Advice – College Admission at Loyola

Advice To My Past Self On College

By | May 22, 2017

If college doesn’t change you, I don’t know what will. In college, you will learn to grow in every aspect and realize your potential. Your identity will reveal itself stronger when you decided to do more things in the community and actively engage in programs and clubs. I can definitely tell you I have changed dramatically–for the better.

Here’s my advice to my past FRESHMAN self I wish someone would have told me:

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Take advantage of the FACT that most freshman (like 90%) don’t know others well, so go talk to them and build friendships! It is EASIER to make friends at this point in time. Don’t be so shy. This is your moment to rebrand yourself and show yourself off as a welcoming and amicable person!
Stop stressing so much about “college classes”/”college atmosphere”. All the things you see in the movies and TV shows about college are a bit over-dramatized. Especially here at Loyola, you’ll feel welcomed and comfortable quickly. Your anxiety over the concept of finally being a college student is causing you to be TOO nervous thus limiting you from meeting others, participating in clubs, and ultimately having the Loyola experience.
You are NOT that different. There ARE students who are like you and share similar characteristics and personalities. These people are not hard to find because if they are like you, you’ll find them in places where you will be at. People who share the same major or career path will most likely be people to associate around because they are like YOU in one way or another.
Keep an open-mind. It is most likely that students will change their major after taking their 101 classes because they figure out that that subject isn’t their cup-of-tea. Though you think you may be set on a specific major, think again and really be open-minded.
Medical school do not only look for students with Biology, Chemistry, Biochem, or Physics majors. No, no, no. Hard science majors are commendable, but med schools do not admit just these types of students. Just like Loyola, they are looking for students and their well-roundedness meaning hard science isn’t JUST the thing they want. As long as you complete your pre-health courses, you should be fine. YOU ARE FINE! 🙂

Winning the Scholarship or Honors Program Acceptance Letter

By Lindsy Fagerstrom | January 13, 2015

Congratulations, you’ve been admitted to Loyola University Chicago as a future Rambler! And now, some of you have been invited to apply to Loyola Interdisciplinary Honors Program or the Business Honors Program and some of you have been invited to apply for selective scholarships at Loyola! While being invited to compete for these prestigious organizations and awards is an accomplishment in itself, you can follow a few quick tips to put yourself in the best position to win the scholarship or acceptance letter; my advice:

When it comes to your essay…

My number one tip: ANSWER THE QUESTION. Many students submit essays that dance around the topic, but your essay will be much more impressive if you acknowledge the question head-on. Be direct and be concise.
SUBMIT IT EARLY. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to start your essay. You want this to be a well thought-out and well-written essay. Not something you threw together at midnight between your math homework and science project. We read enough essays to tell which were written with care and which were written hap-haphazardly.
USE SPELL CHECK. It’s your friend. Use it. Then proofread it. Then read it again. Then have someone (a teacher, counselor, parent, etc.) read it. Then put it away for a few days and then break it out and read it again. You want this essay to be perfect.

When it comes to your resume…

SEND IN A NEW ONE. If you submitted a version for college admission, that’s great, but you might be leaving out some new accomplishments. I would recommend adding new information like new awards, honors, participation in organizations, leadership, service, etc.
DON’T FORGET FRESHMAN YEAR. We should know everything you’ve been involved with in regard to extra-curriculars over the past 4 years; not just what you’ve been doing junior and senior year. Leave nothing out; this is your chance to awe us with your accomplishments. (This updated resume will also be helpful in the future if you are looking for jobs on-campus in the fall!)
MAKE IT PROFESSIONAL. The font should be clear, text in black, with a format/style that says organized. There are so many different template available to help you do this. A final tip, send you resume as a PDF so you don’t have to worry about it being distorted when opened on different types of computers and programs.

When it comes to your interview…

BREATHE. You’re here to talk about you. No one knows you better. This is a topic you’re a natural pro at so try to relax. Just come in, be yourself, and don’t be afraid to brag a little.
BE PROMPT. Walking in late will not impress anyone.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS. You don’t have to wear a suit necessarily, but you should be dressed appropriately (definitely no pajamas, disheveled clothing, or clothing you wouldn’t wear to school or to dinner with your grandma).
BE POLITE TO EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER. If an administrative assistant checks you in or escorts you to the office for the interview, be polite and friendly with them, you never know if they might share this input with the decision-makers.
PREPARE. Do your research about the school, their values, their mission, etc. Knowing what is important to the school will likely help you impress the interviewers.
LEARN SOMETHING. If you’re there on campus, this is another chance for you explore and determine or confirm “fit”. Also, keep in mind that whoever is interviewing you has some connection with the University whether they are staff, faculty, current students, or alumni, they are great resources whom you can ask questions.

Good Luck!

