Nap-o-rama quiz: Find out your ideal napping location

By Tracy Fuad

5:58 p.m. Feb. 10 2008

There are two ways to be tired: with a bed, and without a bed. Unfortunately for us, we college vagrants fall into the latter category far too often. Unless you regularly carry an inflatable futon in your backpack, you need to know where you can crash between class when it’s too cold to make the trek back to your dorm.

Take this quiz to find out where your ideal napping location is, so when those Zs start swimming around your head, you know exactly where to take refuge.

When you were a kid, what did your parents have to do to get you to fall asleep?

Nothing. I fall asleep approximately three seconds after my head hits the pillow, or any vaguely soft surface.

They read me book after book until I fell asleep to the sound of great literature.

My daddy would call from work and read me numbers from the NASDAQ index.

Sometimes they would play soothing New Age cassettes or shake a rain stick to calm my aura.

They drove me around in the car for hours so I would stop screaming and crying.

What best describes your personal level of organization?

I carry around a stapler, hole puncher and color-coordinated labels at all times to ensure that everything is in its correct place.

I’m fairly organized. Sometimes I lose things, but I do a good job of keeping my class materials together, and my room is usually clean.

I’m partial to alphabetical organization. I like to keep an inventory of my possessions. I find comfort in looking at a list of all the things I own when I’m feeling down.

I’ve always believed organization is more of a hindrance than a help. I’ll find what I am looking for when I am meant to. I dream better when I can’t see the floor of my room under my clothes, books and dirty dishes.

I lost my backpack one late night during New Student Week, but I’ve carried my stuff around in this great big plastic garbage bag ever since. Sometimes my papers are sort of crumply but the thing is waterproof… it works great.

What would you bring with you to read on the beach over Spring Break?

The latest scholarly papers published in the field of my major, or maybe that new book about String Theory for some lighter reading.

A couple of textbooks. That way, I’ll have a head start next quarter. I laugh when I see people read magazines, knowing they will suffer while I set the curve back.

A stack of Economist issues I haven’t had time to read through. I’ve already read Freakonomics, but maybe I’ll bring The World Is Flat.

The books I’ve been meaning to read all quarter but haven’t had time for…maybe Walden, The Stranger and Anna Karenina — I’ve heard it’s great.

Sometimes I find scraps of newspaper drifting in the wind and read those. I really enjoyed this pamphlet about the devil in my laptop some lady handed to me. I’ll read anything, really.

What would you rather listen to when you are falling asleep?

I can only sleep in complete silence. Sometimes I wake up when my roommate breathes too much and I have to put on the fuzzy earmuffs my Auntie Olga gave me for Christmas.

Something like John Mayer, The Shins or maybe Death Cab for Cutie. Whatever is on my iPod; all-purpose music that I can study to or sleep to.

I like to listen to NPR, especially “Your Money.” It’s my favorite.

I mean, I’d tell you, but I doubt it would mean anything to you; you probably haven’t heard of any of the bands I listen to. They’re pretty obscure.

I love falling asleep on raucous weekend nights when there is a beautiful cacophony of fire trucks, drunken brawls and honking cars outside my window.

Where would you most likely be on any given Saturday afternoon?

Finishing up a lab, working on a problem set or studying for EA. My mind is probably wandering though, most likely toward that idea for a robot to enter into the design competition.

Probably curled up somewhere with a couple of books, trying to read, but taking breaks to talk on the phone or snack.

At my new internship downtown, so I’ll have a job offer right out of college.

I mix it up every weekend, but maybe I’m at a new museum I haven’t been to, or on an adventure with friends, or in the city before going to a show.

I usually explore Chicago on the weekend. But not that boring Miracle Mile shit; I just ride on the El until I feel like getting off, then spend the day wandering around whatever neighborhood I end up in.

What are your favorite drinks?

Mountain Dew Code Red, Amp or Monster… anything that keeps me wired enough to focus on my computer screen all night. I don’t need sleep. If I drink, it’s usually Red Bull and Vodka.

Bottled water or soda from the vending machines while I’m studying, and a classic rum and coke when I’m done studying.

Something classy. Really classy. And expensive. Pellegrino, Cosmopolitans or champagne.

A bottle of Pellegrino, a Starbucks cinnamon dolce latte with extra foam or a chocolate chai with whipped cream. When I go out, my favorite drinks are White Russians or Peppermint Patties.

I love tap water and a warm Busch Lite or whatever I can mix using juice from the dining hall.

What kind of career do you imagine yourself pursuing when you graduate from Northwestern?

Something in science or engineering. I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was seven years old. I expect to get job offers before I graduate.

The idea of graduating terrifies me. I’ll probably go to law school, medical school or business school. I can’t imagine not having classes or being on a campus.

I expect to work in investment banking a couple years before going to business school.

I want to spend a year doing Teach for America or volunteering somewhere, but after that, I’m not sure. I think I’ll end up where I am meant to, doing something I love.

I want to take a year off and go backpacking around the world. I have no idea what I will do after that though. Maybe that will be more of a five-year thing, actually.

The Library

You probably have spent your fair share of nights here before, and have already realized that the library is the ideal place to nap for you. One word of advice, however: those awkwardly boxy and dilapidated armchairs dotting the library towers might seem inviting at 3 a.m., but every other study-holic in the building will walk past your open-mouthed face if you pass out there. Opt instead for a quiet and private seminar room. The floor, table and window seat are all far more inviting and less injurious to your back, especially if you remembered to bring a pillow. Of course, by pillow I really mean a strategically sized library book. The old, thick reference books provide the best neck support.

Kellogg

Admit it: You’ve been groomed for a place like Kellogg since the day you popped out of the womb. While most undergrads wither under the full brunt of Kellogg students’ icy glares and extra-sharp attire, you flourish. Conveniently located mid-campus at Sheridan and Foster, there are a few supremely comfortable (leather) couches just waiting to be napped on in the lobby of Kellogg. That glamorous Kellogg aura is irresistible, and you never know what connections you might make hanging out in this ideal slumber location.

Café Ambrosia

When you feel sleepy, look no farther than Café Ambrosia, providing the perfect napping oasis with its hip and homey basement den, complete with soporific lighting and lots of comfy couches. The intellectual atmosphere has the perfect balance of adventitious feng shui, open textbooks, wireless Internet and deep discussion over frothy, indie-flavored drinks.

On a Northwestern shuttle

Are you sure you are a student at Northwestern? You might actually be a homeless person who just thinks that they go to school here. Luckily for you, however, you can sleep just about anywhere, so why not on a shuttle bus? The noise shouldn’t bother you, and the gentle jostle as the bus chugs up and down Sheridan, over potholes, squirrels and students late to class, is practically soothing. Plus, you can hop on no matter where you happen to have woken up on campus at any of the many shuttle stops (it might be a little wait, though). Tour Northwestern’s campus again, and again, and again, until you are caught up on your sleep (might take weeks). Just make sure not to get abandoned at Ryan Field when the driver goes on his break.