We often get asked where the best places on campus are to study. If you are a commuter student, you probably don't want to travel back and forth from your home to campus if you have a break in the day. There are plenty of places to study and complete work on campus if you have some time in between campuses. Students who take advantage of these breaks become very successful academically here at Maryland. Below is a list of some of the places that I liked to study when I was a student and some places that I have heard about from other students.Before we get to the list, also know that you can rent a locker in the Stamp Student Union for a semester. This is a great way to keep your books on campus if you don't need them at home so that you can easily access them if you have some down time. The Stamp Union also rents our laptops for free to all University students. Check out the Stamp's website for more information.
-McKeldin Library- Obviously in a library there are tons of nooks to hide in as you work on your papers and projects. This is also a great place to be to find all the information you need for your research projects.
-The greatest gem on campus is the CSPAC Music Library. CSPAC is the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on campus. Within the center is a music library that is modern, full of study space and usually not as busy as other libraries on campus.
-On a nice day, a great place to study is outdoors on any of our green areas including McKeldin Mall. Lined with large oaks and covered with lush grasses, it's the best place to sit out, soak up the sun, study, and maybe take a quick nap.
-Van Munching Hall (aka The Business School) is another great option. There are a lot of chairs and desks to use.
-Starbucks on Rt. 1 is another popular option for many of our students. It is walkable from campus.
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Hi, my name is Emily Bogart, and as a Sophomore student interested in going to Dental School, I am no stranger to the libraries on campus! In addition, since I will be a Program Registrar this summer, I think it's important to be familiar with places to study, in case the question arises from prospective students.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about the University of Maryland is that there are so many places to study. My favorite spot is on the 5th floor of McKeldin Library. It is a quiet study room, set up with round tables, so you can spread out your work and stay organized. Also, the layout places the tables in an area by many windows, so during the daytime you get additional light and a nice view! In addition, not many people to go to the fifth floor, so it usually isn't crowded and very peaceful.
Another place I like to study in is the Chemistry Library. There are lots of tables, and it's a great place to work on group assignments, since there are computers available on the main floor and also in the basement. This library is particularly convenient if most of your classes are by the engineering or science buildings, or if you live on North Campus.
Lastly, I think STAMP is a great place to study. If you go in the main entrance and take a left after walking past the testudo statue, there is a quiet study room that is great to get work done in between classes. It is especially convenient if you have a lunch break, since you are allowed to eat in there! Also, there are a bunch of tables, as well as couches and comfy chairs, so depending on what you are working on, a spot suitable for your work can be found!
Hello! My name is Catherine Gomeringer! I am a sophomore Government and Politics major from New Jersey. I am lucky enough to be working for the university as an Orientation Advisor this summer. As a freshman, one of my main concerns was finding good places to study on-campus. I think that it really depends on the person. Some people can study in their room. Others need to leave their living space to study.
ReplyDeleteFor those that do not mind outside noises or distractions, (other people talking, music playing, etc) there are study rooms in every single residence hall. Additionally, some people choose to study in the Coffee Bar, located on the second floor of stamp. If you are not easily distracted by others, the Stamp Student Union, Footnotes Cafe (located on the first-floor of McKeldin library), and both North and South Campus diners are great places for you to study. These places are also great for study-groups.
For those that need a quieter setting, there are 7 libraries located on campus. In addition, I find myself studying in empty classrooms in between classes all the time. This is great because it gives you an opportunity to get schoolwork done in between classes, without having to walk far.
For those that enjoy studying outside, the mall is not the only place to study. There are tables and chairs outside of The Stamp Student Union, Jimenez, St. Mary's Hall, Tydings Hall, Tawes Hall, and so many other buildings. If you prefer to sit at a table and chair while doing homework (I know I do), then these outside locations are great on a nice day. Some of them even have umbrellas!
Hi I'm a freshmen undecided-engineering student, and finding a good place to study is crucial. I have found different places which help me getting my studying done.
