Tag: Lake Michigan

Why Lakeside is Best Year Round

Why Lakeside is Best Year Round

For me, the noise and busyness of the city can be overwhelming at times. I find myself needing to find a place where I can just breathe; away from the cars and buses, not bumping into people on the sidewalk, or surrounded by skyscrapers. In any other city finding a spot that brings me a little peace might be nearly impossible. Thankfully, Chicago staked out prime Lake Michigan real estate. And Loyola snatched up the best location possible on the Northside of the city.

When I need a breath of fresh air, there’s no better place than lakeside. Loyola’s students are no strangers to the breathtaking lake views our campus offers. On sunny days the lake front is crowded with people reading and relaxing. (I’m telling you lakeside mood boosts are real.) We love to brag about the beauty of our campus, and even in the dead of winter the frozen lake is captivating.

Now, most people reserve their beach time for the warm days of summer, but chilly winter days don’t scare me. This Friday, a friend and I braved a February afternoon walk by the lake. Because Chicagoans are bold (and bursting with spring fever) we weren’t the only ones enjoying a day with temperatures above 30-degrees. The calm waves rolling onto the beach were soothing, even if the cool breeze wasn’t. The water was a pale shade of sea foam green that blended into the cloudy horizon and the beach was scattered with chunks of ice from a formerly frozen lake. So even if I couldn’t feel my legs by the time we made it back to campus a little lake time was completely worth it.

Whenever you get the chance to visit Loyola, be sure to spend time by the lake. (Even if that means gazing at it through the windows of the Information Commons like I’m doing now). Lake Michigan never disappoints. So, as long as Loyola’s my home it will serve as my breath of fresh air in the city.

 

 

Sweet Home CHICAGO

Sweet Home CHICAGO

 

There is no better place on earth than Chicago and let me tell  you why…

  • Explore: Get to know the city through the CTA (Chicago’s public trains and buses). Students get U-Passes which provide unlimited access and serves as your passport to the city. This is a great way to explore different neighborhoods all over the city.
  • Cheer on Your Team: 24 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the 3rd time in 6 years, Chelsea Dagger is still playing in my head. Now Chicagoans are tracking the cup (AKA Lord Stanley) as it travels all around the city and prepare to continue the celebration during the parade and Rally at Soldier Field on Friday. Chicago is not only a hockey dynasty but also home to the Chicago Bears,  the Bulls, and crosstown rivals – White Sox and Cubs. Even if you’re not a die-hard Chicago sports fan, you can likely cheer for your hometown team with they compete in town (and Loyola students often have access to tickets ranging from $2-20 to check out these events)! This year not only did the Bulls make the playoffs, the Blackhawks win the championship, and the NFL held the draft in Millennium Park, but our own Loyola Ramblers won the Division 1 Men’s National Volleyball Championship for the second year in a row, but the Men’s Basketball Team also won the CBI tournament this spring. There really is no better place to cheer on both your collegiate and professional teams
  • Enjoy the Waves: Have you ever sailed before? Kayaked down the Chicago River? Or is the beach more of your scene? Or hop on an architectural boat tour of the city from Navy Pier. Either way, there are countless ways to enjoy Lake Michigan.
  • Get Fit: Work out at Halas, Loyola’s awesome new fitness center (complete with a new pool and rock climbing wall) that hosts several club, recreational and intramural sporting events and teams throughout the year. Or join a beach volleyball team, do yoga in Grant Park, run along the lake, or rent a bike from Chain Links or Divvy.
  • Bon appetit: Chicago has some amazing places to eat from Portillo’s  to Lou Malnatti’s to Taste of Chicago where you can try all of Chicago’s tastiest items (may we recommend a Chicago style hotdog, italian beef, and deep dish pizza). This is another time to hop onto the CTA and go to Little Italy, Chinatown, or any other cultural neighbordhood in the city to try some of the best ethnic food.
  • Appreciate the Arts: World-class artists & performers swarm the city throughout the year so catch a Broadway Show, the Joffrey Ballet, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, a late night show at The Green Mill, or concerts at venues all over the city. Looking to see an inexpensive show on campus, learn what Colossus means at Loyola (it’s one of my favorite Loyola events)!
  • See the Sights: It’s never too late to play tourist and find out why everyone takes selfies at “The Bean” or see why everyone loves Sue at the Field Museum. Don’t forget to check out the view of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium, the SkyDeck in the Sears Tower, or from the Signature Room in the John Hancock Building. While you’re at it, just hit up the rest of the museum campus – The Shedd Aquarium, and The Museum of Science & Industry (thought some of the smaller, more niche museums are among my favorites).

