Just want to note that many Jesuit schools do have strong/robust philosophy programs as well. Perhaps he can look at the online course catalogs to see the offerings.
I do think there are enough differences between a mid-sized Jesuit college and a large public university that (assuming affordability) fit will be very important.
I would try to visit Rutgers, if possible. It is a big school and I think your son would benefit from spending some time there and experiencing the bus system.
Psychology is located on the Busch campus, along with engineering, math, science, etc. There are libraries nearby as well as places to eat. I don’t know where philosophy is in relation to Busch.
The academics are excellent.
Students do take the train to NYC and other places- it is conveniently located. There is also a lot in the area- places to eat, hospitals etc. The downtown area is run-down (opinion), but the students don’t seem to mind.
I think your son has 3 nice choices, and assuming affordability I would focus on fit.
Not to counter this argument, but just to note that friends with students at Rutgers specifically have noted that they have very strong supports for students that need extra support. This surprised me because of the enormous size of Rutgers, but apparently they do pretty well with this. Of course, please verify this. I don’t have personal experience with it, just something noted to me that did actually surprise me about Rutgers.
That is good to know, and makes it a more viable option in my mind. My choices for him are the same, either Loyola or Rutgers. We’ve visited IU a few times, and I just haven’t felt that either one of my kids belonged there, and the school isn’t strong in philosophy. Even though he hasn’t planned on making a career in philosophy (but who knows), it is something he has been passionate about for a while. But, as I’ve already said, if the cost is equal, or close enough, it’s really up to S26.
That can be anything from law school to sales. It can literally be anything as I’m not sure a specific career aligns with the major.
I think you definitely need to connect with the basement music scene described above. Sounds crazy cool - maybe right in his wheelbase. That was an interesting discussion.
That’s true about philosophy, especially if he goes to a graduate school of some kind.
I did look at the link for the music scene and he actually knew about the different categories….. 
I’ve mentioned before that 4 out of the 6 people in my Philosophy PhD program class eventually went to law school. We all rocked the LSAT, and I like to joke that it was the longest but most effective LSAT prep course available.
Ultimately it is a field which builds very strong reading, writing, logical, and oral communication skills. Also good for people who have a lot of curiousity about why things are the way they are. And while that is not specific preparation for anything in particular, it can be good general preparation for many things.
I agree with the posters who have said that Loyola seems like the best fit. IMO Loyola is a hidden gem. The lakeshore campus is nice with a lot of shops/restaurants/bars in walking distance. Students are friendly and happy, and there is good school spirit, especially with men’s basketball and men’s volleyball. But of course I would still encourage a visit to Rutgers.
No one has commented on the punk music scene in Chicago but it is strong, with probably a couple dozen bars/concert venues that could host punk acts on any given night. The benefit of being at Loyola is that it is right on the ‘L’ train line, so getting to the main areas of the city (south of lakeshore campus) is generally easy, and safe (disclaimer that one must always maintain high awareness with regard to their surroundings, as in any urban area.) The ‘L’ train also goes north to Evanston, where there are also several outstanding live music venues.
S26 doesn’t feel that he needs to go to the accepted students day because he’s already seen Loyola. Kind of annoying because it’s not the same as the tour he did last year. His AP psy teacher is a Jesuit in training (can’t remember what they’re called), and also went to Loyola for graduate school and has majored in psy/philosophy.
I’ll tell him about the music scene- he’ll love to know that.
Knowing the decisions isn’t mine to make, and assuming we can make it work with the tuition, I can see how both may be good for him
Smaller but not too small, family in Chicago, he can get on a bus and visit his brother at Wisconsin, good Psy and philosophy programs, he’ll get support if and when he needs it. I know of a student from his high school that is there.
Rutgers is farther away (both are plane rides for us from a United hub to United hub), much bigger school, more walking/busses to class, no family or friends nearby, good for Psy, and amazing for philosophy. We don’t know much about the school. He told me he’s capable of getting what he needs if he has to. He’s not afraid of being alone in a restaurant- or being by himself, but he’s not a loner.
If he truly remembers his day there and has positive thoughts, he doesn’t need to go back.
It sounds to me that he’s got three schools:
Choice is difficult thing so that he’s pretty much eliminated one makes it that much easier.
