Top 5 Things to Love About DePaul’s Loop Campus
The Loop campus is a major selling point for a ton of DePaul students, and definitely not without reason. It is arguably one of the greatest advantages that the university possesses, and allows students to have a really interesting and unique experience. I wanted to create this post to talk about just a few of the incredible aspects of our lovely downtown campus, and hopefully shed some light on why it is such a great part of DePaul.
1. Proximity to downtown public spaces
Ok, I know that this one might seem like it goes without saying, but until you’re actually enrolled at DePaul you do not realize how great this fact is. Obviously downtown Chicago is really cool, and there are a ton of things to take advantage of. But what’s really awesome about being at DePaul is that you can take advantage of those things almost whenever you want because it’s pretty likely that you’ll already be downtown for your classes. The amount of times where I have been in between classes in the loop and had a thought like, “Why don’t I go do some homework in Millennium Park” is so cool, and I love having the opportunity to get out and connect more with the city.
2. Public transit
This one might be considered one of the more boring aspects, but I think it’s one of the most important. In Chicago, the public transportation system is built around the loop. All of the train lines feed into the loop and then go back out. With that in mind, you can sort of go anywhere in the city via public transit if you are starting from the Loop. This is also one of those things you probably won’t think about until you’re enrolled as a student, but I think it’s so important to consider given how cool Chicago is. There is a train station for all of the major lines within less than 5 minutes of all the DePaul Loop campus buildings, and that allows you to go right from class to anywhere in the city. This opens up all kinds of opportunities for things you can do on a regular basis, and truly represents how awesome it is to go to school in Chicago.
3. Proximity to major companies
This one might only be applicable to students looking to work in a corporate environment, but that is a huge portion of all DePaul students, especially those who take classes in the Loop. DePaul is one of the top schools in Chicago, that means major companies who have offices here are always looking to connect with the school and recruit students. Chicago is home to top companies in virtually every industry, and so many of those are headquartered here and coordinate most of their business from the city. This allows students to develop strong connections and network with a vast variety of businesses throughout their time at DePaul. Additionally, with our campus located at the center of the city, companies are eager to stop by and host events in our buildings given the close proximity to their own offices.
4. Modern amenities
Being that Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the country, there is innovation and change around constantly. DePaul does its best to keep up with the city, and offers students a very modern environment in both campuses, but specifically in the Loop. Between the Idea Realization Lab, all of the amazing study spaces, and the Jarvis Center for Innovation, there are some really cool things happening at the Loop campus. I also want to quickly mention the food options in this section. I am such a sucker for a good lunch spot in between classes, and being in the loop you have quite literally every option you could want within walking distance.
5. On-campus views
This final aspect may seem cliche or could go without saying, but I’m bringing it up because it might be my favorite out of all of them. I grew up in a small town in Michigan and lived there for my entire childhood before coming to DePaul. Being in Chicago was the main motivator for me in choosing DePaul, and it has been such a great experience in terms of how I have developed and changed as a person. Simply being surrounded by the city and all of the buildings and people has such an effect on your life. Knowing that there are so many different lives going on around you is such a cool feeling, and is something that I refuse to take for granted as a student here. Also, being able to look out at the Chicago skyline from the 15th floor of a skyscraper while sitting in class is just really cool.
The Loop campus is a great representation of all of the advantages DePaul has to offer. Incredible connections with companies in the city, great opportunities to explore and develop yourself as a person, and an amazing environment to learn and get your college degree. I am so happy that I chose to come to DePaul, and the Loop campus is one of the biggest reasons why.
~Jeff