A Guide To Living In The Loop
Living in the Loop is not the same as living on campus. There's more to do, more people to meet, and you'll have more responsibility that comes with having an internship and an apartment. Read through this guide a few times before your arrive to ease the transition to becoming a working professional living in the city!
Welcome to the Working World
Congratulations! You landed the internship. Now you get to navigate the subtleties of the office and balancing your sometimes hectic schedule.
Tip: Create a routine. It may be a tough adjustment learning how to balance a class schedule, internship hours, homework, and your social life. Each a day may look a little different, but if you wake up at the same time every morning (and attempt to go to bed at the same time every night), you will slowly begin to create a routine. If you work at 9 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays but class starts at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, wake up at 7:30 a.m. every day. Use the time before class to complete homework, run errands, or do your laundry.
Tip: Pants (and other appropriate work attire) are required. Miniskirts, flip flops, and pajamas aren't acceptable for the typical work environment. If you have any questions about what's appropriate for work, err on the side of conservative and clarify with your work supervisor before you wear that pair of seersucker shorts with flamingos embroidered into them. A good rule of thumb: If you have to ask, it's probably not a good choice for work.
Tip: Save late nights for the weekends. You don't want to become that intern who earns the reputation of calling off sick, coming in late, and/or reeking of last night's bars. "TGIF" exists for a very good reason– work all week; play on the weekends.
Tip: If you begin to feel overwhelmed, talk to someone! Everyone involved in the making the In The Loop program happen are here to help you.
Getting Around the City
You get a stipend to get around town, but you're not exactly a seasoned CTA rider and you don't know how to hail a cab.
Tip: Plan ahead. Always leave a little earlier than you think you need to, especially when taking the CTA. Trains and buses run regularly, but seemingly more often than not, they're a bit off-schedule. Mechanical problems, road/track hazards, and weather can interrupt your commute. Give yourself a few extra minutes to make it to work or class on time in case your commute is a little crazy.
Tip: It may turn out that your internship and/or classes are approximately an hour’s commute from the hostel. Don’t complain! Chances are you most likely will not be in the position to crawl out of bed and walk to your job after you graduate from College, so view this as a “trial run” for the “real world.” Commuting is simply a fact of life for most working professionals.
Tip: Don't rely on cabs or other driver services. They're expensive and will eat through your transportation budget in no time. When using services like Uber or Lyft, be safe and travel with a friend. Bonus? You can split the fare in-app.
Tip: Try biking. Bicycling Magazine named Chicago among the most bike-friendly cities in the country. If you don't have your own bike, consider trying out Divvy, Chicago's bike sharing system. If you have your own bike, you can store it in your apartment or in the hostel's bike room. Don't forget a bike lock! And a helmet!
Living with More Than One Roommate
Sure, when you lived on campus, you had roommates, but chances are that you didn't have three roommates plus a kitchen and bathroom.
Tip: Create an atmosphere of open communication early on. On day one, have an honest (but kind!) conversation about guests, cleaning the apartment, and sleep and study habits. Making sure you are all on the same page will help to avoid any future (and potentially awkward) moments.
Tip: Divvy up apartment responsibilities like cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, doing the dishes, and vacuuming the living room. Still not seeing eye-to-eye? Talk to your roommates, and then ask your Resident Director (RD) or Resident Assistant (RA) to step in and mediate.
Tip: If something's bugging you, speak up. It's better to solve a problem sooner than let it stew and cause tensions later.
Cleaning and Caring for Your Apartment
Although you should already be accustomed to cleaning your room and doing your laundry, you and your roommates will now have an entire apartment to care for.
Tip: Designate chores or create a rotating system from the get-go. You'll all be on the same page, and it'll be easier and less awkward to encourage your roommate to clean his/her dirty dishes from three days ago if you have already clarified responsibilities. Schedule a cleaning day or cleaning time. That way, everyone knows that they have to do their part (and do it well) every Sunday (or whatever day you choose).
Tip: Get cleaning supplies during your first grocery trip, and split the cost with your roommates. Donate any leftovers at the end of the semester for future residents. Recommended cleaning items: dish soap, dishwasher detergent, all-purpose kitchen and bathroom cleaner, toilet brush, sponges, glass/window cleaner, air freshener, trash bags, paper towels.
Tip: Complete your room condition report (RCR) as soon as possible. If you don't return your RCR, you're liable for any any damage or cleaning fees after you move out. If you return it, you're protected from liability of damages that were there before you moved in. If something needs repair, contact the RD or RA to complete a work order. If you need an emergency repair (no heat, no water, flooding, broken locks), visit the front desk.
Feeding Yourself
Without a meal plan, you have to learn how to feed yourself, budget grocery money, and plan for eating out.
Tip: Take your grocery deposit out of the bank and keep it in an envelope in your desk drawer (or somewhere safe). Only take that envelope with you when you go to the grocery store so that you won't be tempted to spend more than what you have. Using a credit card can get you into trouble if you're not used to keeping track of expenses.
Tip: Stretch your dollar with coupons, sales, buying store brands, and shopping at stores like Trader Joe's and Jewel instead of Mariano's and Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck).
Tip: Plan our your meals for the week, and buy ingredients that you can use in multiple recipes.
Tip: Share common condiments and spices with your roommates in order to avoid wasting food and fridge space. Split the grocery bill with apps like Chase QuickPay or Venmo. Also, talk with your roommates about foods you can share. Chances are you won’t all need your own separate gallon of milk or any other food that is perishable within a week.
Getting Creative with Your Workouts
Gym memberships are expensive. Get (or stay) fit without breaking the bank.
Tip: Some of the In the Loop partner institutions give you access to student fitness centers and gyms. Make sure to attend your partner institution orientation to learn more about these benefits.
Tip: The city is your concrete jungle gym. In colder months, run the stairs in the hostel. When it's nice outside, go for a jog or ride a bike along the Lakefront Trail. Check out trail conditions here.
Tip: If you really want a treadmill and/or free weights and don't have access through a partner institution, sign up for a monthly or 3-month membership at a Chicago Park District fitness center. Prices generally fall between the $30-$60 range for a 3-month membership. The nearest locations to the Loop are at Lake Shore Park in Streeterville (near The Museum of Contemporary Art and Navy Pier) and Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown.
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