Is Loyola University of Chicago a Liberal Arts College
Benefits of attending a small, liberal arts college
Five students share their take on the college experience at Loyola—a academy big plenty for countless opportunities, only minor enough to provide meaningful relationships and mentorship"Stepping onto Loyola's campus, a prospective student wouldn't know the endless opportunities that await them. I certainly didn't when I arrived for my first campus tour," Michelle, '22, a writing major from Mount Laurel, N.J., reflects.
"After spending three years here, it's obvious how much anybody at Loyola—faculty, staff, my peers—is dedicated to helping you flourish."
Loyola prides itself on deploying the university's total resources to ensure that a transformative experience is available and accessible to every pupil, wherever their hearts and minds lead, from the day they make it on campus to the day they prepare human foot into the globe later on graduation.
"A minor student population and dedicated faculty and staff help students achieve any possibility hither—whether it be academic, social, extra- or co-curricular, research, scholarships, independent report, and study abroad, among so many others," Michelle explains.
Opportunities for bookish enrichment and internships
For Michelle, individualized attending and care from professors, staff, and mentors fostered her transformation into an individual who is confident in herself and her ability to strike into her desired career path after graduation.
From the Honors Program, I've developed into a person who looks past the surface level to grab at deeper meanings and grown confidence in critical thinking and advocating for myself and my ideas.
"It was a difficult procedure to apply to colleges and choose the right fit equally a first-generation student who didn't take much assist from my parents in the procedure," she explains.
When she visited Loyola for an Open up Firm for accustomed students and attended an information session led by Joe Walsh, Ph.D., professor of Classics and history and director of the Honors Program, he provided the showtime nudge that she was on the right path.
"Dr. Walsh spoke with unbridled passion about the humanities at Loyola, and I retrieve laughing at the ridiculously long list of reasons he presented for pursuing the humanities at Loyola. He didn't terminate the presentation because he didn't have enough fourth dimension. Information technology was clear to me from that moment that these were the kind of professors I'd have at Loyola: passionate, dedicated, and slightly humorous."
Dr. Walsh later reached out to Michelle most the Honors Program. He said there were spots left and, from reviewing her application, he idea she might exist exactly the kind of pupil who would be a good fit. "This was my first opportunity for growth," she says, adding that she has never regretted her decision to utilise after Dr. Walsh's email.
Through the Honors Program, Michelle attends classes with 10-15 other students. Honors courses are seminar-style and designed so that students actively appoint with their peers and professors in discussion. "We are consistently challenging each other to push button ideas further." From the Honors Program, Michelle says she has go a person who looks for deeper pregnant—and she has grown confident in disquisitional thinking and advocating for herself and her ideas.
Beyond her classes, Michelle has discovered opportunities for bookish and professional growth through several unlike internships. "In that location are so many internship opportunities here in Baltimore or a brusque railroad train ride away in D.C., and the professors and staff at the Career Center can help students prepare, find, and apply for them," she shares.
Since her commencement year, she has held four internships. Her internships accept immune her to develop non only her writing skills but her interpersonal and leadership skills, and they have provided critical opportunities to apply her pedagogy to a existent-world context in her field.
Opportunities for involvement and personal connections afterward transferring from a large college
Since transferring to Loyola in her sophomore year, Angel says Loyola continues to exceed her expectations.
Loyola has prepared me for a life of continuous learning and service to others in the spirit of the Jesuit core value of service, rooted in justice and love. Serving Loyola and surrounding communities through the Centre for Community, Service, and Justice has fueled my desire to give back and do all things with love.
At her previous university, Angel, who grew up in Miami, Fla., says she found herself becoming "another number, getting lost in the oversupply" at a school ten times the size of Loyola'southward undergraduate educatee population. Now she loves making personal connections with her professors. She feels fortunate to engage with them regularly for advice or a quick conversation.
