I Can Hear the Bells

Study Spot #9: Century Tower
It's impossible to be a Gator and not walk by Century Tower at least once in your time at UF.  On the North side of the tower (facing Club West) there's a secluded bench where you can lay or sit down and get some studying in between classes.  Just a fair warning: this spot has more traffic than most, so it will most likely not be great for hard-core studying, but it may be possible. 

Fun Fact:
Century Tower is a great way to keep track of the time on campus.  It tolls every hour and rings every 15 minutes.  Never be late to class again! (or maybe this will help some)

Study Tip #9:  Go to class!
Even if lectures are "optional" or if attendance isn't taken, it's still a good idea to go to class.  Surprisingly, you can actually save some study time later if you take the time to go to class and take good notes on the lectures. ;P 

Quote of the Day:  "The world is not a fixed solid array of objects out there for it cannot be fully separated from our perception of it. If shifts under our gaze and must be interpreted by us. Whatever fundamental units the world is put together from, they are more delicate, more fragile and more fugitive and startling than we can ever catch in the butterfly net of our senses." Jacob Bronowski

Scaling to New Heights

Study Spot # 8
This is the Wall of Antarctica which is adjacent to the Plaza of the Penguins as previously spoken of in the blog. Why the name? Well, everyone simply forgets about Antarctica, and Laurel and I wanted to include it. The point of the WoA is to change the usual location so as to achieve maximum focus. It is also relatively safe in comparison to some of the other spots we have spoken of. It has plenty of sunlight and is very easy to climb!

Study Tip:
Bring music to block out unwanted noise! Michael Buble is always a good choice :)

Quotation of the Day: "Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are curiosity, confidence, courage and consta." -Walt Disney

Thought of the Day: 
There is never a problem so big that tea cannot solve.

Such Great Heights

Study Spot 7: If I told you....
So, this is more of a secret than some of our other locations so far, but let's just say that roofs are a good place to study.  There are some places on campus where you can get easy roof access, which are good places for quiet-ish studying.
Disclaimer: do not try this at home ;P  This type of study spot is for you more adventurous studiers out there, but is open to everyone!  Have fun exploring!

Fun Fact:  Catch a performance or lecture at University Auditorium and get a picture for your FBook!  To check out the schedule of upcoming events, click here:  http://performingarts.ufl.edu/venues/university-auditorium/ .

Study Tip #7: Sit in class with friends
Having trouble staying awake/studying in class?  It's always good to sit in class with friends, but be careful and make sure you're paying attention and not socializing. It's always good to have someone in a class to keep you accountable and awake!

Quote of the Day:
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."~Victor Hugo

Just Rockin' and Rollin'

Study Spot 6:
Sometimes, you just want to be in the sunlight and enjoy your surroundings while you study. This lovely spot by Carlton and Little is the perfect place to hop on and do some light reading while soaking in the rays between classes.

Fun Fact: The freshman retention rate at of 95 percent at UF is among the highest in the country.

Lessons learned today:
1) Clarify what you sketch on an application.
2) When clarification is not given, the blimp turns into a muffin.
3) Stick to designing clothing and not drawing blimps.
4) Friends truly are blessings from God.

Quotation of the day: Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. - Harriet Tubman

A Hidden Plaza

Study Spot 5: Have fun trying to find it...
Some of the best study spots are those that you find yourself!  This plaza, located between Carleton Auditorium, Grinter Hall, and Walker Hall, is a great place to study if you're looking for a place outside.  Even though it's located near one of the more populated areas of campus (mostly between classes), this plaza has several tables and benches and is relatively secluded from the traffic that runs nearby.  This is a great place to study (or just hang out) on a sunny day and is fit for people of all study types!

Because this area doesn't have an official name (as far as we know), we called this the Plaza of Penguins [because everyone forgets about Antarctica] and there is a wall following the path next to the plaza, which we named the Great Wall of Antarctica [following the theme from before].  Ah, our random tangents...

Fun Fact: 
A slight detour from this particular area, the area on the Plaza of the Americas with the brick walkway is constructed using the original bricks.

Study Tip 5: Take a break! 
It's sometimes easy to get really caught up in studying and forget to take a break once in a while.  Try to take breaks every hour or so.  It doesn't have to be much, but you'll retain more information if you're not sitting in front of a textbook or computer for 6 hours straight.  Walk around a bit or grab a coffee: take a break!

Daring Feats to Achieve Greatness

Study Spot 4: Reitz Union (Chomp Chomp!)
The Reitz is full of unique study spots if you simply look past the usual corners. This ledge, for example, is a great spot filled with sunlight and is perfect for those quick moments of study without wanting distractions. While it leans towards the dangerous side, we must remember the words of Fredrick Nietzsche, "Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"

*Warning: this spot is not for the faint of heart or for those who lack balance and/or coordination. Please climb responsibly.

