**Cue the Jaws music**
It’s Week 10. Finals are only days away. You have a quarter’s worth of readings to do in one weekend. Your roommate’s only have 2 finals and you unfortunately have 4. You walk into Orbach Science Library and spot her. Some random girl in a UCR sweater and messy bun is in your study spot. You’ve been sitting there all quarter long and she just waltzes in the week of finals. Yes, I do understand that specific cubicle doesn’t belong to me, but c’mon, I’ve practically molded into that chair. Before you go all crazy just keep on reading.
We’ve all seen this happen before. It’s that time of the quarter again, finals week ! And everyone and their moms decides to camp out in the campus library. I don’t have a problem with people wanting to study there, go for it! But if I see one more person watching an episode of Mad Men or a guy hogging an entire study room, I might just have to say something. Instead of raising your blood pressure or making a dangerously loud passive aggressive comment, try one of these other study spots. They’re all on campus, and some of them even serve food nearby.
1. Highlander Union Building aka The HUB
I know what you’re thinking. It’s too loud, how will I ever concentrate with the extremely long line at Panda Express. And how will I ever find a table? But don’t fret! During finals week the HUB is pretty empty. I would recommend, the third floor of the HUB, it’s made up of conference rooms, that are left open as a space for students to come in and study. If you’d rather be outside, then try the tables on the first or second floor patio.
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2. Computer Labs in Watkins and Sproul
Trying to find an available computer in the libraries during finals week is like trying to find a bottle of Coca Cola on campus. Don’t fret, because there are multiple computer labs on campus that are open for your convenience. If you’ve read my very first article(if not go read it!), you would know that the computer labs in Watkins and Sproul offer thirty pages of free printing per quarter. So stop by either of these computer labs and print out your final paper for free!
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3. Your Favorite Dining Area
I’m not a coffee person. Never had a cup, never plan to. With this info, you can probably guess I’ve never studied at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. If you have some control over your attention capabilities, why not try studying for finals at your favorite coffee shop or resturant? You can stay on campus and work near the picnic tables outside Physics 2000 near the new food truck, lounge on the comfy couches at Bytes, enjoy some fries at Latitude, or work on your tan outside the HUB. Working in places like these will keep you from feeling like you’re all cooped up with nowhere to go. But beware! Don’t get too distracted and forget to focus on your books!
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4.Outdoor Tables
With spring just around the corner, why not grab your books and look for a outdoor table on campus. While you’re getting your reading done, you can get a tan! I mean who doesn’t want that? There are tables outside the campus bookstore, the HUB, and near Coffee Bean.
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5. Commuters Lounge
If you like the quiet atmosphere of the library, but not the constant traffic, try out the Commuters Lounge directly above Stacked. The Commuters Lounge has plenty of outlets to plug in your computer charger, comfy chairs, and small tables to place your study materials on. Going up the staircase, you’ll find more seats and tables outside on the third floor.
Other helpful tips to keep you from stressing out during finals weeks
? Buy all you scantrons and blue books in one trip and avoid doing it right before the exam. The Exchange Store sells green scantrons and blue books, and never has an extremely long line!
? If you’re tired of lugging around your laptop to campus and don’t want to work in the libraries or computer labs, stop by the HUB Help Desk to rent out a laptop free.
? Snacks! They make everything better and keep you from getting cranky and stopping early because you just cant hold off eating anymore.
? If you want to form a study group, I suggest you reserve a study room now. It will save you the trouble of looking for one and I doubt anyone is planning this far ahead in time.
Photographer: Tonye’ Doukpolagha