Really though, the only way to fall in love with Chicago is visit and explore it yourself!

Spring on Campus

Spring on Campus

There is nothing better than Spring time on campus when all of the snow has melted away and the flowers begin to bloom. Even on a cloudy or rainy day, Loyola’s campus looks beautiful. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite photos of campus this season:

Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom
Tulips bloom near the Mundelein Center Fountain at Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom

 

Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom
View of Chicago’s historic Water Tower from Loyola’s Water Tower Campus. Photo Credit: Lindsy Fagerstrom

 

Photo Credit: @marcellobdm via Instagram
Taking in the view of the East Quad at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @marcellobdm via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: @m1ggyy via Instagram
Enjoying the view of the Information Commons at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @m1ggyy via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: @wheresjennau via Instagram
Trees being to bloom outside of Cudahy Hall at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: @wheresjennau via Instagram

 

Photo Credit: Christina Hernandez
The sun reflects over Lake Michigan at the Lake Shore Campus. Photo Credit: Christina Hernandez

 

If these photos haven’t sold you on Loyola, come visit campus for yourself! If you’re an admitted student who’s ready to commit to Loyola, submit your deposit now before May 1st!

 

 

Supporting Special Olympics

Supporting Special Olympics

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I absolutely love the placing of Damen.  It was my lifesaver during winter when I needed to catch the L.  Its placement is perfect, and it allowed me to stop for a coffee during those chilly, chilly days! I do have to admit that sometimes I try to avoid all of the people by the desk, who are trying to stop you, for the merely reason that we can all be a little socially awkward.

Sometimes the guy handing out stuff is way too cute, but I am having one of those bad hair days, didn’t do my nails, raccoon and baggy eyes day.  So, yes, forgive me, but I will avoid eye contact and walk past you.  However, on most occasions, I still take the time to talk and receive whatever they are handing out!  This past week, I am so glad that I did just that.

They used a medal to catch my attention and it did because it definitely made me stop.  ASA is hosting a Ladybug Olympics to support Special Olympics.  I thought this was very thoughtful and original.  I enjoy seeing how active the sororities are with their philanthropies!  I wish I had a team to participate, so if anyone is up for it, I would love to be part of a team!  The event is on March 20th at 4:30 P.M.  It is a volleyball tournament with games, prizes and food! If you want to make a team email: gchan@luc.edu for info.

9 Loyola Myths

9 Loyola Myths

 

Over the past 3 years in admission, I have noticed there are A LOT of misconceptions about Loyola University Chicago. I am going to use my blog this week to set the record straight. Here are what I consider to be the top 9 Loyola myths:

