2025 Speak Up Democracy

Loyola University Chicago
Speak Up Democracy
Application for Summer 2025
www.luc.edu/SpeakUpDemocracy

To apply, please submit:

A high-school transcript, uploaded with the application.
Two short essays. The first essay is a brief 100-word answer. The second essay must be 350-650 words long. You will have four options for the second essay. We recommend typing your answers to the questions in a word-processing program (such as Word) first, editing carefully, and then pasting your answers into the online application when you are ready.
(Optional) A brief recommendation letter from a teacher, librarian, or counselor. If you decide to include a recommendation letter, your letter will be submitted directly by your recommender, but it is your responsibility to ask for it and remind them to submit it by the deadline. A single paragraph (100-200 words) explaining your preparedness and motivation for college-level academic work suffices, though your recommender is welcome to submit a full-length letter. The letter is due May 31, 2025.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at SpeakUpDemocracy@luc.edu.

Speak Up Democracy is a free program, supported by the Teagle Foundation.

If accepted, the program will cover your accommodations in Loyola’s campus from Sunday, July 13th to Friday, to July 18th, 2025, and then again from Monday, July 21st to Friday, July 25th, 2025. You will spend the in-between weekend at home, but are expected back on campus on Monday morning, July 21st. The first seven nights will be spent at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus and the last two days will be spent at Loyola’s LUREC campus. All meals, books, and transportation from Chicago to LUREC and back are covered by Speak Up Democracy

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until May 23. For more information, visit www.luc.edu/SpeakUpDemocracy.

Good luck!

Student Information

Personal Information

First Name

Preferred Name

Last Name

Email Address

Street Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Birthdate

If you feel comfortable, please share your gender identity

Eligibility and Education Information

Admitted students will attend Speak Up Democracy during the summer between junior and senior years, and then throughout the academic year of your senior year. Exceptions might be made to accommodate rising juniors of CPS on a case-by-case basis, but rising seniors will be given priority. Applicants must be prepared to commit to the full academic year program: both the two-week residential component during the summer (July 13th to July 25th, 2025, not including the weekend in between) and the non-residential component (on campus monthly meetings during the 2025-2026 academic year, from September to May). Students who successfully complete the program will receive college credit.

The Speak Up Democracy program’s mission is to expand access to college education and rigorous instruction in the liberal arts. Speak Up Democracy is part of a network of Knowledge for Freedom initiatives, funded by the Teagle Foundation, with the mission to invite high school students to college to study humanity’s deepest questions about leading lives of purpose and civic responsibility. Our program is designed to serve rising seniors from low-income families or who would be the first in their families to attend college, but it is open to any rising seniors from Chicago Public Schools.

Your current high school:

Current Year in School?

I am currently a senior

I am currently a junior

I am currently a sophomore

I am currently a freshman

My situation doesn't fit one of these other categories

Please provide additional information:

What are your parents' or guardians' highest level of education?

Parent/Guardian 1

Parent/Guardian 2

You listed "other". Please specify.

Which language(s) did you first learn (please select one)?

English only

English & another language

Another language: Please specify other non-English language.

Prefers not to answer

Please specify additional languages

Essays

Question 1
Tell us, what interests you most about this program? Why have you chosen to apply to the program? (100-200 words)

Question 2
Please answer one of the following prompts with a short essay (350-650 words)

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Some students have a background, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Tell us about a character in a book that you have read during the last year that made a strong impression on you. How and why did this character stand out in your mind?

Supporting Documents

Transcript

Please upload your academic transcript directly with your application. We accept both official and unofficial CPS transcripts.

Recommendation (Optional)

This application may include one confidential recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or librarian speaking to your ability to engage with a rigorous academic program. This is optional, although recommended. A single brief paragraph (100-200 words) explaining your preparedness and motivation for college-level academic work is sufficient, though your recommender is welcome to submit a full-length letter. Please have your recommender submit the recommendation by May 31, 2025. If you decide to include a letter of recommendation, please include the name and email of your recommender below. They will receive an email directly from Loyola, but it is your responsibility to ask them to write a letter for you and to remind them of the deadline.

Do you intend on requesting a letter of recommendation? If you select 'yes', we will send an email to your recommender with instructions for submitting the letter of recommendation.

Yes

No

Recommender's Name

Recommender's Email Address

What is your relationship to your recommender? (teacher, counselor, librarian, etc.)

Acknowledgement

By submitting this form, I acknowledge that, except for extenuating circumstances, I am available from Sunday, July 13th to Friday, July 25th, 2025 to participate in the residential program (not including the weekend), and I am also available to attend the monthly meetings of Speak Up Democracy during the 2025-2026 academic year.

I thus understand that, if admitted, I am expected to spend two weeks in residence at Loyola University Chicago (not including the weekend) in July 2025.

Term (Hidden)

Visiting 2024 Application (hidden)

Speak Up Democracy (hidden)

Non-Degree major (hidden)

App submitted (hidden)

Yes

No

2025 Speak Up Democracy

Loyola University Chicago Speak Up Democracy Application for Summer 2025www.luc.edu/SpeakUpDemocracy

Loyola University Chicago
Speak Up Democracy
Application for Summer 2025
www.luc.edu/SpeakUpDemocracy