I absolutely cannot study in my dorm — which is probably the most inconvenient thing ever since it’s the easiest place to go. I always tell myself I can study in bed and it’ll work out fine, but nine times out of 10, I fall asleep. The only plus about not studying in my room is that I’ve had the chance to explore many places in search of the one where I’ll be most productive. Here are some of my favorites so far:
Nau/Gibson: This is one of the most secluded buildings on Grounds — I got lost trying to find it my first week of classes. It’s very open and airy, and there’s a Starbucks on the bottom floor in case you need a little coffee to get you through your work. The tables are great if you like to spread out or if you want to study with a friend, and it’s relatively quiet, unless you get stuck at a table near two girls catching up before class. Overall, this is a good place to go if you want quiet background noise and space to yourself.
McGregor Room: I don’t even like Harry Potter — I know, sad — but the atmosphere of this room beats all the other buildings on Grounds. The cozy leather chairs, bookshelves lining the walls and soft lighting all invite you to pick a spot and stay for hours. It’s pretty quiet here — basically meaning that if you try to whisper, you might get some dirty looks. A major downside is that this is a very popular place to study, so it’s normally challenging to find a table. If that’s the case, the Asian Studies room is a nice alternative where you can get a private table in a well-lit cubby.
Starbucks: Ignoring the fact that it’s always freezing inside, Starbucks is a good place to go if you like to work with white noise. There’s always good music playing and typically less conversation on the second floor. Just remember to dress warm even if it’s 90 degrees outside. Also, don’t go if you get distracted by loud noises because when the air conditioning turns on it is almost so loud that you can’t hear the music.
Rotunda: Who doesn’t love the Rotunda? It’s easily the prettiest place to work on Grounds, and also one of the most motivating areas to study. You can work here solo or with groups, and the noise ranges from quiet to loud, depending on how often a tour group comes in. I will admit sometimes you feel like you’re on display in a museum with all the visitors coming in and observing the real live students studying. But other than that, it’s one of my favorites.
Clark Hall: I’ve heard that a lot of people like Clark, but I have mixed feelings. I’m not a huge fan of the long tables on the first floor just because I don’t really like feeling as if people are on top of me while I’m studying, and it’s very easy to get distracted by small noises. It’s a major accomplishment if you’re lucky enough to snag a private table on the first floor, but you can always go downstairs where there’s a semi creepy vibe to study in the little cubbies. Despite the creepiness, it’s almost silent and makes for a perfect spot if you want to sit down and crank out all your work without any distractions.
There are a lot of places I haven’t ventured to yet, like Clemons or 1515, but I’ve heard you can get a cake pop and coffee with meal exchange at the upscale coffee shop in 1515, so that’s a good enough reason to give it a try.
I’m grateful I go to a school where there are so many options to do my work that I can switch it up when I get bored of one place. It’s also nice to keep my studying space separate from my sleeping space, which I highly recommend to anyone who can’t focus if surrounded by soft pillows and cozy blankets.
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