Finding your study place

The transition period to college is often an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. The University offers many new opportunities both social and academic that must be taken into consideration when adjusting to college life. One of the most common issues that arises after beginning at the University is that of time management. It is often very difficult to find that perfect balance of social activities and academic obligations. The college workload is usually much greater than it was in high school and it is therefore essential for one to adjust his/her study habits to fit that increased workload.

In high school, it is actually possible to participate in many clubs/school organizations and maintain a strong grade point average. At the University of Michigan, however, this is not the case. One must pick and choose his/her obligations wisely and select a few extracurricular activities that one can devote adequate time to and stick with those. In terms of academic concerns, it is essential for one to accept that his/her work is never really done. Until the semester is over, there is always going to be some sort of studying that can be done. The important thing is to realize the amount of work that must be done everyday in order to not fall behind in coursework. It is therefore essential to determine how and where one studies best.

There are many different options for studying on campus. If you enjoy studying by yourself or are a person who requires silence to be productive, then the law library and the graduate library are options worth exploring. The law library is usually completely silent and the stacks at the graduate library are very quiet as well. There is slightly more noise in the reading room at the graduate library, but it is usually very quiet there also. The undergraduate library is also a convenient option for both group and individual studying. The library offers many spacious group study rooms where as many as 10 students can comfortably study together and with daily hours from 8am to 5am, one can always find a place to study when he/she is most productive. The Duderstadt Center (aka “the dude”) on north campus offers another late night study option. Unlike the libraries on central campus, the dude encourages food and drink consumption while studying. With two coffee shops and many vending machines located on the premises, the Dude makes it convenient to grab a snack without losing too much study time. If you are looking for a quick place to study in between classes or just want a more social study environment, then a coffee shop might be a good option for you. Conveniently located on every corner, a coffee shop is a good place to do a little reading or group study. No matter where and how you study best, there will always be a convenient place on campus for you.

Once you determine what your best study environment is, it is very important not to forget to take advantage of all your resources. Stay in contact with your instructors via e-mail and by attending office hours. Also, do not be afraid to seek help. The Sweetland Writing Center offers a wonderful service where papers can be reviewed and edited before they are turned in. The Science Learning Center located in the chemistry building offers peer led study groups for all of the introductory science classes as well as many of the upper level courses. These study groups are free of charge and have several different time options, making it possible to select one at a convenient time. The study options and resources mentioned are just a few that the University has to offer. By finding a comfortable environment in which to study and taking full advantage of resources, the academics at Michigan can be quite manageable and enjoyable.

Aimee Leyton LSA 2004 Biology Major, Math Minor