February 2016 – College Admission at Loyola

Scholarship Searches

By | February 29, 2016

Affording a college education can be expensive, especially if you plan to dorm on-campus. Besides financial aid from the FAFSA, scholarships (external and internal) can substantially reduce expenses. But getting a scholarship isn’t easy. You have to earn it; you need to meet all the qualifications that the scholarship specifies for.

One advise I have for you- create an account through Fastweb. This site sends emails every week and suggests a list of scholarships that match certain characteristics and info that you provide in your profile. You do not have log-in and log-out from the site consistently; you get informed of scholarships all through email, which makes it so easy and efficient to use. From this site, I was able to get some scholarships and with that, I can testify that this site is worthy of trying out.

Internal scholarships (aid from the school) are usually found the school website. For Loyola, there are 2 kinds of internal scholarships- merit-based and non-merit based. Usually the merit-based scholarships are awarded when you first apply for school admittance. The non-merit scholarships vary greatly and they are not automatically awarded to you- you need to apply for these scholarships separately.

Here is a link to the LUC scholarships: h

ttp://www.luc.edu/finaid/scholarships/undergraduate/

I highly encourage you to keep in touch with tons of companies (big or small) and see if scholarships are available. Sometimes, having connections/networking can really help because they can personally put in a good recommendation for you to the scholarship committee.

If you have any other questions regarding scholarship searches, feel free to leave a message down below or contact the financial aid office at 773.508.7704

Colossus 2016: NICK OFFERMAN

By | February 28, 2016

Colossus. 2016. Nick. Offerman.

I’ve been hearing rumors of Colossus since I attended Orientation Week before freshman year. I heard raging reviews of a huge concert and comedian combo in Gentile Arena. They told me about the super cheap student tickets, which meant the show was usually sold out. And I learned that the reveal party was almost as exciting as the show itself.

And this weekend I finally got to attend my first Colossus. My freshman year ((dop))–Loyola’s student-run Department of Programming– invited Kesha and Mike Birbiglia to perform. Because I didn’t actually know who Mike Birbiglia was, I decided to only go see Kesha. Just a few weeks later Kesha had to cancel her performance due to personal issues. Luckily, I hadn’t invested in any glittery attire so I was just out a Colossus experience. My sophomore year I spent the spring semester studying abroad at Loyola’s John Felice Rome Center, which meant I invested in gelato instead of tickets to Colossus.

Now here I am, a junior, finally able to attend my first Colossus. The performers: Kesha and Nick Offerman. Upon hearing the performer announcement I was more than happy to invest in Nick Offerman tickets, because who wouldn’t want to pass up a night with Ron Swanson? Admittedly, I was on the fence about purchasing tickets for Kesha’s highly anticipated reappearance in the Colossus line-up. I would’ve been happy to go, but in the end it didn’t matter because Kesha had to cancel her performance. I feel so bad for the drama this pop star has been dealing with and completely understand why she couldn’t perform at LUC.

I had only ever seen Nick Offerman perform in his hilarious role as Ron Swanson on the TV show “Parks and Recreation”, so I had no idea what to expect from him as a stand-up comedian. And he was certainly…unexpected. His first joke was about how Loyola had asked him to keep his show PG-13, but as he explained, he simply could not be kept to a PG-13 level. So the first bit of his show didn’t offer much that I can share.

What I didn’t realize about Nick Offerman was his ability to play guitar and sing. He was no Kesha, but still quite funny. My favorites were his songs about how much he dislikes Facebook and how much he loves America, and of course his song, “I’m Not Ron Swanson”. I’d say that he hit it off with the sold-out Loyola crowd, who were happy to have a wild card like him on campus.

I’m definitely satisfied with my first round of Colosuss. But here’s to hoping that next year I can have the full-blown Colossus experience I’ve been hearing about since 2013.

Overnight Visit

By | February 25, 2016

This picture was taken by my overnight host when I came to visit Loyola. — This picture was taken by my overnight host when I came to visit Loyola last year.

I remember during my senior year of high school, I attended one of the overnights and I loved it! It was a great way to get to know the Loyola campus, meet new people and attend a class. I got along with my host and had a great time. When I heard about being an overnight host, I immediately applied! I was so excited to show my guests around the campus and tell them why I chose Loyola. At first, I did not know what to expect because I had never meet this person before so I was nervous and excited at the same time. We had a few conversations over text before she arrived to Loyola and I realized that everything was going to be fine. I was ready to meet her and talk about my Loyola experience and answer any questions she had.