Advice from Current Ramblers

By Lindsy Fagerstrom | September 23, 2014

The start of the Fall semester is always my favorite time of year – the campus is buzzing with energy as we welcome the students back after a quiet summer. This year the student workers of the Undergraduate Admission Office decided to share their application and college selection advice for prospective students:

“Always keep an open mind. Going to college is not only about figuring out what you want to do with your life, but also to discover new passions, friendships, and values.” – Aly Crutchfield, Freshman

“Be yourself on your application. Focus on representing yourself honestly and highlighting your unique qualities rather than trying to show the admission counselors a “perfect” applicant.” – Daeja Marzette, Sophomore

“Think outside the box when writing your college admission essay. It is best to write your essay on a topic that you are completely passionate about rather than what you think admissions counselors will want to read.” – Morgan Parker, Sophomore

“Make sure to visit the colleges you’re interested in, especially during Open House events. It will help you get a feel for what the campus environment is really like, and to see if it’s the right fit for you. This also allows you to meet professors and ask questions regarding the classes you’re interested in taking.” – Melissa Vazquez, Sophomore

“Choosing Loyola to be your new home for the next four years is choosing a premier education that is always highly respected wherever you go in life and will be a strong beginning to a successful career.” – Vince Jones, Junior

“Choose a school that has clubs or activities you can see yourself getting involved in, or even starting on your own. College is the time to explore different fields and deepen your passion, so when deciding on where to go, choose a University where you can challenge yourself and see yourself grow.” – Ally Ryder, Junior

“Make it possible for yourself to study abroad in your four year plan. This opportunity will enhance your experience at any University and it will give you the ability to learn about yourself outside of the classroom.” – Samantha Cordova, Junior

“Be yourself, get involved, and don’t be too cool for school! Rambler on.” – Joe Sadofsky, Senior

Saturdays are for Sleeping…and Thinking A lot

By | February 9, 2013

Sleeping in on the weekends is one of things to look forward to most every week. This Saturday, after getting a full night’s worth of sleep, I’m mainly spending my time curled up with my homework because classes have piled up. There’s something for me to do for every class; for example, right now, I’m studying for my first test of the semester, for my Operations Management class this Thursday.

Though most people see this upcoming Thursday as Valentine’s Day, I view it as Exam Day, and I’m pretty excited about it. Thus far, my classes have been intriguing and my teachers have been awesome. My motivation in school has stretched to motivation in other aspects of my life, such as thinking about what jobs and internships to apply to and where I want to be in a little over a year from now.

It’s crazy to think about how quickly this school year has flown by, and how I’ll be graduating from college in just over a year. I can feel the tears coming on.

The beginning of this semester and recent events have been making me really put my life in perspective, something that I think is really important for people to do. I went through this same feeling last year around this time, and it was the best part of my year. I’m finally putting the focus back on the important aspects of my life, which right now are my education and health, and they are top priority.

Whether you are an incoming freshman, a graduating senior, or someone like me who is in the middle, it’s easy to be swept away from your aspirations and goals by unseen obstacles, disapproving people, and even self-doubt. I’m re-realizing now that these aspirations and goals are the most valuable part of us, and without them, we are lost whether we realize it or not.

I constantly give advice on what to do about different things: how to deal with stress, tips for interviews, etc, but a big piece of advice that I’m not sure I have said yet is stay true to yourself and what you want and need out of your life, both now and in the future. You don’t need to have your life figured out to have a basic gut instinct about where you want to be. You just need to have faith in yourself and believe that you are going down the right path. Everything else will fall into place.

All About Internship Interviews

By | January 25, 2013

So, my first internship interview was on Wednesday afternoon. I haven’t heard back from them yet, so I plan on giving them a call at the beginning of next week. I would like to get the internship, but the most important thing that I wanted to get out of this interview was a test run of my skills as an interviewee.

Because this was my first face-to-face internship interview, it was important for me to really pay attention to my behavior as well as my interviewer’s. There are several recommended guidelines that people are given for interviews. Here are a few:

Look presentable. Granted the weather is very cold right now, so walking outside in a skirt is not my cup of tea, but still wear nice clothes (aka no holes, stains, etc.) and have a nice appearance. Also very important is to smile (genuinely of course). It is said that most interviewers make their decision within the first minute (even less) of meeting you.
Have some background knowledge of the company you’re interviewing for. At the very least, know who they are and what they do. It doesn’t hurt to have some knowledge on what you could be doing for them as well. Being informed will only benefit you and not being informed can be the end of your chance for the job/internship.
Have some questions prepared. This was a difficult one for me this time because my interviewer was just starting up a new project for the company that I had not found any information on, so I thought up some questions on the spot. One thing I did was I asked my interviewer questions about her relationship to the company, as in what she does within the company, how she does these things, etc. I’ve heard before that making the interview more personalized regarding the interviewer can help your interview. You need to be informed about the company itself, but have questions to ask the people in the company about their jobs. Keep it professional, but make it more personalized so that the interview isn’t rigid.

Whether these tips helped me is yet to be determined, and if they didn’t, I’ll be on the lookout for more and better advice to give from my own experiences. In one of my next week’s blogs, I’ll post an update on this first internship of whether I got it or not.