When selecting our place of post-secondary education, we often think about three aspects: the social life, the campus, and of course the quality of academics. However, no one really ponders what it’s like once you’ve assimilated to the university culture. Every university has its own identity, and a list of struggles or inside jokes that bring the students together. This is essentially what keeps us laughing through hard times, and forces us to realize that we really are lucky to be where we are.
1. You get frustrated when people take the elevator to the 2nd or 3rd floor in Mundelein.
You’re running late to sociology, your class is on the 6th floor, and of course there’s that one person that crams themselves into the elevator at the last moment and presses the 3 button. The rage you experience next is synonymous to that of liberal arts students being forced to take a mathematics course - it’s brutal.
2. Is there a doctor in the house?
It seems as though the entirety of your gen-ed classes are future doctors. In a school so heavily Pre-Med, it’s difficult to find the next Aristotle rather than an aspiring oncologist. You’ll soon realize this means less competition for you in your career path, which is a beautiful thing.
3.You’ve been inadequately prepared for bipolar weather.
When you left for your 8am class, it was perfect weather for a heavy winter jacket and some boots. However, once you’re off to lunch at 11, you’re sweating profusely and the sun has actually made an appearance. Or, you wore a parka to your first class and quickly realize that the temperature has dropped 20 degrees and you’re in serious need of a portable space heater.
4.You’ve been bored on the weekends.
It’s no secret that Loyola has no football team, and there isn’t really a lot going on on campus most of the time. Once you find your niche and a good group of friends, however, things may turn around. (Psst, Northwestern is not very far away!)
5. You’ve been ravished by 60mph winds.
They call it the windy city for a reason, and once winter comes and the wind starts blowing you off course, you wonder if it would be worth it to buy tuition insurance in case it just blows you away entirely.
6. You’ve been frustrated with the wifi.
Technology is a whole new type of evil: a blessing and a
7. You’ve tried to get into basketball because there’s no football team.
There’s plenty of hype around Loyola’s D1 basketball team, and it’s no wonder - former football fans flock to the Gentile arena on nights when there are basketball games to satisfy their cravings for college athletics.
8.You despise DePaul more than you despise the crowded IC conditions around midterms and finals.
DePaul has been Loyola’s mortal enemy for years, and once you set foot on campus, it’s like you inherit this disdain for the school. Regardless of whether or not your friends attend DePaul or if you applied there as well, you always stand by your alma mater. It’s the Purdue-IU rivalry of Chicago.
9. You know all the words to LUC Trap.
While everyone is singing the Loyola fight song, you can’t help but want to burst out into this student-made but
10. Pizza is your go-to food.
With so many places to try authentic Chicago pizza, it’s tempting to just eat pizza every night. It’s fast and easy, and you have endless choices. A Giordano’s not too far away, a Gino’s East in downtown, etc. But for those nights when you feel like something classier than Domino's but don't want to spend the time to get that deep dish, Blaze Pizza allows you to create your own and is a popular dining spot for many LUC students. The freshman 15 really creeps up on you.
11. You are always on the lookout for concerts.
The city is a popular pit stop for many celebrities and music artists, which means you’re always trying to find some tickets to see your favorites. Chicago breeds the best, and you’re willing to spend what little money you have as a broke college student to score some Chance or Kanye tickets.
13. You've studied in the Hogwarts room.
When the IC is full, you head over to the section of the Cudahy library that everyone calls the "Hogwarts Room" and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. It's preferable to go at
14. You wouldn’t have it any other way.
Though most of the list may sound pessimistic, there’s no doubt that at the end of the day, you wouldn’t be able to see yourself anywhere else. Loyola is your home, and it’s a place of acceptance and solitude. We all bond over our frustration with the same things - and that’s how we find our friends for life.
