So both my sister and I have been having some problems since we went off to college. The problem is we are used to being able to study at our parents' house, which is a fairly quiet area that is conducive to studying.
Since I first started college a little over two and a half years ago, I've had all sorts of problems being able to study in my apartment. My first year I had a roommate who listened to music really loudly, even when I asked him repeatedly to stop. I tried several solutions to this, including having music on low to try and counter the noise (didn't work because I couldn't focus on what I was reading with the music on) and wearing ear plugs (didn't work because it only blocks about 20% of the sound). I've tried going to libraries and study areas as well, but there are always people talking there and it's near impossible to study there as well.
Last year wasn't as bad. I was in a relatively quiet building, and for the most part the only noise to bother me was the occasional party on Saturday night. This year the problem's much worse. I don't know for sure who it is (I think it's the person living above me, but I'm not positive), but they are doing something and it's generating a sort of thrumming vibration through the walls. I can hear this vibration clearly and it gives me a headache to be honest. It makes it impossible to study or to sleep when it's going on. I've tried the ear plugs again, but that only makes it worse (I can hear the vibration a lot more with them in). I've tried talking to the guy above me, but he claims that he isn't doing anything that should generate that kind of sound. Since I don't know for sure it's him, I can't really do anything more about the source of the sound.
As I mentioned at the start, my sister's been having a similar problem at college. She lives in a dorm. She can't study there because people are typically loud there. She's tried the libraries and study areas, and she has the same problem as I do (people are talking there and so it's impossible to study). She's complained to me several times about the problem.
So for Christmas this year, I tried to research a solution to the problem, something that I could get her that might help her out (and in turn might offer a solution to my problem as well). I dug around on the web and the main thing I found was the supposed noise cancelling headphones. I tried to find a set that a) wasn't too expensive, b) still had a good rating, and c) didn't seem to be reliant on listening to MP3s to cancel out outside noise. I found a supposedly good pair, so I got it for my sister. When she tried them out though, they didn't work. It seems they (like nearly every other pair of noise cancelling headphones apparently) only block out/cancel noise that would hinder you from listening to music off a CD player or MP3 player or something. They don't cancel the noise around you to make it quiet.
This was rather frustrating for both of us. Of course the headphones got returned and she got another gift instead. Still we haven't found a solution to the problem. I don't know how it is for her now (as I haven't talked to her about it in a few weeks), but I know for me the problem has only gotten worse. I haven't been able to sleep well (i.e. more than 3 or 4 hours) for about two weeks, partially because of the stress and partially because of the noise. I have trouble doing all the reading assigned to me because every time I sit down to do it the noise is there, hurting my ears and making my concentration falter. I need to do something or else I'm going to go crazy before May when I graduate. So I've come to ask the people of good old Hatrack to help me with my problem. Any possible solutions would be nice. Thanks in advance guys.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
Since you've already tried talking to the guy, you should try going up the chain of command here. This is a violation. You can start by reporting to your landlord/apartment supervisor and if that doesn't work, you go to the police to file a report with them. The reason you go to your landlord first is that if he doesn't do anything, the fact that you filed an official report should allow you to break your leas free and clear, in which case, (worst case) you can move.
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. I ended up just getting used to some background noise. I never had problems finding a quiet corner in the library, if worse came to worse. I hope you can get this resolved.
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
My sympathies, pfresh. My roommates are all loud and inconsiderate and I don't have a way to move, and unfortunately, I don't think that the police will take noise complaints inside my own apartment. =D
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Well I worry about talking to the apartment people or the police about it, since I'm not positive it is him. About 85% of the time, it sounds like the noise is coming from above me. The other 15% of the time though it sounds like it's coming from the sides or something. I'm worried about blaming someone when they aren't really at fault. Also, moving out isn't an option since my scholarship keeps me tied to this apartment complex. As I said, I'm hoping to just find some way of blocking out the noise so that way I can actually concentrate and study (or in some cases sleep peacefully).
Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :
It seems like you're being a little too passive about it. In the apartment, I've always been able to quiet down my roommates (ask them to wear headphones) and neighbors when the need arose. I'm sure if you went to the neighbor with the right disposition (not accusing/complaining), you'd be able to find out what the sound is and fix it. And definitely go to your landlord--nothing to lose there.
