Loyola University Maryland
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Spanish
Student Self Identifies as: White Straight Female
Summary
I’m in Education Ambassadors and I’m in Loyola Dance Company.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
High School Experience: Public School in Fairfield, Connecticut with about 400 students in graduating class. There was a culture of going to college.
First Generation College Student: No
Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Spanish
Extracurricular Activities: I’m in Education Ambassadors and I’m in Loyola Dance Company.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
I have danced since I was 3 years old, so having dance at school was important to me so I could continue that chapter of my life. I would say the main reason I came to Loyola was because of Education Ambassadors, I was able to connect with one of their leaders at the freshman orientation and the open houses that Loyola offers.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
Most of our work is reading and essays due every other week usually. Education classes are Tuesday and Thursday and each education course has a field experience portion. I have classes 2 days a week and 3 hours of field experience, which is student teaching in a classroom.
What are your major graded assignments?
The big assignments are lesson plans. The teacher will explain how to write a lesson plan and then you will plan a full lesson. Other assignments are reflections on your teaching or essays.
Is there anything that you feel your major’s department does especially well or especially poorly?
I love all of the field experiences. Most other schools don’t give you as much of an opportunity to practice teaching so early. During my freshmen year, I was already in a classroom and was able to see if this was right for me.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s collaborative, especially in the Education department because we are small group of people. We all work together and it works out well.
What has been your favorite class in your major or minor?
Methods of Teaching Science. We had a lecture once a week learning how to write lesson plans and how to teach science. Once a week, we would go to a local elementary school and actually teach, which was fun.
What has been your least favorite class in your major or minor?
I don’t really have one.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I always wanted to be a teacher and a lot of people in my family are teachers. It is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m very happy with my choice.
How was managing your dance commitment and your coursework?
[My dance commitment] is a few hours a week and it’s usually at night so it works out.
Reasons to Attend
1) The small class sizes. [The average class size is 20 students.]
2) The overall feeling of the community. Everyone is always nice.
3) More specific for the education school: they have great opportunities for field experience for teachers and getting in the classroom right away.
4) I love our dorms. You can get an off-campus apartment after freshman year
Reasons Not to Attend
1) The food is not the best
2) If you don’t like a small school, it’s not going to be the best choice.
3) We don’t have sororities or Greek life.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: I lived in Butler. I was in a triple, so had two other roommates.
Sophomore: I lived in Newman. I was in a six-person apartment and had five other roommates.
Junior: I was in Avila. I was in a six person apartment and had five other roommates
Senior: I will live in Ahern, in a two-person apartment.
What was your favorite place to live?
Avila, because they just renovated it.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
It is a bit dangerous but you have to know your surroundings like in any other city. On campus I never feel unsafe. Around the city, I’m usually with a group of people and feel fine.
What is your favorite off-campus restaurant?
Amicci’s, an Italian restaurant. It is Little Italy.
What is your favorite place to get away from campus?
We go to the Inner Harbor along the water and walk around the harbor area.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities do you like to participate in?
I don’t drink so I hang out with my friends. There is an organization called OPTIONS and they take you to a movie theater or apple picking and other different types and activities. You don’t have to be involved in that scene if you don’t want to.
Are there any activities in the Baltimore area that you like to do with your friends outside of the OPTIONS club?
We always go to Hampdenfest, which is in Hampden, Baltimore, Maryland. We will also walk around in the harbor and go to out for dinner.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Loyola and in Baltimore?
I love it. It is a big enough city where there’s plenty to do but is not overwhelming.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Randomly. I knew most of them from freshmen and summer orientation and we met up again and began to hang out when school started.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Loyola?
Typically, people find their own groups and stick to it. There are different groups, but everyone knows each other. Walk across campus and you’ll see 10 people you know because it’s a small campus. It’s a friendly community as well. I believe half of the student body wants to go out and party and the other half wants to stay on campus and chill.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientation mix socially?
Everyone is accepting of the various sexual orientations. Everyone is a friend. As far as different ethnicities, there are clubs for each individual ethnicity. They host events every year that people enjoy; Caucasian people are welcome as well. There is also an overall club. I find there’s always something happening in the Quad or in the Student Center.
How would you describe the overall student body?
The general demographic is affluent and from Connecticut, New York, or New Jersey. We also have many athletes, but everyone is friendly towards everyone. Overall, people do like to go out and party, especially on Thursday. We don’t have Greek life, so most partying happens off-campus but there is often stuff to do on campus or at the Inner Harbor area. [Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are three of the top ten feeder states. Socioeconomically, 40% of students come from the top 5%.]
Do you think people are generally happy with their choice of Loyola? Do you think people love Loyola after they graduate?
Most people do love it because we are a small school. You have to love a smaller environment, but I think that when people graduate they do really love it.
Careers
Has the alumni network helps you find internships or jobs?
No, because I am a teacher.
To what extent have you used the career office? How helpful have they been?
I have used the office for resume help.
Did you learn any computer programs that will be especially helpful for you professionally or for your course work?
No, we learn different kind of websites like Kahoot and Prezi or different ways to make teaching more entertaining.