campus have also been wonderful. They have set the bar extremely high for all my future professional bosses and supervisors. And, all the students have been incredible. I have made life-long friends here at Loyola who mean the world to me. Of course, it has not all been sunshine and rainbows. I had plenty of meltdowns, tears, and feelings of despair, but I was always able to pick myself up again and the people at Loyola have always succeeded in lifting up my mood. It is extremely weird to think of leaving Loyola this May. Not waking up every morning to go to classes, seeing friends in classes, and just walking around campus is something that is still hard for me to imagine. I know though that Loyola has prepared for me whatever me future may hold and that it has given me all the necessary tools and a strong mind for success. I am not entirely sure what I want to do after college, but I know that I CAN do whatever I put my mind to and I thank Loyola for that

As I walked to class this past week, I saw all the freshman running around being super excited for classes and seeing old friends. They still have a few years to call Loyola home, and for that I am slightly jealous. I do not think that the full force and impact of graduation has hit me yet and I am going to try as long as I can to hold that force at bay. I will be sad to leave Loyola, but it is because of them that I have grown into someone who is capable of handling whatever the future may hold.

Back At It

By Samantha Eddmeiri | January 14, 2015

“Back at it” has become my new mantra this past week. While I’m really not back to any special, it’s been an interesting few days to the start of the semester. Classes are always kind of hectic at first, you’re presented with a large amount of new information in a very short time period and it seems super overwhelming. (Unless you have your life together. Then you’re good.)

Overwhelmed and already exhausted, I wanted to share with you how to get back into the groove for the new semester. Before classes have even really begun, I’ve learned a few new things.

Coffee is my new best friend.

I’ve always loved coffee, but lately I have grown way fonder of it. If that’s not your thing, tea or even pop are a good alternative. (You’re in college. No one is restricting you from drinking Coke at 10:30 am, although it’s not advised.) It’s not easy rerouting your sleep schedule in the middle of a busy week, so a little boost to help you wake up in the morning is totally acceptable. You do you, buddy.

Another thing is that everyone, and I really mean everyone, is at the gym.

Last semester, I went to the gym almost 4 times a week. It doesn’t sound like much, but I came from a summer of 12 hour Netflix marathons and avoiding responsibility, so keep that in mind. I didn’t start to go until a month or two into the semester, so I missed the beginning of the school year crowd. It’s currently the beginning of January, and everyone is either trying to keep up with a New Year’s resolution, working off the 10 pounds they gained over the holiday, or both. The gym is so crowded right now, and be warned: if you walk all the way over to Halas at 4:30 on a Wednesday, there is a chance every cardio machine will be occupied.

Were planners cool in 2014? Definitely not. Are they cool in 2015? Probably not. Should you still use them? Definite yes.

Classes and homework piles up fast. There’s a lot of new things happening, and it’s totally understandable if you get a little mixed up from time to time. I mean, the other day I actually sat in the wrong class for an hour and 15 minutes. (FRESHMANNNNNN!) However, something that can really help organize it is a planner. Or if you’re not into that, a sticky note stuck to your door or your wall that tells you everything you have to do on it. The point is, if you write things down and actually recognize what you have to do, it will be easier.

I hope everyone is having a comfortable time getting back to it, whatever it is you’re doing.

*****PSA: The Chick-fil-a that is right next to the Corboy Law School is giving out FREE chicken sandwiches from 5-6 TOMORROW NIGHT, the only thing that you need is your LOYOLA ID. If you need a little pick me up for your back to school blues, or just like free delicious chicken, check that out. I’ll be there.

Swing into Spring

By | January 14, 2015

Unlike high school, spring semester in college literally means starting new, often with a brand new set of courses. For me, new classes tend to cause more stress, requiring adaptation to different syllabi as well as textbooks that need to be printed or purchased, and read. Additionally, although classes have already begun, I am still in the process of sorting out my schedule, which makes getting back on track all the more difficult.

One of the tools I have found to be extremely helpful when planning out my weekly schedule is MyEdu.com. The scheduling application first asks which school you attend, then asks for class subject and number. The website has already gathered all the information, including instructor, location, and class time for you, so all you have to do is check one of the boxes to add it to the weekly schedule. Being able to physically see a color-coded map of time helps me stay on top of things.

Instead of having set meals every day, being back on campus means unlimited access to the dining halls, i.e., an infinite number of cookies and desserts. In order to stop myself from eating three cookies after each meal, I have to limit myself to, at most, one a day. During the first several weeks of each semester, the number of students at the gym is always unusually high. Everyone, me included, hopes to stay healthy before all those assignments pile on and hours of sleep plummets.

After a semester of uncertainty as to what extracurricular activities and clubs I wanted to join, I can now confidently say that I have some clarity. I plan on attending the spring semester organization fair to sign up for several clubs I look forward to spending the next few years participating in and look forward to volunteering for one of the Loyola4Chicago programs.

Getting into the swing of classes may be harder than I expected, but the excitement for the new semester pretty much cancels it out!

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Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things

By | January 13, 2015

Welcome back to classes, Ramblers! I know I haven’t written in such a long time due to winter break, but I’m back! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and a happy new year! Classes for second semester began this past Monday for current students, and personally, adjusting back into the swing of things has proved a bit difficult for me! Although I’m excited to be back and studying again, getting used to dorm life once again is taking some time compared to living at home with free laundry and no shower shoes! In this post, I will be discussing the start of the new semester and readjusting to dorm and class life!

For all current Ramblers, brand new classes began on Monday! For many, this is an exciting new start with new subjects, professors, and friends. However, jumping back into classes so soon after winter break takes some getting used to. Waking up early again, setting alarms, studying, and doing homework is hard to get back into after not having to worry about any of it for about a month! I personally think after the first week people will find that they are fully ready to continue in their studies for a successful second semester, I know I will!

In addition to readjusting to class life, students must readjust to dorm life as well! After a month of living at home with free laundry, home-cooked meals, and no shower shoes, returning to school can take some getting used to! For the first week, I’m sure sleep schedules will still be a little bit off, but I know that students will be back in the routine in no time. I already feel at home after two days of readjusting, and am glad to be back in my dorm with all of my friends!

Although it was wonderful to be home with no worries of classes and homework, it’s great to be back at Loyola for the spring semester! Readjusting honestly was not that bad, and I’m glad to be continuing my studies at such a beautiful school, with all of my new friends that I’ve missed for a month! Enjoy the spring semester, Ramblers!