As the spring semester begins to wind down at UB, the amount of work students must complete in order to pass their courses starts to accumulate. Many students have already found themselves getting a head start on planning their schedules for May, in anticipation of final papers, final exams and extra study time.
Elizabeth Charles, a freshman mathematics major, said she finds herself looking over her notes more frequently as finals draw near.
"I look over my notes constantly," Charles said. "I have more exams this semester than last semester, so I am not fully experienced in what it's like to survive a true crunch time."
In addition, Charles said she finds it most comfortable to study in her room during exam time.
"I tend to study in my room because there are less distractions there," she said.
Tarcio Barbosa, a freshman business major, said he also prefers the environment of his residence hall room when preparing for finals.
"I study in my dorm room most of the time because it's very quiet there," Barbosa said. "It's not difficult for me to study there, especially during finals, because quiet hours are strictly enforced 24 hours a day."
Barbosa said his strategies for studying include a system of prioritizing his subjects.
"I try to study for each of my finals," he said. "The courses that I have a better understanding in will have less time devoted to them when I study. I focus more on the courses that are more difficult."
Andrew Hyzy, a junior English major, said he uses a similar method when preparing for final exams.
"I find my priorities by whatever is coming the next day," Hyzy said. "Everything beyond that can wait until I get the chance to do it."
Hyzy said the areas in which he chooses to study are most conducive to studying and doing assignments.
"I can pretty much study wherever," he said. "Besides my room at home, I like to study in Baldy walkway or at Lockwood (Library)."
According to Karen Senglaup, director of access services for the Arts and Sciences Libraries, students flock to the libraries in droves as the semester draws nearer to the end. She said the libraries are the most common places people think of when trying to decide where to study.
"When crunch time comes, the library is the first place students think of," Senglaup said. "From a purely anecdotal point of view, the libraries are packed toward the end of the semester, and it's already beginning now."
Senglaup said the increase in the number of students studying in the libraries is due to the variety of studying settings the libraries offer.
"There are many areas for both group study and individual study in the libraries, although we are currently working on a plan to increase the number of places for students to study," she said. "The libraries feel that we provide safe, quiet and clean places to study."
Senglaup said she sees a dramatic increase in the number of library items being used and checked out as the semester nears its end.
"A common rule of thumb is that for every book that gets checked out of the library, one is being used in the library," she said. "This deals mainly with the end of the semester."
Senglaup said the libraries aim to aid students in their stresses at crunch time and throughout the course of a semester by improving the library facilities.
"Our primary goal in the libraries here at UB is to improve the overall design of facilities and to incorporate flexibility of numerous services conducive to scholarship and learning," she said. "We hope to cater to varied research and learning styles so that final exam time, as well as any other time, can run as smoothly as possible for students."
In addition, Senglaup said the libraries and the Cybraries will extend their hours during reading days and exam week. The Undergraduate Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., and the Cybraries on the first floor the UGL and the second floor of Lockwood will be open for 24 hours from April 29 to May 8.
According to Ashley Bovenzi, a sophomore double major in American studies and music performance, the late hours are not helpful to her because of the increased amount of distraction at crunch time.
"The extended hours are great, but there are times when I feel like I have the attention span of a 5-year-old, especially when I have a million things to do," Bovenzi said. "With all of those distractions, it would take me forever to write a short paper. I choose to study and do assignments in my room instead."
Daniel Staunton, a freshman music major, agreed.
"I choose to study in my home where there are less distractions," he said. "At home, I can sit down and prioritize and decide which things I need to study more for."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