  1. We are not the same school as Loyola Maryland, Loyola New Orleans or Loyola Marymount. We are all completely separate schools. The only thing we have in common other than our name are our Jesuit background and values. So no, you cannot study at another Loyola in the U.S. However, you can Study Abroad at other universities all over the world or at one of our three campuses in Rome, Beijing or Ho Chi Minh City, which are in fact run by Loyola University Chicago.
  2. You do not have to be Catholic (or even religious) to go to a Jesuit University. About half of our students identify as being Catholic and as a Catholic University, we do offer regular masses, Taize prayer, resources and mentors for our Catholic students. Loyola has the only student-run mosque in Illinois and we have an incredibly strong Hillel Community on campus. We also have several different prayer spaces in our Student Center including a Puja Prayer Room. We are a home to all faiths and encourage interfaith dialogues and for students to lead their own spiritual path with assistance from Campus Ministry which provides resources, services, and mentors on-campus. I also want to throw out that you do not need to be Catholic to attend one of our Retreats at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus, these retreats are awesome and open to everyone.
  3. We are actually in the city of Chicago (not a suburb) and are right next to Lake Michigan (not a block away, our buildings are a foot or two from the lake).
  4. We are not a commuter school. Yes, in the past, a lot of students did commute to Loyola, but not in recent years. Now all first and second year students are required to live on-campus and while upper-classmen have the option to live on or off-campus, most stay on campus or live within a block or two of campus. However, the students exempt from the housing policy still have a community and home on campus thanks to Off-Campus Student Life.
  5. Housing is not hard to find on or around campus. As mentioned above, we require that 1st and 2nd year students live on-campus and we have several upperclassmen residence halls at both the Lake Shore Campus and the Water Tower Campus. There are also hundreds of non-Loyola owned or operated apartments near campus.
  6. Our acceptance rate is not 92% or 98%. It is closer to 63%. This is one of those cases where you can’t believe everything you read on the internet so if you’re questioning something you read, call or email your admission counselor!
  7. We are not a school that lacks athletic success, spirit, or history. We are a Division One school in the Missouri Valley Conference and last year our Men’s Volleyball Team won the NCAA National Championship on our very own campus. Go Ramblers! We are also the only D1 School in Illinois to ever win a NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship, which we did in 1963, but we are still proud of the win and of our contribution to NCAA history via the Game of Change.
  8. Chicago’s weather isn’t always horrible. Our fall is actually warmer than most of the Midwest thanks to the wind blowing warm air off the lake. Most of the time, we don’t see snow or really cold days until late December when students are already home for Winter Break. Yes the beginning of the spring semester is cold and has some snow, but harsh winters build character and stories you’ll be telling the rest of your life. And don’t forget how much of the year (typically March – November) brings truly amazing weather to Loyola. During these nice months you can find our students hanging out at street festivals, enjoying the great outdoors that you CAN find in the city, and by hanging out at “Loyola Beach” (really called Hartigan Beach).
  9. We are not “the wolves”. We are the Ramblers! However, Lu Wolf is indeed the name of our mascot.

 

30 Reasons Why We LOVE Loyola

30 Reasons Why We LOVE Loyola

 

With Valentine’s Day approaching and everyone talking about love, it only seemed appropriate to talk about what Loyola staff and current students have to say about their relationship with Loyola.

Here are 30 reasons staff and students love Loyola:

