Transcript of Podcast #17: On-Campus Study Spaces
In Attendance: Aimee Jiang (she/her), Bingya Ma (she/her)
Aimee: Hello, everyone welcome to the next episode of the GIC podcast. My name is Aimee Jiang. I’m the International Student Support Officer for Graduate Division and today we’re going to be talking about places to study on or really close to campus. I think a lot of us we study at home, we study in our beds, we study wherever we can kind of find a space for, but sometimes it’s good to have a more specific space to study, especially as a grad student. And I like to move around when I’m working, I like to work in different places, and I know some students like to have different options for studying as well. So I’m going to pass it over to Bingya my co-host today to introduce herself.
Bingya: Yeah, Hello, everyone. My name is Bingya Ma. I am the incoming 3rd year Ph.D. student in program in Public Health, with the concentration on epidemiology and bio statistics and I’m very happy to be one of the GIC mentors this year, and I actually used to be a mentee last year. So this year, I would like to help more international students who have the same experienceas me. And I’ve explored various study spaces. So today I’m very excited to share my experiences with our listeners.
Aimee: Yeah and I think the most common place that students first want to study, especially before maybe you have a car, if you choose to get a car, is on campus. So what are some of the available study spaces on campus for students?
Bingya: Yeah. So I think we definitely should start with the libraries. And there are 2 most famous ones Science Library and the Langson Library, and next to the Science Library, we also have the Multimedia Resources Center and across from the Langson Library, we also have a Gateway which is the first option for many students during the final week. And there are also several public areas on campus, that is also ideal for study. For example, the Student Center provides multiple study rooms and seats. And there’s another building called Anteater Learning Pavilion. This unique space actually combines classrooms and study areas. And there are also plenty of outdoor seating areas around the students center, the social science tower, engineering buildings, a physical science buildings and they provide a refreshing environment during good weather. And also I like to talk about schools or departments. I think, they are very important for graduate students. As far as I know, most of them offer separate offices for graduate students, especially for Ph.D. students. And we also have 3 Starbucks on campus. One is located at the student center, they have both indoor and order seats, and another one is located at the business school, and the third one is located at the biological sciences but they only offer outdoor seats.
Aimee: Yeah, I see a lot of students in the outdoor spaces. I like to walk Ring Road a lot and you’ll see a lot of different spots around with tables, and especially for group projects, if people are getting together and don’t care about the noise level, because it can get a little noisy outside. The Starbucks by the, with the Student Center is over by Aldrich, kind of over by my office. I’ve met with a lot of students there. I tend to have meetings over there just to get outside, too. But I will say that one when it rains the indoor space fills up very quickly. So if the weather’s bad, you definitely need to know that a lot of the students that normally would be meeting and hanging out outside are going to move indoors and so it does get, doesn’t rain here often, but when it does rain here, then those spaces fill up quite a bit faster. Do you have any tips regarding the study spaces, such as like opening times or how to register for rooms?
Bingya: Yeah, absolutely. So, here are several tips that can help students maximize their study experiences. So yeah, firstly, we should check the websites for the opening times of different study spaces. So keep in mind that libraries may have reduced hours on weekends, and during summer, spring or winter breaks But during the final week of the quarter many study spaces especially the libraries who extend their hours to accommodate students needs. And yeah, as Aimee mentioned, libraries also provide separate study rooms for students. So to access study rooms, you just need to register via the the library’s website (example: https://spaces.lib.uci.edu/reserve/Science) or once you find an available study room in person at the library, you can also just scan the QR code attached to the door for easy registration.
Aimee: Yeah, and some of that, especially during busy times of the year, those places do fill up. So I would say during finals week don’t walk in and expect to like find a ton of space together in the library, or to find an empty study room. So checking online is always a really great option, and, like you, mentioned a lot of things during the breaks here close either fully, or they have reduced hours. And you know we talk about this and some of our other podcasts on food, like some of the dining places, close down some of our offices close during the winter break, some of, like majority of the campus just fully closes down for an administrative break. So while I know that grad students sometimes still continue to have things happening during those times of years. Because the majority of campus is on a break, those places do tend to close down. So there are advantages and disadvantages to the different kinds of study spaces on campus. What would you say are some of those advantages and disadvantages?
