(Photo: Loyola University of Chicago)
By: Allie Tracy, Staff Reporter
Over fall break I took a trip to Chicago to visit my best friend from high school who studies at Loyola University of Chicago. With both Regis and Loyola being private Jesuit Universities I was excited to experience and find the similarities and differences between the two while exploring the city. Similar to Regis the campus is gorgeous and filled with trees. The buildings holding great significance and importance to the Loyola community.
There was a similar male to female ratio at Loyola like there is here and while walking on campus during school I noticed it was much busier. Sidewalks, cafes and study rooms were filled with people coming and going, more than I was used to. Any student at Regis would agree that there is more of a laid-back vibe here, but at Loyola, students seemed more put together and there was a lot more movement on the campus.
I really enjoyed how simple it was for the students to get downtown by taking the “L.” With the Loyola stop practically on campus, the students have the freedom to go anywhere at whatever time they want with the swipe of their complementary “L” pass. It took us 20 minutes to get downtown and explore the city with a quick and easy swipe to get back on.
Although the freedom to go downtown is significantly cheaper and easier for students at Loyola, the living situation is quite different. As sophomores, you are given 3 apartment-style options to choose from and share with a roommate. These apartments are about 4-6 blocks from each other. I find this to be hard because when you are separated from your friends, it is harder to connect. From the perspective of a Regis student, I found there to be some similarities and differences to being a student in Chicago at Loyola University.