Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

Strong academics.

Loyola is a school that is challenging but with tremendous amounts to gain through the challenges. Studying is a big thing at Loyola. Like typical college students, we "cram" before midterms and finals, but we study regularly to make sure we are well-versed in any subject. Class participation is also a big thing. It is rare that a class is simply just lecture. Student input is highly valued at Loyola. That being said, students are most definitely competitive. It is a competitive world, so it is only natural that college would also be competitive, even among friends. Education at Loyola is definitely on a pragmatic application. You don't just learn useless information for trivia games. You learn what you need to know to be successful at whatever you chose to do in life.

The academics at Loyola seem comparable to the academics at other colleges my friends go to, both public and private. Compared to high school, I do a lot more reading for my classes and find that there are less small assignments, and most of our grade comes from papers, midterms, and finals. So far I have liked all my professors for my core classes. They all had accessible office hours that I took full advantage of and they were very helpful. I am a theatre major and I love everyone in the department. Many of them know my name and are always willing to help me outside the classroom with auditions or other outside projects I am working on. They are geared towards getting us hired in the theatre world at large.

Professors are usually very easy to talk to and always willing to help out in one shape or another. Most of them have offices where students can reach them one on one.

The classes vary greatly at Loyola and it is all dependent upon the teacher you receive. A great teacher can make any subject fun and exciting to learn. Loyola does have a few of these teachers if you are lucky enough to have them. Besides that the classes are pretty standard when the teachers aren't as impressive. Mostly tests and essays.

Classes are pretty small, ranging from 10 people (specialized classes) to 60 people (100 level - intro classes) So, it really feels like you get to know people, and the professors all make sure to know your name. You might hate this if you don't like showing up to class, but a lot of times we get participation credit, so it helps! It's also great not to have TAs. Professors are always available during their office hours or by private appointment. My favorite classes are the language classes at Loyola. I'm currently taking mid-level Hebrew 103, I've taken Spanish 250 (mid-level grammar course), and I audited French 309 (upper-level literature course). The professors are all amazing, they have all studied in the countries of the language they teach, and they are really passionate about the countries, the language, and teaching. I am in the Business School. I'm double majoring in Finance and International Business. Honestly, Intl Business is like a fluff major. I've taken courses like International Management, Intl Marketing, Intl Finance, Global Logistics, and they've all made me more aware of how different cultures perceive and do business, but the major itself hasn't taught me a skill set. Finance, on the other hand, is an actual skill set. Teachers from both departments are very knowledgeable and very willing to sit down with us one-on-one during office hours. There is also a Career Center both at the main campus and in the Business School. It is very helpful for resume writing, cover letters, finding jobs and internships, and attending professional business events. There are always lots of opportunities! Students at Loyola are not very competitive. In high school i always used to worry about what my peers would think of my answers and of my grades, but it's not like that at all at Loyola. Thank goodness! In the Business School, education is geared toward getting a job, for sure. In the Arts & Sciences School, it's more about learning for its own sake. Students study about 10-20 hours per week for school. We have a great study area called the Information Commons. It's an eco-friendly building right on Lake Michigan with lots of computers and study space. It is also attached to the library.

Classes are pretty small, ranging from 10 people (specialized classes) to 60 people (100 level - intro classes) So, it really feels like you get to know people, and the professors all make sure to know your name. You might hate this if you don't like showing up to class, but a lot of times we get participation credit, so it helps! It's also great not to have TAs. Professors are always available during their office hours or by private appointment. My favorite classes are the language classes at Loyola. I'm currently taking mid-level Hebrew 103, I've taken Spanish 250 (mid-level grammar course), and I audited French 309 (upper-level literature course). The professors are all amazing, they have all studied in the countries of the language they teach, and they are really passionate about the countries, the language, and teaching. I am in the Business School. I'm double majoring in Finance and International Business. Honestly, Intl Business is like a fluff major. I've taken courses like International Management, Intl Marketing, Intl Finance, Global Logistics, and they've all made me more aware of how different cultures perceive and do business, but the major itself hasn't taught me a skill set. Finance, on the other hand, is an actual skill set. Teachers from both departments are very knowledgeable and very willing to sit down with us one-on-one during office hours. There is also a Career Center both at the main campus and in the Business School. It is very helpful for resume writing, cover letters, finding jobs and internships, and attending professional business events. There are always lots of opportunities! Students at Loyola are not very competitive. In high school i always used to worry about what my peers would think of my answers and of my grades, but it's not like that at all at Loyola. Thank goodness! In the Business School, education is geared toward getting a job, for sure. In the Arts & Sciences School, it's more about learning for its own sake. Students study about 10-20 hours per week for school. We have a great study area called the Information Commons. It's an eco-friendly building right on Lake Michigan with lots of computers and study space. It is also attached to the library.

