Loyola University Chicago: Off the Record - College Prowler

College guides written by students for students.

Loyola University Chicago Students Tell It Like It Is

"Bring lots of layers, something that goes over your ears, and stop caring about fashion for the months of December through March, because by then, everyone's too cold to care what the heck you look like. And if you weigh less than 90 pounds, fill your pockets with sand from the beach, or you will blow away."

Wow. If you do happen to weigh less than 90 pounds, no need to thank us. That's what College Prowler is here for: to avert the crises that would happen to uninformed students. There's more you need to know . . .

"Loyola has teachers you will want to become, and teachers you will want to behead. The trick for me is not to be intimidated or overly skeptical about the fact that you may have a Jesuit priest as your professor, because Jesuit priests are smart as all get out. And some have been kicked out of the Catholic Church before, indicating they're rebels, willing to smite tradition in favor of social justice."

Now, that is something you won't get from any other college guidebook.

"Only go to Lake Shore Dining if you feel like Loyola is ripping you off. The food is horrible, but since it is served buffet-style, get plate after plate after plate and build an enormous food statue. Then proceed to throw it out."

So is that.

Our Loyola University guide is page after page of the best advice Loyola students have to give. And who knows the school better than them?

"As far as coffee houses go, Ennui is a good neighborhood stop, though the hip place to be is Chase Café. They have open-mic nights and a massage parlor! Best coffeeshop in the city is Pick Me Up, off the Addison El stop."

See? Now you know where to go to get coffee. And everyone knows how much college students need their coffee.

"As far as freshman dorms go, Simpson and Campion draw about an even overall quality. Simpson has coed floors and private bathrooms for every three rooms, but it is usually the preferred dorm, and hard to get into. Mertz, though the victim of frequent fire alarms, is truly 19 floors of fun. Each floor by year's end has its own identity, for people bond quickly due to the ordeal of living there. The motto of Mertz is 'Mertz 'till it hurts!'-but I loved it."

And now you know about the dorms.

"There are lots of hotties on campus; check out Hamilton's on a Thursday night, and you'll see what I mean."

You are almost all set. All you need now is the book.

Find out if Loyola has something for you, straight from the students' mouths. Visiting campus isn't enough.

Read our Loyola University Chicago insider's guide and discover what it feels like to be on campus for 4 years.

Discover if Loyola is Right For You.