Well if you haven't guessed it Loyola U. of Chicago is in...... Chicago, so that's neat. It's a middle sized school (opinion) though it feels pretty small. You run into all sorts of people you know just walking through campus which certainly brightens my days. PS. Our campus is literally right On Lake Michigan, ie. you can see it when you walk through parts of campus, you can see if from some of your classrooms, you can see it while you study in the new Information Commons.
There is TON to do here but it takes some initiative on your part as a student. You're in College now! so no one is going to hold your hand (though here in Chicago crossing the street may be considerably more dangerous than where you're from), there aren't mandatory activities (yes! that's right! classes are not mandatory.), your friends no longer have the same or possibly even similar schedules as you do and thus many times you are on your own to amuse yourself.
People have heard of Loyola so its got that going for it atleast. No offense to anyone but when you say you go to Monmouth College people will probably nod and say "oh yeah Monmouth, eh?". There isn't as much school pride as you will find a flagship state schools like U of I or Mizzou, but then again if that's what you are interested in you probably aren't reading this.
There is an active student voice. Though I don't necessarily like our school paper, I like the fact that it contains important topics and active debates about the happenings of our school. I think its wonderful that students openly question the school's stance on various issues through editorials.
The Food! where oh where to begin? (not the campus food, you need to experience that for yourself)
I'm talking about the food to be found here in Chicago. Lets start with just Loyola's "friendly" neighborhood Roger's Park. Now I live off campus in an apartment, thus i have a nice folder full of menus for take out and delivery.
This folder has listings for Thai food, Pub Grub, Indian (sub-continent not native american) food, Pizza, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Ethiopian.. I think you get the idea. If you come here you will lie in the most diverse part of Chicago and you need to Enjoy it! You NEED to try Thai food, it is my favorite, and within a 5 block radius from campus there are probably 4-7 choices for Thai food. Please do yourself a favor and go to Thai Spice on Devon, so good my friends from DePaul come here every other week or so to visit me and enjoy the food at Thai Spice.