A biopsychology major on the pre-med track and an African American Studies small-scale, Angel has become an active fellow member of the campus community. By seeking out the endless opportunities to get involved, she had institute her domicile at Loyola. She is an intern and tour guide with the Function of Undergraduate Admission, a part through which she hopes to help prospective students find a dwelling house on the Evergreen campus equally she has; she serves as vice president of equity and inclusion for the Greyhound Ambassadors. She is also co-vice president and treasurer of Doctors Without Borders and is an Evergreen Orientation Leader.
"In that location hasn't been a single club or leadership role I felt like I couldn't sign upward for. I chop-chop realized it all starts with me just putting myself out there and showing upward."
As a student of color, Angel found that Loyola offers many resources to create a supportive environment where students of color can succeed. She has made connections and received guidance from many students, faculty, and staff in the ALANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Native American) community.
One of the things she loves most is seeing herself "represented in spaces on campus, particularly in the lodge Sister to Sister. I have truly enjoyed getting to join in on sister circles and engage with other women of color to talk about our experiences on campus—no matter how challenging or rewarding they might be."
For Angel, her Jesuit educational activity dares her to challenge herself and encourages self-exploration through discernment and reflection, "constantly inspiring me to live a purposeful life."
"Serving Loyola and surrounding communities through the Eye for Customs, Service, and Justice has fueled my want to give dorsum and exercise all things with beloved," she says, adding that Loyola has prepared her for a life of continuous learning and service to others in the spirit of the Jesuit cadre value of service, rooted in justice and love.
Opportunities for research and professional skill evolution
Whitney, '21, says she knew when she was looking at colleges that she wanted research to exist a office of her academic program, and she was initially drawn to larger schools for their research opportunities for applied science majors. She is majoring in mechanical and materials engineering and minoring in mathematics.
The Stem customs at Loyola is open up to word about the issues that women in Stalk face every solar day and are willing to stand with us as we fight against sexism and misogyny in our daily life equally scientists, biologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
When she discovered Loyola offered several of the same quality research opportunities for applied science students as a larger university—just with the individualized attending that comes with smaller class size—she knew Loyola was right for her.
Through her courses, the Annapolis, Dr.., native has gained practical, applied applied science feel through labs similar physics, circuits, and senior design—experiences that affirm she has fabricated the correct pick for her career.
For 6 weeks during the summer between her sophomore and inferior year, Whitney was a Hauber Young man working with Suzanne Keilson, Ph.D., associate professor of applied science, to blueprint an original enquiry project with Sinai Hospital which used Leap Motion to track the angles of hands to aid concrete therapists with their work.
Whitney says she specifically chose a projection that assisted others while assuasive her to acquire a new skill—coding—that pushed her across her intellectual condolement zone. And she wasn't alone in this procedure, she says, because Dr. Keilson along with other professors helped her throughout the experience. She emerged from the project with valuable skills, confidence, and field experience.
Every bit a adult female in Stalk, Whitney says she has constitute innumerable opportunities for personal and academic growth through customs and female mentorship. In addition to Dr. Keilson, she is grateful to Raeinta Fenner, Ph.D., associate professor of engineering science, faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers Club. At Loyola, Whitney has discovered a Stem community that includes both professors and students who are "open to discussion about the issues that women in Stalk face up every day and are willing to stand with usa equally we fight against sexism and misogyny in our daily life as scientists, biologists, engineers, and mathematicians."
The customs and support Whitney plant at Loyola "has allowed me to grow… because I know there is always a friendly and helpful face to plough to."
Beyond mentorship and research, Whitney has found a wealth of opportunities for leadership, community engagement, and easily-on experience in her field. She serves as president of the Society of Women Engineers and vice president of Greyhound Ambassadors—roles that foster critical skills like working with a team toward a common goal. When she wanted to appoint with the Baltimore customs through service, Loyola provided opportunities to work with female middle school students interested in STEM and to serve with local engineering organizations.
Opportunities for spiritual, athletic, and leadership development
The Jesuit tenant of cura personalis has been at the center of Religion's life since she came to Loyola from Williamsburg, Va. This concept of investing in the care for the whole person made her realize she had neglected sure areas in herself before coming to Loyola. At present in her third twelvemonth, Faith credits the university with providing her with an abundance of opportunities to grow athletically, academically, spiritually, and personally.
