By Eowyn Thompson
Do you feel stressed at college? I get it, I am too. As a first-year student I felt, and sometimes I still feel a bit lost. It can be hard to decide where you need to start to get on the right track, but I believe that one of the most important factors of success is finding the best ways to get your work done, which means you need a good study spot. So, as someone who has just started this journey, I’m going to tell you where I go to succeed!
One of my favorite spots to study is the Center for Academic Success (CAS), which is on the second floor of Fisher Hall. It’s quiet, cozy and there is help a few steps away (as long as it’s not Friday or Saturday).
I always end up being really productive when I’m there, and it’s a nice, centrally located spot. While I normally just go there to study, I’ve also gone to see history and general academic tutors. They were very ready to help, and I left CAS in better shape because of it.
Right across the hall is the Career Development Center (CDC), and I have been there too many times to count. From resumes to interviews, they’re a very helpful resource, and I’m glad everything I need is so close together.
The next one is pretty common, but Charlie’s Coffeehouse and Starbucks can be great options. If you need to sit down for a long time, there is food nearby and a wide variety of seating. Depending on when you go and especially at prime mealtimes, the chatter will get a little loud, so if you need complete silence, it may not be your best pick, but it’s great if you like a little background noise.
There are also several other resources nearby, one of the biggest being the Hawk Hub. If you need any sort of help, go to them, and they will either fix your problem or direct you to someone who can. It’s great to have that resource nearby when you need it.
I’m sure you’ve heard about it a million times, but yes, the library is 100% worth going to, I promise, even though it’s a bit of a walk. The first floor allows for noise while the second floor is a quiet zone; so perfect for any noise concerns. You can sit anywhere from a study pod to a study room to any seating outside those areas.
I personally like to book a study room upstairs, turn off the lights, play loud music and zero in on my work. Plus, Scholarly Grounds is right downstairs, so why wouldn’t you want to study there?
Arguably, the most important resources you can find at the library are the librarians, course reserves and the expansive online database. The amount of academic articles is insane, but it can be a bit hard to navigate if you don’t know what to look for. When I had a difficult research project, I made an appointment with Meg, one of the librarians, and she found what I was struggling to find in just a few searches. There are so many good sources, don’t let them slip away!
Lastly: course reserves! Many of your textbooks can be borrowed from the library. It will save you some money in the long run. I can’t stress this enough, but please go to the library, and say hi to Roger the kiwi at the front desk!
Those are the big spots on campus, but there are lots of little nooks and crannies hiding around. The Campus Center for Music and Art (CCMA) has a bunch of little seating areas both upstairs and downstairs, and there’s good lighting and music all around.
Apfelbaum Hall is similar; if you look for somewhere to work, you’ll find it easily. Another good spot is the Writer’s Institute. Although it’s small, there are a lot of comfortable chairs and couches upstairs, making it a really good place to settle down and get some reading done.
If all else fails, there are common rooms. They can get very loud and rowdy depending on the time of day, but overall, they can be nice if you need to be away from your dorm, but you don’t want to travel far. No more running across campus because you forgot your notes.
Honestly, where to study depends on much more than availability, and it will change depending on your mood. Centrality, noise-level, availability of resources and many other things will impact where you study. But no matter if you read in the library or sit in your dorm, all that matters is you get your work done in a way that makes sense for you!