Study Spots in ZU

If you are familiar with Ziauddin University, you are probably amused thinking about how there can be a whole article based on study spots in Ziauddin because it isn’t like the place is huge. However, if you look hard enough, there are enough spots for everyone, based on what environment they are most productive in!

Firstly, the most obvious is the ZU library. If you’re someone who prefers to have silence all around while studying, this place is perfect for you. Everyone within the premises of the library is required to stay quiet at all times hence, this is not the place for group discussions. One of the advantages of this venue, however, is that you do not have to carry a whole lot of books to-and-fro. You can get everything you need from the shelves and then keep it back once you are done. The library usually closes at 10 p.m. and so is ideal if you want to study for long hours in a stretch.

Moving on, the second spot is for when you want to have those all-important group discussions with your friends or batch mates. If you want to discuss course content or some discrepancies in your notes which are constantly bothering you, the area immediately outside the library next to the shelves is perfect for you. You can sit here in groups and be as loud as you want (within respectable limits- of course). Another perk of this specific area is the fact that you can eat the goodies you’ve bought from the mart openly, to your heart’s content. However, do not wear white or clothes that stain easily because you will have to sit on the floor which can be dusty at times! Wouldn’t want to ruin your new clothes now, would you?

If you do want a group discussion but also care about the ambiance and the atmosphere around you, this next place will suit you. Dunkin Donuts, found on the second floor of the main hospital building has a cozy seating arrangement where students can huddle up and have discussions. Due to the limited number of seats and space, the group can maximum consist of six people (seven to eight if you’re really pushing it) and due to DD being a franchise and not an amenity such as a library, you will have to purchase something for them to allow you to sit there for longer hours (especially during busier hours). Having said that, DD is perfect if you prefer an air-conditioned, snug place with the smell of coffee lingering in the air. Oh, and not to forget- you'll have an endless supply of donuts within an arm's reach at all times!

For the students who prefer to be left to their own devices while studying, the ZU lecture halls aren’t a bad option either. Many times, I’ve sat down in the lecture hall during breaks and self-study sessions and covered a few topics. Sometimes we need some peace and a break from the noisy halls of ZU to be able to grasp concepts better (nothing can beat the last-minute concepts drilled into your head by your friends just before the exam starts). You can take a whole bench for yourself, spread out your notes and books, and get straight into it. Just a tip- for maximum productivity, move right down the aisle to the last bench and sit there to give off the vibe that you do not want to be disturbed.

If you do not like the idea of being confined in the lecture halls even in your precious breaks, you can move out to the area just outside the lecture halls where there are benches available. This will break the monotony of staying in one place all day long, refresh your mind but still serve the same purpose of giving you an atmosphere of silence and peace.

Closer to the semester exams, my friends and I once even utilized the Boys’ Common Room by converting that into a study space and it worked out quite well. We joined the tables together and got some extra chairs from the Girls’ Common Room. We did have to request some people to move out or keep quiet if they were being too loud but this only works if the BCR is not as busy on that specific day because you understandably cannot ask people to move out from a common spot that serves the purpose of recreation. With this spot, you will have to test your luck!

These are some of the study spots within the premises of ZU that I have personally used. It mostly depends on the kind of student that you are and the type of environment that you thrive in. Even though most of the motivation and need to be productive comes from within, the atmosphere around you contributes a lot to how much you are able to get done. Thus, you should spend some time carefully pondering over what seems to be most suitable for you. If none of these fit your criteria, there are many spots outside of ZU, but I'll save those for another article!