Amazing school for Amazing students

Introduction
I chose LMU because I knew I wanted a private school where class sizes would be smaller and opportunities would be more numerous. Not only did I find what I was looking for - small class sizes, personalized attention, and a fun atmosphere - but the campus is gorgeous! I'm a tour guide at LMU and my favorite part about the tours is being able to show off my university. I love talking about the Sunken Gardens and all the activities there, as well as our awesome gym, our huge basketball team, and the gorgeous University Hall. We have so many bragging rights it's ridiculous.

I would definitely say that students who are okay with a campus on the quieter end of the spectrum would be happiest here. A nice aspect of our campus is that there aren't tooooo many parties to distract you BUT if you're into a more energetic L.A. atmosphere, we're so close to Downtown and all the Hollywood hotspots! It's a perfect balance of peaceful and fun.

One warning: if you want a school with a football team or a huge weekend party scene, LMU is definitely not the place for you. And if you want to be able to miss class and slack and still get by, LMU is not for you. The professors generally take attendance and the curriculum is pretty hard. You won't be able to just sleep through classes and expect an A.

Campus Life and Social Life
The best part of campus life at LMU is that the campus is so beautiful and the weather is almost always great. This, combined with our great facilities, promotes a lot of interaction throughout the school. You will always find people tanning outside in the Sunken Gardens or Hannon Field. There are constantly outdoor events and people are always roaming around campus, taking advantage of the breeze and the sun.

As for nightlife, LMU is definitely not a 'party school.' We have a relatively quiet campus, especially since most students are from Southern California and go home on the weekends, but it's not totally dead out here. If you're involved and take initiative, there'll always be something to do. The basketball games are amazing to watch and there's a club for everybody.

LMU is big on community service and I would recommend that to all students. Do something good for someone else - it'll feel good. I promise. Advertisement
Academics
LMU is a Liberal Arts University and as an English major, I have had a lot of opportunities to explore the College of Liberal Arts. My favorite classes thus far have been Theology and American Cultures. The professors are varying levels of inspiring and passionate, but if you have a good teacher that is truly passionate about his or her subject, it'll be awesome.

As for the requirements here: I suck at math and did not want to take the CORE math. But I did, and I got through it, and I actually learned from it. Professors are really adamant about students attending office hours and really go out of their ways to make you feel comfortable about approaching them.
The small class sizes also make it really easy for students to learn and not feel the pressure of not being able to speak up or ask questions.

I wouldn't say that classes are too difficult at LMU and I wouldn't say that academics are extremely challenging here. It's pretty average and not too intimidating. There's definitely a balance between work and play and if you prioritize and don't procrastinate, there'll always be time to party.

Student Body
I've noticed that there are a lot of conservative, upper-class white people at LMU. I mean....we're a Catholic university, so it's sort of expected. Having said that, as s a very liberal and very middle-class interracial student, I personally haven't encountered the feeling of being singled out or alienated. Everyone here is very social and very talkative. There's always going to be your standard 'Sorority Girl' or 'Boho Chick' or 'Frat Boy' you'll find at any university, but whatever your tastes and preferences are, there'll be a niche here for you too. You've just gotta go out and find it. You can be friends with jocks, you can be friends with people in Service Orgs, you can have friends in the Campus Ministry, or even eat with your RAs. The community feeling at LMU is unlimited and very strong.

In Closing...
I think that whatever school you go to, your gut will tell you what's right. Don't let money or distance be a factor. If you feel like you'd be happy there, do everything in your power to go there. LMU is an amazing school with a gorgeous campus and genuine people, but it's not right for everybody. Definitely go and visit all of your prospective colleges, visit the campuses, stay a night or two, and sit in on some classes to get a real feel for what you want and need.