It’s that dreaded time of year again. Midterms have just ended and now finals are looming over our heads. The only plus side to finals is that when they’re over, it will be winter break, which means going home, celebrating Christmas and New Years, and not having to worry about anything school-related for at least a month. Unfortunately, until then, we have to study. Here are the top five best places to study when going to the library is just absolutely out of the question.
- Addies, Lower, or Mac – I personally love doing work in any of the dining halls; there is just enough background noise that I’m able to concentrate and not get distracted. That being said, beware of the time when the dining halls are notoriously crowded, like prime breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. During this time, you are almost guaranteed to get at least one person who feels the need to broadcast his or her whole life story to everyone in whichever dining hall you happen to be in. If you’re looking for a low stress environment, the dining halls are a safe bet. Plus, if you get hungry (or just want an excuse to take a study break) you do not have far to walk.
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Classrooms – During finals, all of the classrooms are left unlocked so that students can study. They are always quiet and as long as there is not an exam taking place in one, they are completely up for grabs. Personally, I like to use the classrooms when I have to go over material with classmates. Otherwise, they can be too quiet and I get overwhelmed. That being said, I’m the kind of person who needs some kind of background noise when I study, so if complete silence is your thing, then definitely pop by a classroom to burn that midnight oil.
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Study Lounge – The study lounges are a great alternative to the library. They are usually silent and are filled with focused students. However, beware of the people who use the study lounges as actual lounges. These are the people who like to go to the study lounge and have long chats about who they hooked up with last weekend. Aside from these people, the study lounge is a great, convenient place to get work done, especially when it’s cold and walking anywhere does not seem like an option.
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Off Campus – Sure, it is a trek, but sometimes when the stress is piled on high, it’s nice to just take a few steps back and get away from the source of the stress. The Boston Public Library is absolutely gorgeous and is right off of the B line at the Copley stop. There are also a ton of coffee shops and cafes in Coolidge Corner that are great places to study. If the idea of going off campus to study appeals to you, but you don’t want to be gone all day, try going to one of the places closer to campus, like Dunkin Donuts. It’s close enough that if you forget a book you won’t mind going back, but far enough that you are able to get away from the stress.
- Your Room – Personally, I love doing work in the common room of my eight-man. However, for those of you who do not have a common room or your common room tends to get really loud, studying in your bedroom is always an option. Seeing as how it’s finals time, I’m sure your roommate won’t mind if you ask her to keep the noise down. This is the ideal option for those days where putting on real pants is just completely out of the question and the idea of leaving your room makes you cringe a little.
There really is no “right” place to study. It’s completely based on personal preference, so go ahead and try out different places until you find what best suits your study style. Good luck on finals!
Photo Sources:
http://moodyradiopaulbutler.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/technology-in-the-classroom/
http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1984920_198491…
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