Maybe I'm really nerdy in saying this, but I personally love Loyola more for the academic aspect than the social aspect. For the most part, I have had outstanding teachers that really have passion for what they do. They really push you to learn and have no problem helping you along the way. I have been taught by TA's in lab, but they are some of the nicest people you will meet. I guess to help prove I'm a nerd, I spend most of my time on campus in the library. You will find a lot of people there. In my situation as a pre-med student, I have to study all the time, but you realize that everyone else you see studying there with you is most likely in your classes studying for the same thing.
Professors usually want to learn your name. Some take your pictures in order for them to quickly correlate name to face. In some classes, like big lectures, it is just impossible for your teacher to know you by name unless you make the effort to make yourself known. If you just attend lectures and do the basic things you have to do, you'll just be another butt in the seat that gets credit for attendance.
I think my favorite class has been Women in Literature. I did not expect to like this class at all because in high school, I wasn't the biggest fan of English (I'm a science kid), and I didn't really know what to expect since it was centralized around women. I ended up loving the class because the discussions were great- intellectual, relevant to the course while still applicable to everyday life. This class got me into my minors, "Women and Gender Studies," and "English".
Although it seems annoying, Loyola has a CORE curriculum you must complete along with your intended major. These classes consist of two history, two theology, one ethics, two philosophy, two english, two science, and one math course to make you a well-rounded student. Some classes also "double-dip" by counting for two subjects. For example, taking the course "Ethics" fulfills your ethics requirement while also counting as a philosophy core. Although it seems like a lot of work, it's worth it. You learn so much outside of what you want to focus on. In my case, I had no idea I would enjoy women's studies and english classes so much they became my minor.
With biology, the major of everyone and their mother that is pre-health, I would say students are pretty competitive. But, I think that's how it would be at any school you looked at where the students are pre-health. In the fields of pharmacy, medicine, optometry, and so on, you have to be to try to secure your spot in professional school. The competition isn't horrible though. You pretty much find that people are in the same boat you are, they want to do well, and they don't mind helping people along the way. Mostly everyone I know in my classes are really friendly and willing to help anyone that needs it.
I personally don't spend a lot of time with professors outside of the class. I just started going to office hours my sophomore year because I pretty much like to do things on my own. That's my own mistake though because for those people that are pre-health, letters of recommendation are extremely important, expecially from a science professor, and not making that effort for your teacher to know you better may harm you in the future.