Top 10 Places to Cry During Finals Week (Rated by Ambiance & Privacy) – Ann Arbor, MI Edition

Let’s be honest: finals week in Ann Arbor is a rollercoaster. One minute you're cramming orgo notes at 2 a.m., and the next you're tearing up over a missed Canvas deadline, a burnt coffee, or just...existential dread. Sometimes, you need a good cry. The right cry. And finding the perfect setting? That’s an art.

So here you go — a lovingly curated list of the top 10 places in Ann Arbor to cry during finals week, rated on ambiance, privacy, and overall emotional release potential.

1. The Law Library Reading Room

Ambiance: 10/10

Privacy: 4/10

Cry Factor: 8.5/10

Ever wanted to feel like a sobbing character in a medieval drama? Welcome to the law library. With its high ceilings, stained-glass windows, and cathedral-like silence, your tears feel... scholarly. The lack of privacy is balanced by the overwhelming aesthetic, which somehow makes your breakdown feel elegant.

2. The Arb (Nichols Arboretum)

Ambiance: 10/10

Privacy: 9/10

Cry Factor: 10/10

Ah, the classic nature cry. Tuck yourself between the trees or beside the river. No one will find you. The birds might chirp in solidarity. Bonus: if it’s spring, crying while surrounded by blooming peonies is chef’s kiss.

3. Third Floor of the UGLi (Undergraduate Library)

Ambiance: 5/10

Privacy: 6/10

Cry Factor: 7/10

It’s called the UGLi for a reason. Harsh lighting. Desperate energy. Echoes of suppressed sniffles. This is the place for a mid-cram, half-coffee-fueled cry where everyone around you gets it. Bonus: no one will question your glassy eyes — they’ll just assume it’s the screen glare.

4. The Quiet Corner in Literati Bookstore (Upstairs)

Ambiance: 9/10

Privacy: 7/10

Cry Factor: 9/10

It’s cozy. There are books. The smell of paper and espresso. It's like your tear ducts know it's safe to open up here. Plus, you can pretend you're emotionally moved by a passage from a poetry book, and no one will question it.

5. Michigan Theater Balcony

Ambiance: 8/10

Privacy: 6/10 (better when empty)

Cry Factor: 8/10

Catch a matinee and cry in the shadows of cinematic beauty. Whether it's the film, your GPA, or existential dread—this is a great place for a moody, cinematic cry. Bonus points if it’s raining outside.

6. Second Floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library (By the Windows)

Ambiance: 7/10

Privacy: 6/10

Cry Factor: 7.5/10

You’re surrounded by old books and stressed grad students. Crying here is academically acceptable. The tall windows offer reflective gazes into the void. Ideal for silent tears and internal monologues.

7. Your Car in the Maynard Street Parking Garage

Ambiance: 4/10

Privacy: 10/10

Cry Factor: 9.5/10

This is your go-to for an ugly cry. No one can see you. You can blast Taylor Swift or Mitski and scream into the steering wheel. Cathartic. Private. Therapeutic. Slightly haunted vibes.

8. Espresso Royale (State Street)

Ambiance: 8/10

Privacy: 5/10

Cry Factor: 7/10

Between the indie music, overpriced lattes, and collective end-of-semester despair, it’s a great place for a soft cry. There’s comfort in public sobbing when half the people around you also look like they haven’t slept in 48 hours.

9. The Top of the Parking Garage on Thayer

Ambiance: 8/10

Privacy: 8/10

Cry Factor: 8.5/10

Stunning sunset view. Quiet. Slight breeze. Perfect for a dramatic lean against the concrete railing as your single tear glides down your cheek. Main character moment.

10. The Union’s Piano Lounge (When It’s Empty)

Ambiance: 9/10

Privacy: 6/10

Cry Factor: 8/10

Piano playing softly in the distance. Velvet chairs. A moment to pretend you’re the tortured artist of your own life story. Works best late evening when it’s emptier.

Crying during finals doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human, doing your best in a pressure-cooker environment with snow in April and more group projects than anyone deserves. So if the stress gets overwhelming, pick a spot, let it out, and remember: you’re not alone.

And hey — you’ll probably laugh about this breakdown... eventually. Maybe. Kinda.