Only a few hours are standing between Penn students and their first final exams -- which means that cramming is on the agenda.
But pulling an all-nighter can be done effectively, and several experts have tips on how to study through the night.
- Take power naps.
Snagging 15 to 20 minutes of sleep every couple of hours can give a student the energy to stay awake throughout the night, said Dave Jackson, national coordinator for Awake in America, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization that promotes healthy sleep habits.
Power naps "help restore the brain a little bit, give it the downtime it needs to rest and relax," Jackson said.
He added that college students should aim for between eight and eight and a half hours of sleep each night, and receiving fewer than eight hours for many nights in a row can lead to illness.
- Use energy drinks and caffeine.
Patrice Radden, a spokeswoman for the company which produces the Red Bull energy drink, said that it was designed to be an "energizer," and should be used during periods of physical and mental stress.
The drink "increases concentration and improves reaction speed, stimulates the metabolism, increases endurance," Radden wrote in an e-mail.
Red Bull is a caffeinated beverage, however, and therefore Radden said the amount that an individual can consume varies.
According to statistics from the Food and Drug Administration and the National Soft Drink Association, a trade group, one can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is about the same amount as an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee.
A 12-ounce soft drink usually contains between 35 and 50 milligrams of caffeine, and tea can contain between 40 and 60 milligrams, depending on the brand.
- Find a comfortable study spot.
With Van Pelt Library hours extended until 2 a.m. this week and several off-campus venues open late into the night, there is no shortage of study spots.
Penn courseware support librarian Amanda Chudnow said that the brand-new Information Commons, located in Van Pelt, is an ideal study environment, especially for students studying in groups.
"We encourage students not to be boisterous and loud necessarily, but to have conversations, especially related to their schoolwork," Chudnow said. "It is meant as a collaboration space."
Other libraries on campus, including the biomedical library and the Fisher Fine Arts Library, are open until midnight.
Off campus, the Bucks County Coffee shop at 40th and Locust streets is open until 1 a.m. Cosi, at 36th and Walnut, is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