As for the library, I really doubt that you can't find a single corner of the library where people aren't talking. The library at my college is small compared to others, and there is ALWAYS an empty corner, sometimes an empty FLOOR where there is complete dead silence.
Sorry if I sound dismissing, I've got some constructive ideas too:
Instead of studying in the late afternoon/at night, I like to wake up very early (or stay up very late) and get my best work done from 3AM-8AM. The parties are usually cooled down by 3, and I catch up sleep in the afternoons after class.
When it gets down to it, I've also just learned to deal with noise and get my work done for better or for worse.
Anyway--I'll be graduating in May, too. What's your major?
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
I think definitely: landlord, or police. This is public nuisance material. I'd hate to do that, too, but what else can you do?
I don't think you'll find a technical means.
Then there's the other solution, from Night Court.
Q: Problems with the neighbors, huh? A: You got it. Loud music in the wee hours...low, guttural moans... Q: So what did you say to them? A: I told 'em if they didn't like it, they could move!
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Studying in the early morning is a slight option, but not a best choice (as I often have more work than get done in just a few hours). The other thing is I can't sleep with this noise, so if I couldn't study in the afternoons there'd be no way I could sleep.
Maybe I am being too passive, but I just hate getting this feeling (like I did with my roommate the first year) that I'm having to "yell at him" (even when it's just asking him nicely) in order to get him to act like a considerate human being.
As for my major, I'm a history major. Hooray for being in a degree that requires way too much reading (particularly when you can't focus because of noise).
Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :
Yeah, dude. Don't feel guilty or worried about stepping on your roomies' toes when they're impeding on your rights. Your education comes first, and as long as you're not a jerk about it, you should be able to fix the vibration and the roommate problem by being a little more proactive.
Whatever you do, DO NOT leave passive aggressive notes on the fridge. Open communication garners so much more respect than trying to be "careful"...
I'm lucky as a music major that most of my "studying" is actually "practicing" and takes place in a sound-proof piano room.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Well the problem this year isn't a roommate problem as so much a neighbor problem. After the roommate problem the first year, I tried to make sure that future roommates weren't loud.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
How about making a cd of an hour loop of white noise, and then playing that on noise cancelling headphones?
Another alternative would be one of those noise making machines that plays white noise to help you get to sleep. They often have selections like surf, rain, train, brook, etc. A third alternative would be a fan or something similar that made a drowing-out type of white noise. Maybe an air filter in your room, or something?
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I had an air filter thing in my room till it broke just recently (I assume it's broken since it started making a high pitched squeal). I did contemplate getting a noise CD or a machine, particularly if it was ocean noises or something (and not just that staticy white noise). I'll have to look into those more. Any recommendations?
Also, I thought I'd say I may be slower to reply after this. The noise has subsided briefly, so I'm going to try and get as much reading done while it's gone as I can.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I don't know, maybe I just have awesome apartment managers, but when I call to tell them that "someone" is being loud in the area, they come over to investigate themselves. Our complex is set up such that it's almost impossible to figure out where the noise is coming from if you're just sitting in an apartment. You literally have to do a turn around the courtyard to pinpoint the source.
If your managers aren't willing to do that, why don't you? You say you're not sure where the noise is, so find out. It shouldn't be too difficult to discern whether the noise is coming from his place or from someone else's if you stand right outside his door.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Cops and civil court.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
Even if you don't know for 100% sure who it is, you should still report the problem. You don't even have to point direct fingers. All you have to say is what you've told us -- you can't sleep or study because of noise and it usually seems to come from above. A good apartment manager should be able to take it from there.
There is a difference, and a big one, between yelling and standing up for your rights. People will walk all over you if you let them. Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
To elaborate, I think you should start making a legal trail where you ask the apartment complex and the guy who is causing the noise to turn it down. If you can't get results, then I wonder if you couldn't get out of your lease and move someplace else without incurring any kind of penalty? Or at the least, being able to take the guy who is being noisy to court and making him pay your moving costs?
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Is the "thrumming" noise you're hearing something you can record somehow? It might give your neighbor a better guess as to what might be causing the noise (if they aren't just being an inconsiderate jerk) and, failing that, it would give you something concrete to present to the aforementioned landlord and/or police.
