Touring our UNH campus is a great way to learn more about life as a UNH student and picture yourself here. Though our tours give an overview of the most important parts of campus, they don’t have time to cover everything. Welcome to our My Favorite Places on Campus blog series, where UNH students walk you through some of the coolest and most unexpected locations where they spend time on campus!
Today, Anya '27, a math major, talks about the best places to spend time on campus, including a hidden dance studio and the best place to get ice cream. Here are Anya's five favorite places on the UNH campus:
1. Kingsbury Lounges
As expected of a math major, I spend the majority of my time in the math building, Kingsbury. When I’m not in classes or at Albert’s getting an iced chai latte, I’m in the Kingsbury courtyard lounges. Here, I’ll camp out for hours in the comfy chairs alone or at a long table doing work (or goofing off) with my friends! These spots are my favorite not just because I find myself incredibly productive, but also because I love the people-watching opportunities they offer and being able to say hi to professors and my friends as they pass through. They also offer proximity to professors' offices, so if I’m struggling with homework, I can pop into their offices without disrupting my entire routine.
2. Lower Quad Courtyard
One thing I love about UNH is the amount of open green space. My first-year residence hall didn’t have a big courtyard near it, so I made it a priority to have one for my second year. This year, I have a giant courtyard right outside my residence hall, where I’ve spent hours reading books and taking classes on Zoom. My residence hall also hosts events and socials in this courtyard, and I love being able to sit outside to listen to music or eat s’mores with my friends at the firepit when the weather is nice.
3. Gables Dance Studio
One of the main reasons I chose UNH was the numerous dance opportunities. I knew I wanted to dance, but I didn’t know what level of commitment I wanted while managing a STEM student schedule. Now, I am a member of the Wildcat Dance Crew and we practice in the Gables Dance Studio. I had no clue this dance studio existed until tryouts, and now, I spend at least four hours a week there, practicing and staying active. The gym can sometimes be incredibly overwhelming, so I’m grateful I have another place to exercise. It’s where some of my favorite memories have come from, and I love being surrounded by supportive and highly motivated people. The team is more than just people I practice with, it’s truly one of the most supportive communities I’ve found here at UNH!
4. Campus Creamery
I didn’t try Campus Creamery until my second semester here at UNH, and now, I don’t think I’ve gone two weeks without it. I’ve introduced all my family members to it, and it’s become a staple within my friend group. We’ve gone there in the heat of summer and the dead cold of winter, using our sweatshirt sleeves as a barrier between us and the ice cream. Their outdoor seating is the perfect spot to sit and talk about school, life and relationships, and the ice cream is a great sweet treat to reward yourself with after a long week of hard work.
5. My Dorm Room
I came to UNH not knowing a single person. That’s one of the reasons I chose UNH. Going into the first week not knowing anyone was nerve-racking, but I quickly made friends in my residence hall. Our room doors were always open the first week, which is almost mandatory for first-years, yet they stayed open after that. Each night, my friends and I who lived next to each other would move between rooms, doing homework, watching movies and talking about classes. I’m still friends with them to this day and plan on living with them next year in a super-suite. We do “family dinners” at least once a week to ensure that we all stay in contact with our busy schedules.
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