Bingya: Yeah, so yeah, let, let’s start with libraries again. So, yeah, definitely, the a library offers a very quiet and focused environment. And I think, there are relatively available seats here at UCI, compared with other universities, I know. So even during the peak times, like the final weeks, we can still find a seat, I think. And also I think, the views from the library windows can be very inspiring. For example, we can have a very good view of the Aldrich Park at Langson Library, and I also really like watching the sunset on the fourth floor of the Science Library. And for cons, if any, I think students may find the chairs and tables are not that comfortable. And, as I mentioned previously, libraries may have limited opening hours during holidays. And for Student Center, I think they provides a very convenient location where you can find various food options nearby. So this is really good for a quick bite during the study breaks. However, I think similar to the libraries, while Student Center has just improved with renovations, some areas still lack natural light, and they don’t have very comfortable seating. And also would like to talk a little bit about schools or departments. So, but here, first of all, let’s say that the pros and cons I talk about here don’t apply to all students and all programs. So those are just from my personal experience. So, for example, the Program in Public Health, where I am from provides standing tables and very comfortable chairs for Ph.D. students. However, some shared offices in some departments they can become noisy, because sometimes we just couldn’t help talking with each other, so we may find it hard to stay focused. Yeah.
Aimee: Yeah, I would say, one of the things that most grad students should invest in that, and I wish I would have invested in as a grad student, are noise canceling headphones. Because sometimes it’s hard to find a quiet space to study. Even you could end up finding the spot at the library where someone next to you is trying to have a a whispered conversation. That’s still a distracting enough. So why, the library tends to be the most quiet. You never know what you’re going to get into, so good pair of headphones where you can play some like noise, just noise while you’re studying, it’s always a great option. I know, the GPSRC does have like an, an office space here that we have had students, especially for bigger projects try and come together and use. And and that’s always an option, too, is to reach out to us at the GPSRC, the Graduate Resource, GP, Graduate Postdoctoral Resource Center (Aimee meant: Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center), that I always get that wrong, it’s a long name. But it’s for grad students and post docs, and it’s a great place. We’re generally pretty quiet unless there’s like a big event happening. So it’s always a nice spot to come again. Our tables and chairs are not super comfortable. I wouldn’t say it’s a long term, a long term option for students. But if you have a group and you’re not able to find a study space. You’re always welcome to reach out and see if you can come here. So those are the main kind of on campus places. But for students living in the housing communities. There are some other options there as well. Could you provide an overview of the study spaces that are available in our housing communities?
Bingya: Yeah. Sure. So. all 3 graduate housing including Verano Place, Palo Verde and Campus Village, have study spaces available for graduate, graduate housing residence.
Aimee: Yeah, I’ve been to a few of them. I think again they fill up a depending on the time of year. But our graduate housing residents restricted to using the spaces in their own communities?
Bingya: Yeah, that’s a really good question. And the answer is, no. So residents, residents are not restricted to only using study rooms in their own community. They actually can enjoy the resources of all graduate housing communities. However, I think it’s good to be mindful of the parking regulations of different communities to avoid getting the tickets.
Aimee: Yeah, that’s a big one. If you know someone that lives in Palo Verde and maybe you live in Campus Village and you’re going to join them to do a study. Try and get a guest pass because most of the communities restrict you to parking within your community. I know I’ve gone to do like events at some of the housing community spaces and every time one of my students has to give me a guest pass because, it does not count for me to park anywhere else. So that’s really great, because you definitely don’t want to get a ticket for just trying to study somewhere. And I have heard a lot of students. maybe they live in one community, but they prefer the environment of another one in terms of the study spaces. So I just encourage you, if you’re living on campus, to at least go see them to maybe take a walk around campus and see if you like the chairs or the tables or the area better in some of the other communities. And again, there are always the kind of advantages into disadvantages or pros and cons of every space. So what are some of those pros and cons of the study spaces and housing communities?
Bingya: Yeah, so I think the biggest advantage might be the proximity to our residence. So this might motivate us to spend more time studying. Yeah and for cons, I think that also vary by community. Some communities may have fewer students studying there. So sometimes we may feel a lack of peer pressure to study, or there is not any study vibe there, just like at home. Yeah. However, some study spaces in some communities are very popular. For example, it will be a bit hard to find some study rooms at the Verano Place Community Center, due to a very high demand, because VP is a, is the largest graduate housing community. And the newly renovated community center is really fancy. So many students prefer studying there.