I know Bose headphones specifically advertise that they can be used in the absence of an audio source to dampen outside sound, but they're definitely not cheap.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
To play devil's advocate, while I don't doubt that your neighbors are being too noisy I don't think it's reasonable to expect everyone around you to observe quiet hours at all times. As far as I'm concerned (and most dorms I've seen have a quiet hours policy somewhat similar), it's reasonable to expect college kids to be quiet after 10pm on weeknights and after 2 or 3am on weekendnights. However, if the noise is outside those hours then you should definitely find an authority to enforce the quiet hours. Assuming your residence has such a policy.
I agree with Launchywiggin about not being able to find a quiet corner in the library. I've never seen a college library that didn't have a few quiet nooks at all hours (and I went to three different colleges).
To add to the constructive advice, I'd say you may need to go exploring. Coffee houses, laundromats, and 24 hour restaurants (like Denny's) are all pretty good for studying. I used to do a lot of studying at Denny's, and it was always deserted after about 10pm. Plus, free coffee and softdrink refills.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
One possibility, too, is to get some kind of white noise device for your room. Radio static is one free possibility, but there actual devices made for some kind of white noise that you can buy, too. I know I keep a large fan on in my room whenever I am sleeping just for that reason.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
The thing I'd disagree about is the whole quiet hours. I'm not asking for absolute silence. I'd just expect that if you're listening to music or watching TV or whatever that you would not do it an excessive volume. I watch TV, listen to music, play games, etc. and once you get outside of my room you can't really hear them, so they are less likely to bother those around me. There's a large difference between quiet hours and excessive volume (as those are the two extremes).
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Then we don't disagree. If it truly is excessive noise, then you're right not to have to listen to it at any time of the day. But I've had neighbors who though that vacuuming was excessively noisy (and they called the cops on me for vacuuming during the middle of the day), and I just wanted to make sure that you weren't doing that.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Oh no, it's not that. I can hear when they are vacuuming and just walking around and stuff, and that doesn't bother me. As I said, most times this noise is causing the walls to vibrate and it can be louder than my TV when on. I often wonder if he has a woofer or speakers hooked to the wall or something to get it to vibrate that much. I have no clue though.
Posted by Liz B (Member # 8238) on :
Good grief! How is it possible that nowhere is quiet in your library?? I'm sympathetic, but incredulous. Also, talk to the librarians/ university officials. If there are no quiet study places in your school, there should be.
Good luck!
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
The times I've gone to the library, there's always been people passing by or around, either talking to each other or talking on cell phones (despite the fact that there are rules saying to keep it quiet in the library). Maybe this was because the times I tried to go there were during the day when more people were there or something.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
I have to admit, I'm having trouble with the idea of there being no quiet place to study on a campus. Day or night, if there isn't a place explicitly set aside for students to study quietly, you should talk to your college administration. I ended up going to two colleges...at the first there was a huge room in the student union with thick, relatively soundproofed walls and no noise other than the turning of pages, scratching of pens, or the occasional cough. I couldn't stand it.
At the second school, the library was such a place. The main floor of the library could be a bit noisy with talk and what not, but the basement or the top floor were just stacks of books and people studying. There were also quiet computer labs and study areas in many of the individual departments.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
If you haven't yet found a place that's quiet enough for your ears, I doubt you will.
Honestly, I think that you're going to have to wear down your sensitivity to ambient noise.
Personally, learning to go to sleep to music really helped me to do that.
-----
In the meantime, is there no music that you can put on that doesn't capture your attention? I'm thinkig of non-obtrusive background noise like Enya or something like that. Or, barring that, how about listening to white noise to mask out other sounds?
When I want to block out as much noise as possible, I put in earplugs, then over them I put ear phones with Enya-esque music. You could add noise-cancelling headphones for another level of blocking.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Well, as was said earlier in the thread, I'm thinking of looking for some nature-based white noise, like ocean sounds or something. I find music (or at least the music on my computer) to be distracting. I can occasionally sleep with music on, but I haven't ever been able to study with music on.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I've got to say, I agree with mph. It sounds like your background noise threshold is really, really low if you think that there's nowhere in the library that's quiet enough because of people moving around. Can you get a study room? Our library has study rooms you can check out for a few hours.
-pH
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I've got to say, I agree with mph.
There. That wasn't so bad, was it?
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:I've got to say, I agree with mph.
There. That wasn't so bad, was it?
I've found it gets easier with time and repetition.
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