places to study

Places to Study

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Studying on campus can free you from distractions like noisy roommates or an enticing nap. But how much focus you get can depend on where you choose to study. Here are some places that I’ve been able to get the most done.

In the library

Probably the most popular place to study. You’ll be surrounded by students suffering through exams, just like you, in a variety of subjects.

  • 2nd floor, science section
    • Features: double monitors, quiet, relevant books nearby
    • Drawbacks: often busy before 7 pm, no food allowed
  • 1st floor, map room
    • Features: often empty, abundant outlets, allows talking
    • Drawbacks: no food allowed, sometimes groups can be too loud
  • 5th floor, study corrals along the edge
    • Features: quiet, personal whiteboard, comfortable chairs, abundant outlets
    • Drawbacks: unlikely to get a spot after 8am or before 9pm, no food allowed

STEM buildings

Science/technology/engineering/math students will feel most at home here. If you’re sick of a building that all of your classes happen to be in, you might consider studying in a different, but similar, one. I promise CS and engineering students don’t bite.

  • LSB, second floor
    • Features: tables, comfortable chairs, close to vending machines, usually quiet, close to resources (TA labs, professors’ offices, etc.)
    • Drawbacks: busy between 10am and 5pm, sometimes groups can be loud
  • EB, third floor
    • Features: tables, abundant outlets, comfortable couches, rarely busy, usually quiet
    • Drawbacks: far from other resources on campus
  • Talmage, first floor computer labs
    • Features: large, high-quality monitors, usually quiet, close CS TAs, close to other students working on CS projects
    • Drawbacks: rooms sometimes used for TA reviews (must pay attention to screens indicating room availability), groups can sometimes be loud, stigma associated with CS majors
  • ESC, pendulum court
    • Features: tables, usually quiet, open space, natural lighting
    • Drawbacks: unavailable during lunchtime, high traffic during class breaks

Branching out

While out of the way, these buildings provide a change of scenery.

  • JFSB, main floor
    • Features: tables, usually quiet, natural lighting, food allowed
    • Drawbacks: might not get a table to yourself in the middle of the day
  • Law building
    • Features: quiet, comfortable chairs
    • Drawbacks: intimidating building

Where is your favorite place to study? Leave a comment and let us know.

Making Any Spot a Study Spot

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I don’t know about you, but when I’m studying, I tend to get distracted pretty easily. I find that staying on campus to do my homework helps. But when I’m home during breaks or when it’s too cold outside for me to want to leave my apartment, here are some things that I’ve found that help me avoid distractions anywhere I am.

Seclusion

This can take the form of going to a different room or going to a corner that is relatively quiet and where you won’t be disturbed. Separating yourself from the commotion of other conversations and activities can signal to your roommates or family members that you are trying to focus. It can also be a great way to get out of the “what’s your advice about getting back together with my ex” or “why aren’t you married yet” conversations from friends and family.

Also, I like to turn my phone on silent and put it on the floor or in my backpack. I heard of a study once that even having your phone face-down on the table distracts you from the task at hand.

Music

Sometimes you can’t seclude yourself from others, like when you’re at family dinner or when your roommates decided that the night before your big exam was the perfect night for a party. Putting on some jams is a perfect way to block out auditory distractions. When picking some study music, balance is key: music with catchy lyrics creates more distractions, while music (or white noise) that blends into the background makes me fall asleep. Here are some of my favorite types of music that I think strike the right balance:

I like to put on “Live” YouTube stations that will last me my eternal study session, but another thing you can do is right click on the play button on a YouTube video and click “Loop”, which will play the video over and over until you close the window.

Taking breaks

I’ve found that I rarely have the discipline to sit quietly and study while conversations are happening around me. My favorite study method is the Pomodoro technique, where you completely focus for 20-25 minutes, then take a 5-10 minute break, then repeat the cycle. Completely blocking out distractions for 20 minutes seems more manageable and prevents my mind from concentrating so long that it starts wandering off. And the 5-10 minute breaks can be good times to walk around or finally add your two-cents to the conversations happening around you.

Task planning

I know not everyone likes writing “To-Do” lists, but for me, this is vital to getting things done. Writing down a list of what I have to accomplish frees my memory to store more important things, like the material for the test I’m studying for or people’s names. Task planning helps me quickly switch from one task to another (esp. when I’m using the Pomodoro technique, where I switch from taking a break to focusing) because I don’t have to do the mental exercise of remembering what I was doing all over again. I also like to divide my tasks into two groups: those that will take me 10 minutes, and those that will take me an hour or more. That way, I can fit the small tasks in during random free times during the day, like when I’m waiting in the forever-long Wendy’s line or taking the bus from campus to my apartment.

What are some ways that you have made any spot a study spot? What do you struggle with when it comes to studying away from campus? Leave a comment and let us know.