ReplyDeleteWhere I am on campus, depends on where I go to study.
If I am closer to the south end of campus, I love going to the upper levels of McKledin and finding a lone table in between the books. It is quite, and I always feel so academic with great written work as my surrounding.
If I am closer to my end of North campus, I love Hornbake library. It is my go-to place. In the basement is a large room with big square tables and sectioned-off desks. It's quite, and I feel that sometimes people forget about it, because it never seems crowded.
If I am collaborating for a project or working together on homework, my resident hall (among others) are equipped with studying lounges that get used until the wee hours of the morning.
And if I need to study for a math test, I like to go into the center of the food court at stamp and study. It may seem strange, but since the food court is like the heart of student activity, it is bound to be noisy (compared to the rest of the lounges in Stamp which are relatively quite). I like to study there with the noise because it actually allows me to practice focusing on my task at hand in a high pressure situation. It worked for me last semester, and is doing a good job this semester!
Hi, My name is Amanda and I'm a Freshman Government and Politics Major, my college is the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. I'm an Orientation Advisor for the Summer of 2010! Coming into UMD my freshman year, I wasn't really concerned about studying! In high school, I could pass a class just fine without studying for a test! Even when I took classes at the community college, I didn't feel like I needed to study for any of my tests to do well! When I got to UMD, however, there was a big wake up call! I found out that in order to do well in classes you HAVE to study!
ReplyDeleteI found that study groups work the best! Anywhere you can get a group of people together to study is a good place! when the weather is nice, I found that studying on the mall is a great idea. The weather seems to make everyone enjoy learning a little bit more! The reason I say study groups are the best is because I find that if you can teach a subject to someone else, you know it inside and out! Discussions are the best ways to learn something because you're able to get feedback and answer questions with students who are in the same position as you, not a teacher or a TA who are already experts on the subject.
Another good way to study is to head to the library (or one of the numerous libraries we have around campus). Being able to silently study by yourself gives you a peace of mind, it's almost relaxing!
Try not to study in your room, though, and especially not on your bed! Your room is supposed to be your haven, you place away from school. If you study in your room, you're not going to want to relax there!
Another last bit of advice is to always reward yourself after your test! Going out for a coffee or hanging out with friends to relieve the stress of studying and testing is a good way to prep yourself for the other exams you may have! Always remember to try and get enough sleep and not to cram all your studying into the night before, and you're sure to do just fine on your next test!
-Amanda
Hey! My name is Trey. I'm a freshman finance major and this summer I'll be an Orientation Advisor. Like Amanda, studying wasn't that high of a concern coming into my first semester at UMD. I figured I would just study in my room like in high school. I wish I would've learned how much more efficient I worked at one of the many great places to study on campus.
ReplyDeleteOf course my favorite location, as a business student, is Van Munching Hall. There's always a quiet hallway available during the day to get some work done if you have some free time. The seating in the main hallway is cushioned and has trays to set laptops on, and there are plenty of power outlets.
Best of all, Rudy's Cafe, located inside of Van Munching Hall, is just a short walk away. It's a great place to get a hot meal, work on a group project, or simply relax and read The Diamondback.
Hi, Terps! My name is Sarah Woolsey and I'm a freshman double major in Spanish and Environmental Science. This summer, I'll be an Orientation Advisor too.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone has said, there are a ton of great places to study on campus, especially the various libraries!
A different place I like studying is in an empty classroom (though make sure that there's not a class coming in!), especially if I'm working with a study group. You can then have plenty of space to talk about the course. I found this particularly helpful around midterms, when a lot of people were using the group study rooms in the libraries, because we could always find an empty classroom to use.
My advice would be to try out a variety of different places on campus to figure out what works best for you. Do you like studying when it's silent or when there's some background noise? Do you like being alone when you study or around other people?
Best of luck with your studies!
Hey Everyone! My name is Haneen Sakakini, I am a sophomore Elementary Education major from Connecticut. This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to be an orientation advisor :)!
