Tag: study spots

Favorite Places to Study on Campus?

themichiganarchitect Leave a comment

Which campus do you like to study at most? North Campus? Central Campus? Or do you not stay on campus to study? Either way, as exam season is here right before and after Thanksgiving Break, Let me suggest five great, non-obvious places to study!
Arts and Architecture building (North Campus): there are computer labs, if you are in need of using a computer other than your laptop, there’s regularly a cafe cart where student groups sell hot chocolate, coffee, juice, and bagels if you want food as you study, and there are tables situated on the second floor, and some on the first (ground) floor as well! You can enjoy the scenery as you work here, and it’s usually never dead quiet (unless if you are here at 3am).
Fishbowl of the M.A.T.H. Complex (aka Mason-Angell-Tisch-Haven Complex of Central Campus): there are computers here as well, and there’s many people here working of all backgrounds- architecture, Engineering, and English majors! This place is open 24/7 and is also never dead quiet! Also, there are convenient vending machines (for both food and electronics) around the corner 🙂 There are also tables and benches right outside of the Fishbowl. And if that atmosphere isn’t your thing, there’s the general Posting Wall space of Mason Hall that has electrical plugs, so if you just want a casual sit-down place that isn’t usually lonely, that’s a great place to stay! There are also random desks on each floor of any of the buildings in the M.A.T.H. Complex, so feel free to explore and find yourself a new place to study, as desired!
Dana Building Commons (Central Campus): If you’re an early bird, you’ll find that this building always has a seat to welcome you! The tables here are nicely placed so you should have a plug next to you, and if you need computers, they have a computer lab on the second floor!
The BBB of North Campus: This is a fun place to work in! There are several computer labs, so if you need computers, they’ve got you covered! There is also a mini arcade in the hallway, and there are also ping-pong tables in the main lobby area too! The main lobby area also has several desks and whiteboards, perfect for your individual use, or for a group setting. They also have group rooms with functioning whiteboards and projectors that you can use, if there are no reservations for it!
(May seem obvious at first but…) Any of the Dorms!! Yes, on both campuses!!: Generally, any M-card should let you into the locked front doors of any of the dorms (other than if you go to dorms that have dining halls during their designated hours) before midnight. Dorms are great because usually your friends may be there, so you all can team up to study (because two brains is better than one, right?!), or you can just study alone in any of the several lounges, or even in the dining halls- where you can just have unlimited access to cookies and tea and all that other good stuff!

Alright, well, hope you found that some of these study spaces were good ideas, or even just a fun place to explore if you did not already know that they existed! Happy Studying and have a great, safe Thanksgiving Break!

Finding Your Study Spot

Hannah Levine Leave a comment

A gif of a man staring at a book asking,

In college, it’s especially important to find the best place for you to do your work in the most efficient and least hair-pulling way. First, you have to figure out whether or not you’re a home body, or the outside world is your best friend. If you can do your work all snuggled up in bed, more power to you (and I’m jealous); but for a lot of people, it’s important to have a little bit of a change of scenery. These people have a variety of options to find the perfect study space. Some thrive in the quiet, dusty, book-filled halls of a hard-working library like the Law Library or the Graduate Library. Others enjoy a room full of people sitting side-by-side all working in quiet solitude like the Ref Room. These people like the almost-company a room like this can provide, but still need quiet to focus. Others, still, prefer the muffled conversations of the UGLI where group projects flourish and watching television is only barely frowned upon. I, on the other hand, prefer to do my work in the half-quiet, cozy coffee shop.

Not just any coffee shop will do, though. Personally, I require a shop with the opportunity for a view outside and natural light, but not so much that I get distracted and want to leave. The shop has to be warm, and I don’t mean temperature wise. There needs to be something that’s inviting—something that makes me want to venture out into the frozen tundra and do my work even when I don’t want to. It also needs to have a combination of seating for me to choose from. Some days I want to settle into the worn-in cushions of an oversized chair, but other days I need a table, a wall plug, and a firm seat to keep me up and focused.

Then comes what I consider to be the most important part of a good coffee shop: good music. When choosing your coffee shop, the musical choices of the hipster baristas filling your coffee or tea orders can make or break your work-flow. The music should probably be something subdued and perhaps a little soulful, but not so much that it’s like a lullaby. It can’t be too loud, and if the words are too inhibiting, or the unhappy calls of a dying whale start to invade the calm flow of your indie-folk, it’s time to find a new shop. At least until a new barista takes control of the audio selections.

Now I know what you’re thinking. “Doesn’t your study space change based on where you are, how much time you have, and what work you’re doing?” Well, yes. That’s very true. That’s why it’s important to find what works best for you and have a variety of options available to you. Ann Arbor is a very special place because there is never a shortage of good study locations for you to choose from. And remember, studying and homework are not the most important things in the world. A good balance can be just as important as a good study spot, so make sure you’re working hard, but make sure you’re also doing all of those other things you love to do, too. Do your homework, write your papers, and study for midterms. Then, say hi to your friends, take a dance class, go on a walk, see a movie, and play laser tag. You’ll feel better and your balanced brain and body will thank you!

Good luck on midterms everyone! I hope you all get lots of As!