**We cannot be held liable in the case of injury, suspension, or death.


Fun Fact: Since 1968, 142 Gators and 13 Florida coaches have earned 90 medals (44 gold) while representing 34 countries in 11 Olympiads.

Study Tip: Bring a healthy snack to your study sessions to refresh your body and mind. Starbucks works as well!

Quotation of the Day: "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." -Michelangelo 

The Map and Imagery Room (in Marston Library)

Study Spot 3: Map and Imagery Room
If you prefer to study indoors, try out the Map and Imagery Room on the 1st floor of Marston Science Library.  This is a very quiet spot to study with plenty of tables and space to spread out your materials for studying.  If you do choose to study with some friends, be sure to be quiet and respect those studying around you.  This room also does not allow food or drinks, so be sure to put your snacks away before coming in to study.  There are tons of outlets, for those of you who need your laptop, so you can skip the hassle of fighting for an outlet on the other floors of the library. There are also desktop computers and a scanner if the computers on the 2nd floor are all full.

The Map and Imagery Room does not follow the same hours as the entire library, so make sure to plan accordingly if you want to study here.  This room is open Mon.-Thurs. from 8:30am-7pm, Fri. 8:30am-5pm, Sun. 10am-7pm, and is closed on Sat.
Fun Fact:
Also on this floor are archived government documents and science journals, should you need any of these resources for a research project.

Study Tip 3:  If you want to, find friends to study with
Not everyone studies well in groups, but it can be helpful to study with people from you class or someone who will keep you on topic.  Now don't just pick your best friend(s), because you'll most likely be more distracted if you study with them.  Be sure to pick someone who is serious about studying and aren't distracting to study with.  This can take a while to find the right person to study with, but it works extremely well once you do.

Alachua aka. The Fries

The Study Spot: The Fries is a unique part of the University of Florida. Along with providing insight into the history of Alachua County, it is also a great place to "ketchup" with friends! Why study here? It is surrounded by beautiful trees and is very close to everything you may need: from the Reitz to the Hub to Marston Library. This place is for the type of engineers who like to live on the edge and partake in the beautiful sunlight and scenery Florida offers.

Study Tip of the Day: Know your limits and plan accordingly. Do not wait until the day before the test to study and pull and all night cramming session. If you plan ahead, school is much easier.

Fun Fact: Over 90% of the irrigation water comes from a reclaimed source. Go Green.

Don't be afraid to try this one! Let go of the societal expectations and enjoy your studies by taking a little risk.
P.S. Wear good tennis shoes. Boots do not work.

The Gator Statue (at University Auditorium)

Study Spot 1:  The Gator
It may not be as famous as the Bull Gator next to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, but this Gator still shows its pride next to University Auditorium.  The area around this statue is quiet and has benches, for those who may not want to study right next to the Gator, and is a great place to get some serious studying done, or even just relax and enjoy the sun.  Surprisingly, the statue is really comfortable to lean against while studying and you can even use the bumps/spines on the Gator to prop up and hold your books as you're reading.  It may get a little busier and louder as people walk between classes, but this is a relaxing and quiet spot the majority of the time.

Fun Fact:
Statue history: This Gator statue was given to the University as a gift from the Class of 1997.

Study Tip 1: Find the best place for you to study
Everyone studies differently, so different places work for different people.  Are you a quiet studier?  Do you like some noise around you as you study?  Do you prefer to be outside on a nice day or do you prefer the halogen lights in the libraries?
Fortunately for you, that's what this blog is for.  We'll be taking a perpetual tour of campus' popular and lesser known study spots.  Why?  So we can help you find that perfect spot for you to study!

Welcome!

Hey Gators!

Welcome to our first post!  We spent a few hours today scoping out new study spots around UF, and we're ready to share a few of them with you!

For all of our posts, you can expect to see a few constants:  study spots, study tips, and fun facts about UF.  We may also be including other random things, like recipes, riddles, etc.  Our goal is to find 101 places on campus to study.

UF's campus is such a large, diverse place that it can sometimes seem like it's hard to get away and just focus on studying.  Our goal for this blog is to help you all out in finding the place on campus that works for you.  Some of these places are landmarks that you pass every day and others are more hidden.  If you've been a student for a while, you probably have your study habits down to a science, but for those of you who don't have it figured out yet, or are just looking to spice it up, we'll be including study tips in each post.

We hope you enjoy reading this blog, and hopefully learn something on the way!