My personal growth has been fostered through the unyielding kindness and willingness of our fellow staff and advisors, who ensure that in addition to our studies, we have the opportunity to explore areas we would similar to further grow into.
A member of the Greyhounds swimming and diving team, Faith aims to invest the same attention to her sport and courses as she does with her spirituality—while also making infinite for things similar her newfound passion for Italian culture (she serves every bit vice president of the Italian Club).
"My evolution has only been farther fostered by the unyielding kindness and willingness of the staff and advisors at Loyola, who ensure that in addition to our studies, we accept the opportunity to explore areas we would like to grow into."
Outside of the pool, Faith is involved with several areas of campus life. A Jesuit university, Loyola offers the opportunity for students to engage with their faith in myriad ways; Faith serves as a Eucharistic Government minister with Campus Ministry weekly at the Dominicus forenoon Mass.
She is also a tutor at the Study and is actively involved with Hounds athletic mentoring and academic interest clubs such as the Pre-Health Society and Women in Pre-Health Society. Terminal year during the pandemic, Faith founded a new club for Loyola students, similar her, seeking research internships and opportunities.
A biology major with an English language modest, Faith is on the pre-medical track through Loyola'due south Pre-Health Programs. She is grateful for the valuable field experience and professional training she has gained through her work equally a medical scribe in the emergency department of Riverside Doctors Hospital in Williamsburg, Va., during the summertime months and throughout the academic year, during breaks from Loyola.
This leap, Faith conducted semester-long research aslope Derek Kendig, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological science. "In Dr. Kendig's lab, I'g developing imperative skills to enhance my higher-level thinking that volition be tested when I take my MCAT," says Faith, who plans to attend medical or graduate school—perhaps both—after Loyola and aims to eventually teach students at a education hospital and go on research.
Opportunities for mentorship and meaningful experiences to serve the community
When Matthew, '21, arrived on Loyola'south campus for Accepted Students Mean solar day equally a high school senior, he immediately "felt a sense of belonging" that he hadn't felt at an institution before. Since and then, the international business concern major from Columbia, Md., has defended his time to searching for why Loyola "was such a magnet for me."
Through my feel, I learned to concur myself and others accountable when I witness inequality and injustice. I'thousand confident in my ability to be an agent for change.
At present a college senior, he says, "My Loyola education has been i of the all-time investments my parents and I take fabricated" in part because the resources Loyola provides students are extensive. The university hosts programs and courses designed for students to use the skills they learned in the classroom into meaningful experiences for the Baltimore community."
One of his meaningful experiences came from the France-Merrick Foundation Scholarship, which allowed him to spend his showtime two years serving at any service site that compelled him in partnership with the Center for Community, Service, and Justice. At the end of his 2 years, Matthew found his experience so fruitful that he connected his involvement equally an intern. "Coming away from this internship, I have learned to hold myself and others accountable when I witness inequality and injustice. I'g confident in my power to be an agent for modify."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Matthew interned with HOGAN, which allowed him to gain feel in the commercial real estate industry, the field he will launch his career in after he graduates in May. He conducted market research and went on site visits with his supervisor, learning more than than he would or could accept through classes lonely.
Matthew values the relationships he has built during his time at Loyola and shares this advice with fellow Greyhounds: "Find a mentor you can trust, someone who has a wide multifariousness of experiences throughout their lifetime and is willing to invest their knowledge in y'all."
One of his mentors is Rev. Scott Adams, banana director of Campus Ministry. "He once told me, 'You take never seen an apple tree tree eat itself. The sole purpose of that apple tree tree is to provide nourishment for others to grow.'" Sort of like a good mentor, he says. "Good mentors create a lasting touch on in the lives of their mentees, and in turn, their mentees will before long become mentors for others."
Equally graduation nears, Matthew reflects on his teaching and experience at Loyola and believes that this university is "the all-time place for a Jesuit liberal arts education simply considering of the people in our customs. [At Loyola, you'll detect] some of the all-time professors in the nation. They are passionate nigh Loyola's values, which motivates and inspires students."
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