ReplyDeleteWhere do I like the study….. Hmmm..
Well first of all our campus is full of little nooks and crannies that you can make your own little personal study area, it is just up to you to find them. However if you like to be around others while they study, like me, to feel motivated, then McKledin Library is the place for you.
Personally I have found the perfect place to study in McKledin and that is the 2nd floor. It is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and it is just the place to be if you are stressed and have a lot to do. There are people around you studying, no matter what time of day or night it is, and it is not completely silent which I need to keep my sane. Also this semester they just made the McKledin library food friendly, which is a huge perk when it is about 2:00 am and you are craving a bag of Lay’s potato chips.
Another key place to study is Van Munching, aka the business school. This building is open 24/7 as well as long as you get in before the doors locked, however you can usually find a door that someone has propped open. The reason I like studying in this building as well is because of the large amounts of classrooms open for students to utilize for study sessions or just individual cram sessions.
No matter where you decide to go to study in your life here at the University of Maryland, make sure you always pack yourself some yummy snacks, and caffeinated beverages to keep going through out the evening.
Good Luck! ☺
Hi fellow Terps!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Emma Varner and I am a freshmen Biochemistry major in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and I will be an Orientation Advisor this summer! A great unknown place to study is the basement of residence halls. These places are normally very quiet and perfect for spreading out your study materials. However, this may not be the best for people who fall asleep while studying. The North Campus Diner has quiet rooms in the back, if you want to snack while you study!
Have a great semester!
Hi Terps! My name is Jake DeVirgiliis, and I'm a sophomore English and Government and Politics major. If the fact that I am commenting on this thread hasn't already given it away, I will also be an Orientation Advisor this coming summer and CAN NOT WAIT :)
ReplyDeleteWith finals week fast approaching, good study spots are often hard to come by. McKeldin 2nd floor is a popular spot, and if you're not there early, getting a spot can be tough. I recommend heading up two flights to the 4th floor and studying in the East Asia room: tables you can't beat by the books you (probably) can't read! It won't fill up nearly as fast as the ever-popular Floor 2, plus it tends to be far quieter. The shelves of rarely-read books between most of the study spots act like a sponge to the noise pollution that plagues the library elsewhere. Check it out.
As mentioned in the first post, the CSPAC Music Library is a hidden gem, but don't forget about the Performing Arts Library (also in CSPAC). In fact, just about anywhere in CSPAC can be a great spot. Other classroom buildings that would be worth looking into are Knight Hall and Tawes Hall. Both of these are new and super nice on the inside, plus open late. Keep walking left when you enter Tawes and you'll find the undergraduate lounge, or head upstairs to the labyrinth-like 3rd floor where there will plenty of quiet study space.
Finally, there are a number of computer labs on campus that are worth looking into. Worcester Hall has a lab in the basement that doesn't see too much use. Also, believe it or not Regents Drive Parking Lot houses a basement comp lab that is worth checking out just for the absurdity of its placement.
Good luck with finals everybody!
Hello all! My name is Joanna Smith and I am an Orientation Advisor for the summer of 2011. I am a sophomore Sociology major at the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and I have spent tons of time studying on campus.
ReplyDeleteWith assignments piling up and finals right around the corner, a good question to ask yourself is where I can I go to get my work done?. To offer some help in answering this question, I'm going to tell you a little about my two favorite study spots on campus.
Though a lot of people use Mckeldin (located at the top of the mall) as their library of choice, it has its pros and cons. Due to its size, Mckeldin attracts a large variety of students who are there to do anything from group projects to meeting up with friends between classes. This means that, depending on the time and day, it can get a bit crowded and noisy. However, one thing that I love about Mckeldin is that students are able to eat food while they are doing work. There is actually a Footnotes Cafe shop located on the first floor of the library, so if you don't bring food with you, you can buy some here (using Terp Bucks, Terrapin Express, Credit card, or cash). This is especially nice on the days when you spend more time studying than you originally planned to. Mckeldin also has late night hours which provides students with a convenient place to study.
