Finals week is just around the corner, so brace yourself; you have hours of studying ahead of you. Studying in your room or at Tarver may not be very motivating, so for a change of pace, try studying in a new place!
Cruz Plaza is a great place to study; if you haven’t tried it, you should! I know, many of you may think that it’s cold outside, there are lots of distractions, and it’s loud, but being outside is a good way to get the educational juices flowing. The fountains and steady flow of people creates good background noise. If you would like to study outside without a lot of people walking by, try the Medical School lawn- there is lots of space, and it’s very pretty and quiet.
Another place to study is the UC. The Bear Rock Café is a personal favorite of mine, because it has a darker, more soothing feel. Generally, it is devoid of people, making it very quiet and calm. Also, because there aren’t people, you can play music there if that would help you concentrate. You can also go further down to the food court area or even near the UC pool. There are plenty of comfy chairs, tables, and space for many books.
At some point during the week you’re going to have to eat. However, you cannot really afford to stop studying. No problem! You can do both at the same time! While studying in the caf may seem unorthodox, it actually is not that bad. After a while you drown out the sounds of the caf, and focus solely on O-Chem, Old Testament, or whatever it is that you are studying. The caf plays a constant stream of white noise, while also providing the nutrients that you need to stay alive during finals.
Finally, you could venture to the Mercer Village and study in the bookstore, Jittery Joe’s, or Ingleside Village Pizza. These places have seating inside and have snacks to keep you well nourished. Also, they have seating outside for those sunny days. I like studying at IVP because I like the atmosphere. If you like a soothing environment that smells like pizza, IVP is for you. If you are one of those people that enjoy the aroma of coffee, and like plush seating, you could try studying at Jit Joe’s. If neither of those are your scene, maybe the bookstore is for you.
There are certain things we all look for in a study spot, especially during finals week, so find what works for you and may the odds be ever in your favor!