I’ve always been the type of person who is much more productive outside of my room when it comes to schoolwork. This idea that your productivity is actually backed by several studies, with Dr. Ilene Rosen, an associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania who studies sleep, even saying that doing work inside your bedroom can be detrimental to sleep quality, productivity, and overall physical health. “The ideal association for healthy sleep is that your bed is for sleeping and sex only,” Rosen says in this NBC article.
This hits close to home as a college student who spends a lot of time studying and, I will admit, struggles to fall asleep a lot. As the semester has winded down, I have not spent as much time out studying on campus as I usually do, more so at my desk in my room. If this sounds like you, and you are looking for new spots on campus to spend time doing work at, I’ve got the perfect compilation of spots for you.
- Wallace Hall Atrium
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Wallace Hall Atrium is a study spot I frequented my freshman year. Wallace is located on the residential side of campus along West Campus Drive, which was very close to my dorm. On days where I didn’t have class, I found it difficult to force myself to go far away from my dorm and do homework, especially during the cold winter months. Now, as an off campus student, I’ve found that having myself go all the way there makes me stay longer and get more done. Plus, it’s located super close to West End Dining Hall, which is my personal favorite dining hall on campus, so it’s nice to get to reward myself for a long study session with a delicious meal from there. The atrium specifically has lots of tables to sit at and outlets, and beautiful greenery that makes it extremely peaceful. However, if you do choose to go here, be warned, it’s very warm in there. Make sure to wear layers!
- Sandy Hall
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This is another building located on the residential side of campus, known as the home of Virginia Tech’s neuroscience department. I actually discovered this spot through some of my friends in Her Campus, as three of our executive board members this year are neuroscience majors. There’s several tables, whiteboards, and private rooms available throughout the building for whatever you need out of your study session that day. I personally spent a lot of time there freshman year as it was located right next to my dorm. However, this year, I had a class on the residential side of campus, so I got to spend a lot of time there during my breaks in between classes.
- Deet’s Coffee
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Deet’s, located on the bottom floor of Dietrick Hall, is another freshman year classic I have on this list. One reason I spent so much time here was because it was again, right next to my dorm, but also due to the ambiance. If you’re lucky enough to get a table at the booths, there are outlets right below each table, plus super comfy seating. I’ve personally spent hours there. Even if you can’t get a booth (there are only three, it can be challenging), there are lots of seats with outlets around the area. Regardless of the ambiance at Deet’s, however, another great reason to study there is the coffee, of course, which is a personal essential of mine when doing schoolwork to keep my brain focused and awake. If you go here, I recommend the caramel macchiato!
- Johnston Student Center
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Johnston is located on the academic side of campus, right by the Orange Bay bus loop. This building is home to Viva Market, a grab-and-go convenience store type of dining center that has snacks, grab-and-go meals, and even a smoothie machine. On top of all this, there are loads of tables and chairs to sit at and study. If you’re a student organization leader, there are even classrooms you can book for club meetings, or just for yourself to practice final presentations or study more. I’ve spent a lot of late nights here, especially with it being so close to the bus, making it super easy and quick to go home.
- Major Williams Hall
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Located by the Corps of Cadet region of campus, the first floor of Major Williams Hall is home to several cubicles with super comfortable seating that are perfect for long study sessions. I found this spot back during my freshman year when I was a political science major, since my academic advisor’s office was located in the same building. While I haven’t come here as much as some of the other spots on this list, I’ve for sure had some amazing and productive hours spent here.
- Data and Decisions Sciences Atrium
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You know this spot if you’re a business or CMDA major. DDS, one of the newest academic buildings located at the very top of campus, is home to many classrooms and a center that joins in several different departments all relating to data analytics. When you first walk in, you see the dozens of tables and chairs, plus outlets that can be moved around for your comfort and convenience. This is my favorite place to do group study sessions. Plus, there’s a lot of small, private rooms located around the building, perfect for someone needing dead silence and straight focus.
- First floor of Durham Hall
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This one is more niche, and I actually stumbled upon it by accident. Durham Hall is located right next to the Maroon Bay bus loop, specifically right next to stop nine, where the Patrick Henry B bus comes and goes out of. I work in Lavery Hall, and when it’s super cold out or raining, I cut through Durham to brace myself from the brtual Blacksburg weather. When walking through the building, I found this spot with a few tables. It’s never super crowded, and normally very quiet, making it a good place I’ve gone back to a couple of times to do my work.
- Graduate Life Center
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The GLC is located directly across from Squires and is home to one of the biggest lecture halls on campus. When I was an underclassman, I had a lot of classes here. There are a lot of empty chairs and tables throughout the building, and typically, it isn’t very crowded. Plus, there is a dining center here, Ducky’s, that has boba and other snacks to keep you going. Points have definitely been docked off of this one for me personally, since it used to be home to one of the Au Bon Pain locations that closed following my freshman year, but it’s still a nice place to go back to on ocassion.
- Empty classrooms in McBryde Hall
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We all know (and hate) McBryde Hall. From giant lecture classes in MCB 100 to tiny, windowless classrooms, pretty much every Virginia Tech student has had an experience with McBryde. However, the large number of small classrooms throughout the building means that a lot of the time, you can find an empty space to sit and study. Whether it be with friends or alone, you are pretty much guaranteed to find a place to sit if you go there. This is another place that is great if you are trying to practice a final presentation.
- Torgerson Bridge
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If you go to Tech, you know this list would not be complete or fair without mentioning Torg Bridge. Located above Alumni Mall, Torg Bridge connects Newman Library and Torgerson Hall. Want to study late-night and feel like you are living in a Harry Potter movie? Need absolute can-hear-a-pin-drop silence? Well, this spot is for you. However, since this spot is so popular among Hokies, be prepared to have to take a couple of laps before you get a seat, especially during finals season.
Finals season can be stressful, but the first step to a good study session is always to choose somewhere with a great vibe that will help you be successful! I hope that this inspired you to pick a new spot and get productive. Grab your coffee, your friends and the textbook you haven’t opened all year, and happy studying, Hokies!