We first went to my room to drop off her luggage and I gave her a mini tour of the residence hall. Then, we decided to grab some dinner and learn more about each other. I learned that she was involved in dance, cheerleading, and soccer. Also, I found out that her mother had graduated from Loyola as well. I shared with her my experiences at Loyola, such as orientation, welcome week, and my classes. She was excited to hear about my experiences because she wanted to know more about Loyola. The next morning she told me she was really excited about attending a class. She wanted to see how college life would be like. During breakfast, I answered any questions she had before heading to class. Before class started, she had the opportunity to meet my professor as well! She was really intrigued. After that, she headed back to Damen to meet with her family and we headed our separate ways. Before saying goodbye I told her she can always keep in contact with me and ask questions whenever they come to mind.

I can’t wait for my next overnight guests! This time I will be hosting two students!

Midterms: How to plan for two weeks of anxiety

By | February 24, 2016

In the midst of my fourth semester here at Loyola, I think I’ve finally narrowed down a plan to conquer midterm tests, papers and projects. Midterm week or weeks here at Loyola are not officially defined by the school but are defined by your professors. This can bring a flurry of misery for students. Some students complete all of their tests in one day while others have a lengthy schedule of tests day after day. But, Don’t panic! There are ways to conquer these trying times by a few simple steps.

Tip #1: Create a calendar

Most all of my professors create a syllabus and hand it to me on the first day of class. Commonly included in the syllabus are important dates such as dates of tests, midterms and large projects. If you have an academic planner or not, I advise you print a full calendar for the month with the most important due dates and tests. For spring it is usually the last few weeks of February and for Fall it begins around mid October. Post this calendar in a place you will see it everyday. It might help jog your memory or influence you to get some work done.

Tip #2: Prioritize

All of these important dates may be swirling around in your head like a storm but learn to diffuse those thoughts. Take one step at a time. For example, study for that upcoming test in three days as opposed to writing that paper due in two weeks. If you have two tests and a paper due in on day, like I did, create a study schedule. Don’t devote an entire day to one subject but create a time to study each subject every day.

Tip #3: Schedule Study Breaks

Studying for four hours straight isn’t healthy. Your brain needs some time to time to relax here and there. Every half an hour of take a 5-10 minute break. Stretch, walk around the block, meditate, converse with a friend or watch a funny video. Giving yourself a break can do wonders for retaining a vast amount of information. If you study for too long of time increments, your brain will not retain the amount of information you desire.

Tip #4: Eat

Sometimes students get so flustered that they forget to eat. With time, they may get hunger headaches or obtain the inability to focus. Your brain needs power! Power comes with healthy and stimulating foods. If you feel too swamped to sit down and eat a regular meal, keep some healthy snacks around.

Tip #5: IT IS OK TO SAY NO!

Most of my friends had midterms last week and are ready to celebrate their accomplishments with a shopping trip or a movie night. Some of your friends may try to persuade you to take a “study break” and go out for a night of dancing but in the back of your mind your conscience will tell you to study. Don’t be afraid to listen to this conscience! Your education comes first and there will be many other times to have a fun night with your friends. They will understand, if not now then later.

….Even if you have to spend 21 hours in Mundelein to finish an art project, the satisfaction is worth it.

Finding Your Spot at Loyola

By Meredith Simmons | February 24, 2016

Everyone has a spot. No matter what age you are or where you live, you know exactly where you work best. In high school it was the local Starbucks. It was the only place around my town where students could hang out, do homework, and drink coffee. Honestly it sounds cliche because it’s Starbucks, but it was my favorite place to be. Without that Starbucks I would never have passed the AP U.S. History exam.

As you can imagine, coming to Loyola I was in a bit of a difficult situation, I didn’t have a place. Everything here was new and I was afraid to explore. I tried the IC and different on-campus spots, but I needed a little off campus time to focus and destress. It took me a few weeks to realize that I was surrounded by a lot of amazing study spots that I didn’t even know about.

First I tried the Starbucks, it was a no brainer for me, at home Starbucks worked so why not here? Well, if you live in Mertz i’m sure Starbucks is great, but for me (a De Nobili dweller) it’s a 15 minute walk. Starbucks is still awesome but beware the crowded tables, you can often find yourself without a place to sit!