  1. The ability to go abroad to the Rome center. – Ellen
  2. The incorporation of social justice into academics. – Judy Kyrkos
  3. The small campus feel with access to the city. – Lexy Rux
  4. Being in Chicago. – Maggie
  5. The small class sizes; it really feels like you get one-on-one time with the professors. – Patrick
  6. Being on a beautiful campus with access to downtown. – Adam Buller
  7. Living in Mertz and the chicken tenders from Damen Dining Hall. – Katie
  8. The sense of community. – Ricky Mott
  9. The beautiful campus and social justice focus in all of my classes. – Kara
  10. The small campus feel. – Shaniqua
  11. How the core classes make us a well-rounded person. – Elise
  12. How self-aware the student body is. I’ve never encountered an impolite person on campus. – John
  13. The community feel, size of campus, friendly/welcoming environment, and small class size. – Christy Vargas
  14. How there are Vegan and gluten-free options in the dining halls. – Sarah
  15. Dynamics of taking class on the lake shore campus and downtown. It’s nice to experience the best of both worlds. – Claire
  16. Class sizes, pretty campus, and nice/passionate professors. – Carlee
  17. Diverse community. – Samantha
  18. Friendly environment on campus. – Brittney
  19. Approachable teachers who seem to enjoy their jobs and always want to help you do your best. – Gabby
  20. The view of the lake. – Shannon
  21. I feel safe on campus. – Adrian
  22. Loyola has always given me the opportunity to succeed. – Aaron Brunmeier
  23. The architecture of campus. – Brian
  24. The sense of community. – Aliyah Jervier
  25. I love that Loyola offers something for anyone and everyone who attends so that they can be a part of something and feel included. – Hiba Abbas
  26. I LOVE that every time I step outside and see our beautiful campus I get excited for my day no matter how stressful it is. – Lucy Mooney
  27. I love that Loyola has so many things to offer to their students. Whether it be information on study abroad, fairs talking about feminism, or tutoring for certain classes, Loyola does an amazing job providing us with tools for success. I think that since there are so many resources offered, any type of student can feel like this school is a perfect fit for them. – Katherine Weir
  28. Loyola fosters education both inside and outside the classroom enabling YOU to grow immensely. Upon graduating from Loyola in the spring of 2015, Loyola has taught me that the aim of my education is not the facts, but rather of values. –Joe Sadofsky
  29. How connected students are to the Loyola community. – Callie Short
  30. How Loyola shares the same values as myself. – Alyson Crutchfield

Happy Valentine’s Day from Loyola University Chicago!

Grateful for this City, Grateful for this School

Grateful for this City, Grateful for this School

Thanksgiving is quite obviously a time to give thanks. I could go on and on about all the things I am grateful for, but I wanted to give a little extra thanks to the city and school I’ve come to know and love over the past year.

CHICAGO, Thank you for:

  1. The skyline. It always brings a smile to my face and usually a jaw drop. Whether I catch a glimpse from the Lake Shore path during the day or when it’s all lit up at night, I’m certainly grateful for the view.
  2. Free things to do. Zoos, concerts, parades, or tours, Chicago knows how to keep college kids happy, and we are all thankful to be able to enjoy the city without having to spend money.
  3. Lake Michigan. Whoever decided to build a city on the shores of Lake Michigan has all my gratitude. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of running on Lake Shore Path or driving on Lake Shore Drive.
  4. The food. This is one city that knows how to eat—deep dish, popcorn, hotdogs, plus cuisine from nearly every nation—I won’t get bored of all the options Chicago offers.
  5. The parks. I love getting to spend time wandering through Chicago’s parks, especially along the lake or downtown. They don’t qualify as full blown state parks, but a little controlled nature still works for me.

LOYOLA, Thank you for:

  1. My professors. Even in classes as large as 200 students I have felt cared for by my professors. All of them have their quirks, but always teach me more than the required material.
  2. U-Passes. Including CTA all access U-Passes in our tuition is something all of us are definitely grateful for. Our campuses put us in the perfect position to explore the city and not having to buy tickets every time we use public transit is a huge blessing.
  3. Lake Michigan. Well, I had to put this one on the thankful list twice because I could not be happier that our Lake Shore Campus bumps right into the lake shore. Our location makes for the most beautiful sunrises and calming study spots on the north-side of the city.
  4. The students. At first I was a little intimidated by a student body of 10,000 undergrad, but I have come to really love it. I’m glad to go to school with a diverse range of students who all come from different places and are interested in different things. But amidst all these people, I have found people I really click with. I know some of these are friendships I will cherish for a long time.
  5. Two campuses. I love having both a city campus and a “typical college campus”. Coming to the city I didn’t want my school to just be skyscrapers on a city block. Loyola provides more than what I was looking for–a spread out campus on the lake and some pretty cool skyscrapers downtown, and I couldn’t be happier.

