10 reasons to love Loyola
There are many, many reasons to love the Loyola experience. Some might seem silly (condiments you can only get from Loyola Dining Services) compared to others (personal growth opportunities I’ve discovered during my time here), but that’s only until you experience them for yourself...
I am confident at least a few will strike a chord with every Greyhound.
Without further ado, here are 10 reasons—in no particular order—why I love Loyola University Maryland.
They say the greyhound has the largest heart of any dog. Anyone who spends a day on our campus will see why this perfectly describes the Greyhound Nation. Passionate people are a staple at Loyola. Rounding up a group to cheer for a team, rally behind a cause, participate in an event—whether it’s a soccer game, working to alleviate hunger, Relay For Life, or a concert on the Quad—is at the center of life at Loyola.
What’s more, the community here feels like just that: a community. If people don’t know your name (and it’s only a matter of time), they recognize your face. They say hello. They inquire about your classes, your opinions, your plans for the weekend. People here care.
The Jesuit standard of education on a collegiate level is world-renowned and provides students with knowledge as well as thought-provoking ideas and approaches to studies—and to life. The Jesuits encourage progress while maintaining a sense of strong tradition.
What’s more, Loyola’s aim to create persons for and with others is woven into everything we do here, from the classroom to the sports field to special interest clubs to internships. And who doesn’t aspire to be just that?
The best way to end your week and start the next one is with Hopkins Court Mass, celebrated by Father Rossi in Hopkins Court Lounge. This is an intimate, laid-back, come-as-you-are service that takes place at 10 p.m. on Sunday evenings. The homilies always have a message that relates to college life, current events, and a global perspective. The music is always moving. And for an hour, you feel part of something bigger than yourself. Even if you don’t consider yourself a religious person, I highly recommend checking out Hopkins Mass. You may be surprised by what you take away from it.
When I chose to come to Loyola, I wasn’t aware how much Baltimore would impact my experience. Now I can’t imagine going to school in any other city. Baltimore is part of Loyola just as Loyola is part of Baltimore, and exploring this city has been one of my favorite aspects of my college experience.
My favorite area is Hampden, a gold mine of local culture, fun, food, free festivals, antiques, and thrift stores. It’s the place to go for incredible coffee, ice cream, and Mexican food. It’s where you’ll want to shop for birthday and Christmas gifts for family and friends who aren’t familiar with Baltimore, because it has so many cool little storefronts. Best of all, it’s walking distance from campus, so no need to worry about transportation. Go for breakfast and stay to study the afternoon away in a coffee shop, or browse one-of-a-kind artwork for your room.
P.S. Beyond Hampden, Baltimore is full of quirky neighborhoods to discover.
The Loyola community is made up of professors, administrators, graduate and undergraduate students, Jesuits, staff, and neighbors who each have their own story—and who contribute to a diverse, vibrant, special place.
I encourage everyone to take advantage of listening to and sharing your own stories with these incredible people. The smiles from the Boulder Café staff brighten your day, especially during those tougher weeks in the semester, when you are overwhelmed by exams or responsibilities. They serve you lunch with a side of encouragement every single day. The groundskeepers are so friendly, and they find time to say good morning even as they work tirelessly to keep campus clean, landscaped, and decorated for holidays and special events. The folks who work at Starbucks know your name and your coffee order, and will always wish you a good day. It’s this warm community feeling that is contagious and makes Loyola feel like home.
Sherwood Gardens is a public garden less than a mile from Loyola’s campus. Filled with dozens of varieties of tulips, planted and cared for by the people who live in the neighborhood, it is an incredibly beautiful, almost surreal place. Sherwood Gardens is the perfect setting for a run or a game of Frisbee. It’s just as nice for a fresh-air study session, so pack some snacks, a blanket, and your books, and walk through the Guilford neighborhood until you stumble upon this living rainbow.
Loyola’s Chipotle mayo was among the things I missed most when I was studying abroad in Belgium. I am serious. Nothing is better than just the right amount of Chipotle mayo on your favorite sandwich, on chicken, on anything. As a condiment, as a dip—you decide. Once you indulge, you’ll wonder how you’ve been managing without it as an option all these years.
Loyola’s Fitness & Aquatic Center is easily one of the best university fitness centers in the country. Better yet, membership is included in the price of tuition. (I don’t know what I’ll do after I graduate and need to find a new gym!) There really is something for everyone at the FAC. From group fitness classes to personal training to cardio machines and free weights... from swimming to tackling the giant rock wall... you will find a way to work up a sweat. Plus you’re bound to bump into friends or classmates, which is a nice incentive to go—and a great reason to start a pickup game.
Loyola’s on-campus radio station plays the best hits in alternative music all day, every day with the coolest DJs around (including your roommates, classmates, and teammates from your intramural softball team).
They have giveaways for concert tickets, new music releases and swag, and they sponsor events on campus and around Baltimore, including bringing live shows to campus. Discover new music, tune in to their programs and listen live.
There is truly no feeling like sharing your time, your talent, and your resources with others. The people you meet through service experiences and service-learning at Loyola (including fellow Loyola students and faculty!) will change your life. The Center for Community, Service, and Justice provides the most unique and rewarding service opportunities for Loyola students, and in a variety of forms. It’s easy to get involved and make a difference, as well as make connections, with different populations in the Baltimore community—as well as around the country and the world.
I am grateful service is a key facet to my experience here, something Loyola students shouldn’t take for granted. It’s these experiences that have changed and challenged me in ways that I didn’t expect, that I will carry with me just as I will everything I’ve learned in the classroom here, to my career, and to my life beyond Loyola.