Next was Metropolis. This local coffee shop just exudes cool, with local art for sale displayed on the walls and a menu of cool coffees and drinks to choose from. Metropolis is a great location if you live in De Nobili or San Fransisco Hall. There’s also three rooms of seating, you can usually find a place to be but it does also fill up fast. My favorite drink at Metropolis is the Green Tea Latte – perfect if you don’t drink real coffee like me!

It took me the longest to figure out the the best place for me to find quiet and calm was actually downtown. A quick shuttle or L ride to the downtown campus and your suddenly surrounded with great places to get homework done and papers written. My absolute favorite place is a Chicago specialty, Argo Tea. Not only is it generally quiet, but it’s open till 11 pm during the week! There’s an Argo Tea literally steps away from the Water Tower Campus – you can catch me there almost any day working on something!

Finding your happy place is a big step in making Loyola feel like home. For me it gave me a different connection to my school, my city, and my life as a college student. Beginning to adapt to college life can be difficult, but the perfect study space can be a small thing to make it all so much easier!

-Mere

LUC MSA for Everyone

By Husna Afzal | February 24, 2016

The Loyola University Chicago’s Muslim Student Association’s IAW is Islamic appreciation week. MSA hosts “Walk a Mile in Her Hijab” and encourages all non hijabis and non-Muslims to wear a hijab for a day. In case you are unsure of what a hijab is, it is a head covering for religious reasons. Walk a Mile in her Hijab seeks to educate people about the essence of the hijab, including the headscarf, and the reasoning of why Muslim women wear it. To demonstrate this, those who are interested to wear a hijab for a day can stop by and get a glimpse of this experience. Those interested are encouraged to stop by the IAW table in the Damen Student Center from 10AM-4PM to have a picture capturing this memorable experience.

Where: Damen Student Center (By the tables)

When: Wednesday, March 18, 2016

Time: 10AM – 4PM

Commitment to Service is More Than A Tagline

By Jessica Xi | February 23, 2016

Let me be honest with you: sometimes things are not what they seem.

(A shock, I know.)

Sometimes things are advertised or labelled without actually being true. Sometimes people say or write things that aren’t necessarily accurate in the hopes of catching your interest and hoping you’ll focus on other things instead of their tricks. (I’m looking at you, clickbait article headlines.)

I won’t name names or point fingers at other colleges and universities around the world, but I’ll tell you what I know: Loyola doesn’t do that.

(A shock, I know.)

Loyola really does have a huge commitment to social justice and social issues, commitment to service and cares about the individual. I could write a million blog posts on how Loyola really cares for the student, but I’ll keep myself focused on one particular topic – service.

First off, you might not know, but Loyola has Learning Communities that unite a group of like-minded people, whether it be Leadership, Honors, Research, or – you guessed it – Service & Faith. These people are very involved and are constantly involved in ways they can help.

Second, though (I believe) this is rote for all fraternities and sororities, our chapters are heavily involved in their charities and work tirelessly to go above and beyond to raise money for osteoporosis, the Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and so on. There’s even a service-oriented co-ed fraternity, APO.

Third, clubs and organizations often do more than their focus. Honors Student Association, for example, not only hosts events and programs for Honors Program members but organizes weekly volunteer trips to places like Just Harvest to lend as many hands as they have. The Quidditch team raises money and support in ‘Febru-Harry’ for Relay for Life.

Fourth, Loyola requires every student to take at least one Service Learning class before graduation. This means that the class is tightly intertwined with volunteering and may require a set number of hours per semester at a site or other such actions that mean that the student and class are actively making a difference.

Fifth, Loyola has a program called Loyola 4 Chicago that sets up sites such as Misericordia or Sarah’s Circle and organizes groups of students that go weekly to lend aid. Though it may be nothing more than helping a person with developmental disabilities with their knitting project, they still emphasize the difference the students are making without, perhaps, realizing.

Although Loyola has many, many more ways that show how much both the student body and the administration are committed to service, I’ll leave you with these to think about. Of course you’re totally free to learn more, and if you have any questions I can help too! But trust me when I tell you Loyola really means every word they write on those stacks and stacks and stacks of paper they send in the mail.

Sophomore Life: Spring Semester

By | February 22, 2016

I still cannot believe that in only a couple of months, I will be exactly halfway done with my undergraduate studies. I have many friends who are currently freshman students, so sometimes, I get caught up in the freshman lifestyle- being excited by the little things, having so much enthusiasm, and getting lost around campus (yes, I still get lost).

