STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE ’08: Pulling an all-nighter

No sleep tonight

BY KATHY LALUK

You’ve just started school, but mid-terms will be here before
you know it. Freshmen, prepare to feel stress like never before. Here’s a guide
to the perfect cram session, from locations to brain food to caffeine options.

Location, location, location

There are dozens of fantastic coffeehouses located throughout
Rochester; many of them have comfy
chairs, ample caffeine and snacking options, and frequently offer free wireless
internet. For a complete listing, check out the Coffeehouses section in the
Student Directory located in the back of this publication.

            Don’t have
time to trek off-campus? Most campuses have cafés and food courts for all your
late-night needs. UR boasts an on-campus
Starbucks (WilsonCommons)
and Pura Vida (Goergen Hall).
RIT and MCC have their own version of downtown coffeehouse Java’s: Java Wally’s
(Wallace Library, RIT) and JavaCity
(Damon City Campus, MCC). SUNY Brockport offers three on-campus cafés — Aerie’s
(Drake Memorial Library), Hartwell’s (HartwellBuilding), and Jitterbug’s (Seymour
College Union) — as does Nazareth,
with Sorelle (GolisanoAcademicCenter),
Roost (Shults), and Colie’s
Café (George Hall).

            If
you’re not into the coffeehouse scene, but still need a place to study, try a
library. It may sound lame, but libraries are a great place to hit the books (and
are usually much quieter than the dorms). Most schools have adopted late hours
to help accommodate students’ studying habits.

            Even though UR’s Robbins/Koller-Collins Library is only open weekdays (Monday-Thursday
until 9 p.m., Friday until 5 p.m.), the Gleason Library is open 24/7 (with
a few holiday exceptions). RIT’s Wallace Library is open until 3 a.m. during the week, and until midnight on weekends; it even has an “after
hours room” that stays open 24/7 (except weekends). Check your school’s library
website for more specific hours.

Caffeine kick

 Whether you’re into
the latest über-caffeinated energy drink or you just
love your coffee, caffeine gives us that quick jolt of energy we need to get
through a cram session. But caffeine is still technically a drug — a legal and
socially acceptable one, but a drug nonetheless. So make sure you know what
you’re putting into your body before you’re set to study all night. According
to the Nemorous Foundation, anywhere from 300 to 400
mgs of caffeine a day is considered a healthy amount for young adults.

            A good ol’ cuppa coffee will get you about 13 mgs/oz, on average. But be careful: due to variations
in blend and brewing techniques, it can be tricky to measure caffeine intake accurately.
Coffee’s healthier counterpart, tea, has some caffeine, but the amount depends
on what type you’re drinking. Brewed breakfast tea and iced tea will give you 2-3
mgs/oz, while others, like white tea or green tea, will give you 3-4 mgs/oz.

            With vending
machines all over campuses, it’s no wonder many students reach for a can of pop
(or what non-Rochesterians might call “soda”) to help
keep their focus late at night. Jolt Cola takes top marks for caffeine in this
category — more than 9 mgs/oz — but Coke or Pepsi still hold their own with
around 4-5 mgs/oz.

            It all seems
to be about extremes these days, from the sports we play to the fuel we put in
our bodies. According to recent studies, a third of 12- to 24-year-olds
regularly down energy drinks. But just how much caffeine bang are you getting
for your buck? A one-ounce can of Ammo, which contains 171 mgs/oz of caffeine,
is all you need to straighten your spine and keep yourself awake for hours. The
makers recommend you mix this energy drink with water to dilute the caffeine,
but it’s technically safe to down the whole thing in one gulp.

            From the
makers of Mountain Dew comes Amp, an overly sweet energy drink that packs a
punch of about 9 mgs/oz. Monster, which tastes sort of like liquefied Pixie
Stix, may sound scary, but it’s relatively tame — with only 10 mgs/oz, it’s
barely more potent than a cup of regular coffee.

            Though it
may “give you wings” to get you through your late-night cram session, Red Bull
is actually not as powerful as you might think. The popular drink contains less
than 10 mgs/oz of caffeine. Meanwhile, Starbucks’ Doubleshot, packaged in a
trendy slim can, packs a comparative punch. With about 20 mgs/oz,
it’ll definitely get you wired.

            Make sure
you know what you’re drinking — with all those tasty super-caffeinated drinks
out there, it’s easy to get carried away and cause
serious health problems, such as heart arrhythmia and increased strain on the respiratory
system.

            What most
students don’t believe — or don’t want to believe — is that water is actually
one of the best ways to keep yourself going during a
homework marathon. The body is more than two-thirds water, and it needs to be
replenished frequently, especially if you’re going to be pulling an
all-nighter. If plain tap or bottled water just doesn’t do it for you, try
flavored water. The sugar will give you an extra kick, but you’ll stay hydrated
and awake without any of the drawbacks of caffeine. Or if you really need a
boost, try a bottle of Water Joe, caffeine-enhanced water with
about 3.5 mgs/oz.

Let’s get snackin’!

What’s a can of pop or cup of coffee without a bite to eat?
Late-night food options are becoming more readily available to college
students, but what you’re eating can affect how you study.

            Even though
you endured years of your parents’ nagging to eat your fruits and vegetables, try
apple slices and peanut butter for a healthy, yet satisfying, late-night option.
It might not sound as tempting as junk food, but it’s actually better to keep
you going because of the protein and natural sugar. Most dining halls let you
carry out fruit, so if it looks like it’s going to be a late night, grab an
apple or two. You can also try pairing your fruits and veggies with some
low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese for a late-night pick-me-up.

            Sure, that
chocolate bar from the vending machine might not be as healthy as fruits or
veggies, but if you need to reward yourself for your hard work, it isn’t a bad
alterative — as long as it’s only occasionally. The natural caffeine will even give
you a little boost.

            While a
late-night pizza order or greasy burger run sounds tempting in the midst of a
study break, do your best to resist. Fatty foods may be immediately satisfying,
but they take longer to digest, causing you to feel sluggish — that’s the last
thing you want when you’re trying to plow your way through a paper at 2 a.m.

            Though it
may be healthier than reaching for a sugar-filled energy drink or soda, milk
contains animal protein, which can make you sleepy late at night. Anything with
animal protein, like milk, ice cream, and meat, contains an amino acid called
tryptophan, which increases the body’s production of serotonin, causing you to
feel drowsy. And that’s the last thing you need while scouring your calculus
text in the wee hours of the morning.

This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2008.