The professors are great! Many of them know my name and would take a great interest if I needed extra help. They are all very interesting and present information in an engaging way, also promoting class participation. I definitely think Loyola helps prepare its students for further schooling, but could perhaps do a little better for those students who desire to get a job straight out of college.

The student to faculty ratio is 15:1. Classes are small enough for professors to not only know your name, but get to know you on a more personal level. Class participation is very common because professors like to hear what students have to say. Students always have intellectual conversations outside of class, and students study all the time! We have an awesome Information Commons connected to the library and located right on the lake. It is the perfect place to study. My major is Social Work with a Psychology minor. I have liked all of my social work classes, but one of my favorites so far was Cultural Diversity in which students were able to teach the class. I think the school's academic requirements are acceptable and appropriate.

I'll be honest...academics are tough here. However, the toughness of studies accounts for Loyola's great reputation and high acceptance rate in grad/professional schools. I am in the nursing program and it's a rigorous program which requires a certain GPA standing to stay in the program; very honorable nonetheless. Classes are usually in the 20-40 range in student capacity, however there are those lecture classes with 80+. Seeing professors outside of the classroom will definitely help in being noticed and come time for a great recommendation letter, ask your new favorite professor!

Nearly all of my professors know my name since I go to office hours to talk with them. Class sizes are just right, especially the 300-level classes. The lower-level classes usually have 40-50 students which can be overwhelming for a prof. I have yet to meet a professor that I didn't admire. Seemingly most went Ivy League or near-Ivy for their PhDs so they're very bright. Students here are generally cheerful and talkative. I love our uni's CORE classes. I was able to explore my options before choosing a major and also got to take a few classes in subjects that I've always wanted to study, but never had the time.

Overall, the professors here tend to have a passion for the subject of which they teach, however, no matter where someone goes, there will always be a few instructors who could care less about their class. I changed my major many times during my freshman year: Physics and Mathematics to Mathematics to Chemistry and Secondary Education and now to Psychology with a Natural Science approach! Do not worry about changing your major! With that said, I have experienced a great variety of classes most of which I very much enjoyed. Ethics was great because our class would have in-depth discussions about the stories we were reading and then applying them to present-day life. The theology classes are amazing, even if you practice a religion other than Catholicism; for example, I took Great Christian Thinkers yet had many in my class who doubted the mere existence of God -- our discussions were invigorating! With nearly every class that I have taken, I have gained more insight on how diverse the world really is and have become more open-minded so to speak. Do not forget to talk to other students about the classes they are taking or have taken, this will help you decide what professors to try and which ones to avoid. Do not rely on one person to relay you all of that information. There are such websites as ratemyprofessors.com that can help you decide what instructor you should take and also enables you to write your own two cents.

Get a degree in a challenging area; you're guaranteed a job. Loyola has a LOT of hook-ups with internships, so start early!!!

Since I am in a small program, all of the professors know my name. Most programs are at least minimally like that as well. Students are competitive but just with themselves, there is not an overall school rivalry to get ahead. Most of the classes are geared toward getting a job, but there are quite a few classes, if a student wishes to take them, that are just based around learning for its own sake. The computer science department, although lacking in the networking major, is overall a great department. It is small, but that is helpful because students get direct contact with their professors and can do research projects as collaborators with them.

The classes are usually reasonable sized. Lectures are bigger than classes, but the professors really are the teachers. I have been taught two class sessions with a TA, and thats because the professor was in China for a week. The professors are usually top ranked school graduates. For example my history professor went to Princeton. They're really intelligent and they look at the bigger picture in life. The size also means good face time with professors, which can really benefit your grade. College is a game of what professor you have and how much you get to know him. Personality can make or break you. The professors at Loyola are almost all really interesting and ready to help you or just talk about anything with you. The academics here are difficult, but you'll be well prepared for exams. If you go to class, you'll know your stuff. They often teach bigger life goals and are focused on making you the best person you can be. A Loyola degree is a respected one.

I like all classes and most of the teachers

Typically small classes. A ton of wonderful professors.

Even though I am a Biology major, which is probably the largest major at Loyola, I have been privileged to have generally small classes. My largest class was probably a general biology class at about 50-60 students, but I have also had an upper biology class as small as 12. I really feel like most of my professors have a true desire for teaching and also have a ton of knowledge beyond what they are teaching.

The professors are uncaring, and pretentious. Most courses are taught by grad students because Loyola's cheap and they want to get the most bang for their buck. They give us, in return, less than we pay them...by far!!! There's absolutely minimal effort aimed at directing graduate onto the job market...there's almost no opportunity for research growth. It's frustrating because of the unavailability of jobs in the surrounding Roger's Park.

It all depends on who your professors are. I have some classes that are easier than high school. BUT this is college and this is way more serious than high school, with way fewer grades. You can't afford to mess up! (Literally, we are paying a lot)