If he dislikes Rutgers for whatever reason - size, bus taking, downtown is grimy someone said - great. Game over.
If he likes Rutgers and now isn’t sure, you can always revisit Loyola. It needn’t be an admitted student day.
One thing to do after visiting Rutgers - record his feedback on your phone so you can measure his excitement, what he likes etc. some kids love a place and weeks later can’t remember why - so if that happens and he can’t decide after a follow up to Loyola, you have his thoughts ready to play back.
You’re actually in a great position, decision wise.
Good luck
That’s a great idea with the phone. To add another wrinkle, he was deferred from Minnesota- so that may be an option next month!
what’s his tolerance for cold 
It’s much more urban - just across the river from the big city. Super big. Hey, Prince was from there - they’ve got music Another great school. Are there more? So you aren’t really down to three.!!
Student was deferred at UMN so it is not an option yet.
I know - but that it was introduced - I’m just wondering if there’s more. At first I thought it was the three in the subject and there really was only two since IU was out.
If they’re waiting on another 5 - then maybe the entire thing is a bit premature - other than to know that Loyola does seem a fine fit.
I honestly feel like Rutgers is as well. There are close to 40,000 undergraduate students dealing with the buses, and truly they figure it out.
Nope, Minnesota is it 
, and I’m not counting on it. It’s still the two schools, Loyola and Rutgers. And D26 has been reading some kind of philosophy since he was young, so I think it’s important that he go to a school that has a good program if he decides to really go in that direction.
He did get admitted to Northeastern London scholars, but that would be a no, from D26, and my husband and me. Not considering it for many reasons, starting in London, then going to Boston, and the cost is way more than the other schools. D26 didn’t even consider it.
I get that some schools are more renowned than others - but for undergrad, I would look at the curriculums but also the schedule. A class might sound fantastic but if you find out it’s offered only once every 4 years, it does you little good. Maybe check the faculty list too - do they have enough and that are school employees vs. adjunct, etc. Looking at rankings, there’s some crazy names listed as the top programs….so
Good luck.
Thank you for all the help. I’m not trying to make philosophy the end all, be all. But, if he can take some classes that he may enjoy, that would be great. And it may mean he’d meet similar kids, with similar interests, and that would also be great. And if it’s all at school he likes, then that’s what matters. He plans on going to graduate school, so ultimately, undergrad is just one step.
Normally I wouldn’t do this for an undergrad, but since your kid sounds like he has an unusually well-developed interest at this stage . . . are there are any specific Philosophical interests he is looking to explore?
Just in general, there is a sort of major split between Analytic and Continental (although sometimes people would substitute Pluralism for Continental). Rutgers is again one of the top Analytic programs in the world. But Loyola Chicago would likely be a better choice with a strong Continental/Pluralist interest. Not that Rutgers would be bad, but consider this popular source for Continental/Pluralist people looking for PhD programs:
Rutgers is on the Recommended list, so that’s good. In general, most top departments like Rutgers are not going to ignore a major area like this.
But Loyola Chicago is on the Strongly Recommended list . . . even better! Again, this is for PhD programs, not undergrads, but given what you are describing, thinking like this would not be crazy.
In terms of Analytic fields, Rutgers is particularly strong in Metaphysics and Epistemology, including Philosophy of Language and Philosophy of Mind, and the Philosophical side of Cognitive Science.
Also Philosophy of Religion, although again I would think Loyola would be a real contender there too, but maybe with a bit of a different focus.
Sort of the same deal with Ethics, Social, and Political Philosophy–I think depending on your focus either could be preferred. In fact this general area is often where the distinctions between Analytic and Continental/Pluralist programs are most evident.
General History of Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy . . . again at the undergrad level, all good departments will have this covered, but I would not consider this a top strength of Rutgers at the advanced level. So again, this is an area where Loyola would be at least as good of a choice, if not better. For Medieval Philosophy or the History of Continental Philosophy, back to Loyola being the clear winner (I would think).
That’s a lot, but maybe worth considering? In the end, you could go either of these places for undergrad and then the other for a PhD, so it is not like you are locking into anything at this point. But if you are looking for points of distinction to help decide between two overall excellent options, this would be one sort of thing to consider.
