Ann Arbor Survival Tips

Upon arrival in Ann Arbor in the summer, the majority of your orientation days will be spent listening to boring briefings on Wolverine Access, trying frantically to register for classes (with no help from advisors, of course), and attempting to not get lost around campus. There are a lot of things that nobody tells you about U-M or Ann Arbor, things that you just have to figure out eventually by yourself. Here's a guide on some of those: 1. Bursley-Baits buses: If you are stuck on North Campus (which approximately one-third of the freshman class is), then you will have to go through this nuisance every day. Trying to find seats on the bus will never be a problem, since they will all be taken. Game days are especially awful, since everyone tries to get to the Big House, and even attempting to get within two feet of the bus at either the Bursley or Baits bus stops is quite an achievement. How do you avoid all this hassle? Check the Magic Bus website; it has an actual real-time map of all the bus routes so you can see the time it will take for the bus to get to your stop. On game days, go by car or use the AATA. 2. Alumni Center - Located behind the Michigan League, the Alumni Center has a ton of resources. Their regular Welcome Wednesday events have free coffee and bagels and provide space for students to just relax. You can also pick up a few bluebooks here for free. Besides this, they have regular workshops and information sessions in addition to their Alumni Networks Mentoring Program, which pairs students with a professional in the student's chosen field of study. 3. Safe Walk - This is a handy tool for all the times that you'll spend studying late into the night at the library, or walking back to your room drunk. By calling 734 763 WALK, a designated person will come pick you up wherever you are on campus and drive you back. Even though AA is relatively a safe city, it is always smart to either walk with a friend or use this service at night. 4. The Duderstadt - aka the Dude, a library on North Campus. You'll eventually get bored of studying at the UGLi, Grad and Law libraries, and the Dude is a great alternative. It is airy and spacious, and even has a coffee shop on the ground floor. It's directly connected to Pierpont Commons, which is perfect for all those all-nighters with sudden Panda Express cravings. You can book study rooms here, and what's more, you will actually be able to fit inside them, unlike the Grad study rooms in the stacks. There is a high tech Media Lab and also an extensive video game library! 5. Farmers Market - Located in the Kerrytown district in Ann Arbor, the Farmers Market has tons of locally grown food, baked goods and handicrafts. This is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon when you're too stressed out from school, or too sick of dorm food. The surrounding area is also very charming; be sure to check out the famous Zingerman's Deli nearby.

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