 

For the Sake of a Sunrise, I’ll Get up Early

For the Sake of a Sunrise, I’ll Get up Early

There is not much that will get a college kid out of bed early in the morning, besides an 8AM class. Because after a long night of studying there is nowhere we’d would rather be than curled up in bed. I was all for sleeping in as late as possible before I realized what I was missing out on during my extra hour of sleep. Every time I give myself only time in the morning to get dressed and run to class I’m missing out on the most beautiful sunrises in the Midwest. And those sunrises just so happen to take place on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.

Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus is tucked away in Rogers Park along Sheridan Road and the east side of campus just so happens to be the shores of Lake Michigan. Luckily for Loyola students, and the city of Chicago, the Lake’s east-side location makes it the perfect stage for the sunrise every morning.

My roommate and I made it a goal of ours to see the sunrise once a week. Our goal was a little ambitious, but I couldn’t be more grateful for the few times we have managed to crawl out of bed to run on Lake Shore Path or sit on the beach while the sun rises.

If you manage to drag yourself out of bed to watch the sun rise you should still have time to catch some extra sleep before class, but if you’re feeling especially awake grab a coffee and study in the IC (the study space with floor to ceiling windows and a perfect view of the lake) until class starts.

Since we’ll be here for four (or five) years be sure you spend at least one of those mornings lake side, watching the most beautiful sunrise in the Midwest. Rise and shine, Ramblers!

 

All That’s Left of Summer Is Some Blogs

All That’s Left of Summer Is Some Blogs

We’re back in session for the 2013/2014 school year! Who’s excited? Even if you’re not, I hope you aren’t too upset that summer is over. Summer was nice, but my favorite season is Fall so I’m happy that school has started up again.

There will be plenty of time ahead to blog about this semester, so I’m going to tell you all a little about what I was up to this summer.

Most of my summer was spent working at XSport Fitness as front desk staff. When I wasn’t working, I spent time exploring the outskirts of Chicago with my boyfriend. Before May, I mainly knew Chicago as downtown and what I passed when I was on the different CTA lines. I rarely saw Chicago west of the Kennedy Expressway. This summer though, I finally got past my unintentional boundaries.

Aside from exploring more of Chicago by driving around, several of my favorite discoveries included the following:

1. On a clear day, the Chicago skyline can be seen from Bensenville out near O’Hare Airport

2. Harlem Irving Plaza– to people that frequent the “HIP”, this may seem lame, but other than Watertower Place and 900 North, this is the only mall I’ve seen in Chicago. I love going to malls because they are all so unique on the inside, and the HIP is no exception. I didn’t see much of it, but I liked that to get into the mall, you go through an entrance where you take an escalator down from the outdoor parking lot.

3. I learned to fish in August and took several trips for fishing. I went to Fox River, Lake Michigan and Utica, IL. It’s a very quiet and peaceful activity that took me outdoors for some fresh air, even if all I could catch were logs. One of these days I’m hoping to catch a real fish instead of just feeding them my bait. Maybe tomorrow!

4. Country music- I’ve listened to country tunes for years and have some of my favorites bands and musicians, but listening to county music on the radio day after day really made me listen to it and appreciate it more. My iTunes has greatly expanded due to the extensive list of country songs I added to it this summer, like one of my new favorite songs, “I Want Crazy” by Hunter Hayes.

5. I went to quite a few restaurants and small food places this summer that opened up my taste buds. My healthy eating unfortunately came to a halt at the beginning of summer because there became too many temptations for me to pass up. Several places that were new to me were Longhorn Steakhouse, Roma’s, Twin Gyros and Outback Steakhouse. I tried lots of delicious food, some that I’ve had before at other places, and some that were completely new. One of my new favorite treats, courtesy of Roma’s, is Watermelon Italian Ice- delicious!

The Best Study View

The Best Study View

This week has been a busy one for me.  I’ve had a few tests as well as interviews for my internship placement this upcoming fall.  My favorite study spot in Rogers Park would have to be the IC (Information Commons).  How could you not feel calm and de-stressed with this view?!