Aimee: Yeah, it’s very fancy I went into it recently. So I definitely would agree with that. I will say you, you brought this up and kind of slightly off topic. But the peer pressure of studying with other people is very beneficial for anybody. So if you’re someone who maybe has routinely studied by yourself, and you find it hard to like move forward or stay focused. I think I studied a lot by myself because I thought I needed that like quiet environment. But what I really needed was someone sitting next to me, regardless of whether they are working on a different kind of project, or maybe they’re applying for internships. The fact that they were doing something at their computer and I was doing something at my computer was very helpful for me. So we’ll probably have a podcast, in September or October on kind of tips and tricks for studying. But that is one thing that I will just add in now, since we’re talking about study spaces is, try and find someone, they don’t have to be in your program that they don’t have to be your year in your program, they, just somebody that’s also studying to go study with or find one of those busy places where everyone seems to be working on something. So we talked about on campus, and we talked about the housing communities. For those living off campus. I live in the area off campus and I work from home sometimes and we have study spaces and work lounges within my complex and a lot of the area, off campus housing does as well. So similar, a lot of them are first come first serve or reserve place, but that does very kind of community to community. So I recommend as you’re looking at places, if it’s important for you to have some place outside of your apartment to study or to work, be looking into that if you’re looking at off campus housing. But a lot of them do have plenty of space and options for, for studying like that. So if you don’t want to study on campus, maybe you just want to break or maybe it’s one of those times of years, where things are closed down a little bit earlier, and maybe you don’t want to study in your housing community because you’ve been there, and you just need a new change of scenery. What are some other places around campus like, so in the local area that you would recommend for studying?
Bingya: Yeah. So I guess many incoming graduate students have already heard about University of Town Center, UTC, or the Campus Plaza, so they also have very excellent study spaces. I personally recommend Pete’s Coffee at UTC, because it offers a very good study environment along with the delicious coffee to keep you energized. And the Starbucks at the Campus Plaza also provides a great ambience for studying, even on weekends or holidays.
Aimee: Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of students there during the holidays. I’ve worked from that Starbucks and some other ones in the local community. I, I would agree with you, Pete’s has great coffee, and I would say the majority of GIC mentors, if you ask them where their favorite coffee shop to study is, they would say Pete’s. It does have limited space indoors, but that does also have some outdoor seating. And there’s Internet over there, in the whole UTC area, there’s pretty good Wi-fi. And I would say to Pete’s Coffee has some good snacks. They have some good like scones and things. If, if you’re like me, and you like to snack on things while you’re studying to kind of keep you distracted. That’s always a really great option. That was all that we had to to discuss. I do, I am curious what your favorite study space is on, in, on campus or in the housing communities are around campus. What is your like go to space or do you kind of pop around to different ones?
Bingya: Yeah. So, so as I mentioned our program offers standing tables and very comfortable chairs for Ph.D. students. And I live pretty close to my department. So yeah, my favorite study space definitely will be my office. However, if I don’t need to do coding work. If I don’t need a, a very good computer, then I will go to Pete’s or Starbucks. Because, yeah, as I mentioned many students studying there. So yeah, you may feel very motivated to studying there.
Aimee: Yeah, great options, especially because, you know, you can get a good drink and hang out. And I love seeing students go there together and working on different projects, or as you make friends, being able to connect with other people. And sometimes it’s nice to have someone to take a 5 min break to be like, okay, we’re gonna work for 50 min, and then we’re gonna take a 5 min, break together, maybe talk about what we’re doing. Maybe get my mind off of all of the things I just learned and then jump back in. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone gonna help to build in those breaks with you. But thank you, this is really helpful. I learned a few things about where to study on campus. I haven’t spent a lot of time in the student center, so I know a little bit more about the student center now. So I appreciate you joining us today. And we hope that this podcast was helpful for you and keep an eye out for other podcasts where we’ll talk about things regarding and studying or academics or building relationships with your advisors.
Bingya: Okay, thank you. And hope everyone can find their favorite study spaces to keep motivated.