Another study location that I really enjoy using is Hornbake Library (located on North Campus on Hornbake Plaza). Though Hornbake is a lot smaller than Mckeldin, it tends to also be a lot quieter (which is great when you're trying to focus). Hornbake offers two levels (ground and second floor) for individual study and opens up the entire library for group studying. Compared to Mckeldin, Hornbake has less space for studying but is great if you want a quiet and intimate study environment. Just remember, there is no food or drinks allowed in Hornbake so if you plan on studying all day, take a study break and re-energize at the Food Court in Stamp!
To read up on all of the eight UMD libraries, visit:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/PUB/libraries.html
Hi! I’m David Todd, a rising-Senior Computer Science and Theatre Double major here. I also will be an Orientation Advisor for the Summer of 2011! If you are living in a shared space with other students, finding a good place to study is often difficult. On campus there are many quiet places to study, but my favorite has to be the Cambridge Community Center (CCC) located in the quad of the Cambridge Community.
ReplyDeleteThis location is connected to the North Campus Snack n’ Shop (a.k.a. “The Incon”) and has several classrooms which are usually relatively empty, and most importantly quiet, especially during finals week. These classrooms are open all day and at night RAs have access to them so you can ask an RA in the community to let you in if you need to study past 10pm.
I’ve found that the CCC is the optimal study spot because it has chalkboards if you need to explain something to a group of people, is next to the “Incon” so you can get coffee and snacks whenever you need it, and is a lot more quiet compared to the lounges in residence halls, and common rooms in apartments and suites. I would recommend the CCC to anyone who is having trouble finding a quiet, comfortable study location.
Hola Terps! My name is Miriam Meskel and I am a sophomore Communications major from Baltimore, Maryland. This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to be an Orientation Advisor! Living on South Campus this year, I have discovered many hidden jewels around campus to study in. Usually the sixth floor of Mckeldin Library is my favorite place to study, but, since finals season is upon us and Mckeldin has gotten more busy, I have had to find other spots around campus to study in. A great place to study is in the study rooms of Annapolis Hall. The study rooms there are great for group study sessions and even have white boards for students to use! Another location I love to study is in different buildings on the mall. Tydings and Holpzafel Hall are almost always open and there is nothing better than having an empty classroom all to yourself!
ReplyDeleteDuring finals season, I always find another new place to study. And this finals season has proved to be the same! My all-time favorite location to study is now Van Munching Hall. As one of the newer buildings on campus, Van Munching has tons of great places to study! Whether its in classrooms, study rooms, or just various lounge areas within the building, Van Munching has endless perfect hidden spots to study! Rudy’s Café is also located in the building, serving as a great location to take a snack break in between studying. Van Munching has proved to be my saving grace this finals season, providing me with the quiet and calm I need to make it through these stressful exams!
The most important thing to remember during final exams is to stay confident and push through it! Finals are a lot to handle for everyone, but with the right study spot, anyone can succeed!
Best wishes on finals everyone! ☺
Hi! I’m Anne Penna and I am a rising junior Kinesiological Sciences major and I will be a Program Registrar for the Orientation Office for the summer of 2011! When I was a freshman living in Easton Hall, I always had a tough time trying to find a quiet place to study if my roommate was playing music in our room or if it was too dark and late to walk to McKeldin Library. So I wanted to share with you what I found halfway through my first semester, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (CSPAC) has a great library called the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, and it was one of the best discoveries I had when I had an advising appointment in CSPAC.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a shorter walk than to McKeldin Library and is a place where you won’t be easily disrupted, like on your floor lounge (or even on some floors of McKeldin). It is a place that people don’t usually realize would make a great study spot.
In addition to being the largest performing arts building on the East coast, hosuing musical literature to soundtracks and more, it is conveniently located by the Applause Café which takes Terrapin Express and Terp Bucks and major credit cards and cash, so you can grab a snack or drink while studying in the library or utilizing their outdoor patio garden to study.