Loyola University Maryland (LUM)

Students who earn the opportunity to study at Loyola University Maryland get to "take some awesome classes that will completely change your perspective on the world." As part of Loyola's "fantastic core curriculum," students get "a solid foundation in the natural sciences, English, history, philosophy, and theology." Students emphasize that the three distinct colleges devoted to arts and sciences, business, and education "are outstanding and the coursework is challenging." There's also robust academic support: the "career center is open for students starting at day one." The "excellent study abroad program" is particularly popular, with some 60*% of students studying internationally over the course of their undergraduate career.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to one, professors "get to know you personally, take time out of their office hours to have intellectual discussions, show you how to learn and how to teach, and help you out when you are having difficulties." One student reports that their instructors "actually know each of their students by name." Moreover, instructional strategies consider "different learning techniques to cater to everyone's different learning styles." Students love that it's "fairly common for professors to give out their personal cell phone numbers or to even invite the class to their home for dinner."

With a student body nearly 4,000 strong, Greyhounds value being able to "find their niche at Loyola very quickly." Loyola attracts students who "care about their academics and do well in school, but they also try to balance that with extracurriculars and their spiritual life." The vibe on campus is "really welcoming and trustworthy" and fosters a "great sense of community." Some students feel that "the student body may appear homogeneous," with a population where "many of the students are white" and often hail from the East Coast. A plurality also self-identify as Catholics. Beneath that surface, attendees explain that "everyone can fit in well," especially when you "immerse yourself in the opportunities Loyola has to offer." As one Greyhound puts it best, Loyola students "live out the core values of the university and enjoy being a contributing member of the school community."

Affectionately known as Greyhounds, Loyola students find the "right balance between religion, spirituality, and the everyday life of college students." True to its Jesuit legacy, Loyola offers "amazing opportunities to get involved in the Baltimore community through service," a learning experience that students positively describe as "an extension of the classroom." (Students also say they enjoy just "walking around the harbor.") With its primary undergraduate campus in northern Baltimore City, "most students live on campus" and those who move into suites and apartments can enjoy such amenities as "full kitchens in your dorm by sophomore year." Staying central to campus allows Greyhounds to easily attend the "numerous speakers, movies, events, [and] sporting events" available on campus. Student athletes compete in the Patriot League, and Loyola boasts eight men's and nine women's varsity sports teams. Don't expect any stereotypically wild parties, as "there is no Greek life" on campus and there are strict rules for 21-year-olds about where they can have alcohol; some students note that they instead "go out to bars on Fridays and Saturdays." However, late-night students swear by Midnight Breakfast at the Boulder Cafe, and come spring, students of all stripes can be found enjoying Loyolapalooza, a music festival for the entire student body to enjoy before finals. Like the Greyhounds they take their name from, students are "busy doing loads of homework, projects, reading, community service, clubs, lectures, [and] sports," and they're happy doing it.