This semester, I have a lot of workload on my back. I am doing 18 credits of classes and on top of that, I go to Old Town Music School on Sundays, and am currently preparing for training (for a Youth Movement) during the spring break in Texas. You can say I am doing too much, but for me, I hate being unproductive and not being on my feet; I always have to be doing something.

Two of my favorite classes by far this semester are: Organic Chemistry and Theology. Why? It is mainly due to the professors- Dr. Osner & Dr. Dickinson. They are the ones who make it engaging and actually, a lot of fun. Plus, these two classes are a great combination- I really need God with me when I take an Orgo exam. Anyone who as taken Orgo or knows about it, understands what I mean by this!

I believe I have improved on my studying habits as well. I am using my free time more wisely and prioritizing things better. Before I go to sleep, I always write myself a little agenda for the day tomorrow on what needs to get done by a certain time. It helps me stay on track and reduces the amount of thinking I need to do on where to go or what to do after a class is done.

I hope all of you enjoy the week! Have an awesome day!

Jesuit Jammin’

By | February 20, 2016

It’s no secret that Loyola loves their Jesuits. And a little Rambler basketball doesn’t hurt either, so why not combine the two?

Once a year during a regular season men’s basketball game the Jesuits take over for the “Jesuit Jam”. This year was my first ever Jesuit Jam, and I’m quite sad to have missed the games my freshman and sophomore years. I arrived in time to snag a free t-shirt and grab an ideal game-watching seat. The gym was chalk-full of friendly Jesuits mingling with the students, while wearing their hip Jesuit sport jackets of course.

During timeouts we played a few rounds of Jesuit trivia. The winning students won prizes and there was even a Jesuit shootout in which the winning student from Loyola’s School of Medicine won tickets to Arch Madness. (The end-of-season basketball tournament the Ramblers compete at in St. Louis.)

Loyola was facing off against University of Northern Iowa. The two teams were pretty equally yoked, which kept the game close throughout. The Ramblers did not disappoint and managed to win in the final seconds of the game–definitely the best round of LUC basketball I’ve seen so far.

The Jesuit Jam extended beyond just the court with a post-game party in the Damen Den (a conference room in the Damen Student Center). The Jesuits and students got to celebrate the victory with free pizza and pop, plus some quality bonding time. There was an ongoing game of “Jesuit Bingo”, wherein students had to do things like find Jesuits with the same birthday month, from the same hometown, or one who could do ten push-ups with them in order to complete a bingo.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by the Folkin’ Jesuits. An all Jesuit band that sings covers of pop songs at various campus events–and they always steal the show. They played everything from guitars to ukuleles to trumpets to clarinets, sang beautifully and even included a few rap breaks. Their performance of Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” was definitely my favorite. Pretty impressive for a group of Catholic priests.

Since freshman year, I’ve appreciated the Jesuit education Loyola offered. And getting the chance to get to know a few of the Jesuits that actually live and study here is something I highly recommend. They are a passionate group of men that love this university and the students.

So thanks for jammin’ with us, Jesuits!

The Valentine’s Day Monologues

By | February 19, 2016

When we hear “V-Day,” most of us think of Valentine’s Day. However, in a very modern and relevant way, it means much more than bouquets of roses and candy hearts. V-Day also signifies a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

On February 12 and 13, Loyola held its annual Vagina Monologues event. The Vagina Monologues is a lauded, ultra-progressive play that “introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices, including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnesses the birth of her granddaughter, a Bosnian survivor of rape, and a feminist ‘happy’ to have found a man who “liked to look at it.”” Author Eve Ensler conducted over 200 interviews with women and girls of all ages and ethnic backgrounds across the United States. She asked them questions, like “What would your vagina say if it could talk?” and “What would your vagina wear?”

As I sat in the Mundelein Auditorium listening to 28 Loyola women give their renditions of The Vagina Monologues, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel. At times, the speeches were uncomfortable and awkward, yet at other times they were funny and completely relatable. Apart from the emotions, The Vagina Monologues push the audience to think critically about the lack of conversation on organs in the female anatomy and the social ethos of sexuality.

Over the years, the V-Day movement has raised over $100 million dollars and is performed in 167 countries. It campaigns to educate people about the issues of violence against women and highlights the efforts to end it.

Definitely don’t miss out on The Vagina Monologues when it returns to the Loyola stage next spring.