As midterm season quickly approaches, I’ve found that many other students are desperately looking for new study spots. This spot can make or break how much you’re able to lock in for an assignment or exam. Recently, however, I’ve discovered that the libraries are simply not going to cut it.
No hate to the libraries, but as exams get closer, the big crowds, harsh lighting, and loud conversations from surrounding students can honestly make studying way more stressful than it has to feel. As a sophomore who has spent a year looking for this perfect spot, I have a few recommendations beyond the on-campus libraries.
- Local Coffee Shops
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While coffee shops are often the next place to focus on for exams, they’re so popular for a reason. In particular, there are two coffee shops off campus that provide as good atmosphere needed to focus, specifically The Sweet Shop Café & Lounge and Calvin’s Coffee House.
Both are a few minutes’ walk off campus, with The Sweet Shop being located near Gilchrist dorm and Wesley Foundation, and Calvin’s at West Park Avenue near Westcott and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house. However, they’re both different in what kind of atmosphere you receive.
The Sweet Shop is known for its long history at FSU, originally opening in 1924 and becoming a mainstay here at FSU. The vibe is set when you first walk in the door with all the names on the wall, past pictures of FSU, and the spear that’s hung on the wall.
What makes this such a good study spot is that it provides comfy seating, warm and natural lighting from all the windows, and food and coffee for a very affordable price. Also, they provide free Wi-Fi for about an hour, so if you need to study a concept right before going to take an exam, this is the place to be.
Calvin’s provides another amazing atmosphere, but it’s fairly different from Sweet Shop. Calvin’s offers a lounge area and dining area, with the overall lighting being kind of dim, although each table has a lamp overhead. While this usually wouldn’t be ideal for when you need to concentrate, it works extremely well because you’re comfortable and it’s almost always quiet in the dining area.
They also offer free Wi-Fi, so you can stay as long as you need to. Plus, they have special offers all the time to get their coffee for free. So, depending on which vibe you like better, both The Sweet Shop and Calvin’s will help you lock in on any type of work.
- The Student Union
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Now, if you’re a student who isn’t really into coffee or going off-campus, then that’s totally fine! There are a couple of other spots on campus that’ll give you a comfortable study space. One of the most popular spots is the FSU Student Union.
Now, depending on the time of day, there are two completely different experiences you can encounter. For instance, if you go during the middle of the day, you’ll most definitely run into the lunch rush and ongoing campus tours. If you manage to find a table, then you’re in luck, because all of the natural lighting makes the space seem more open and relaxed.
A big reason why this is such a good spot is the students who play the piano. On the second floor of the union, there’s a piano available for anyone who has experience, and they can play any song they want. Most of the time, it’s movie music scores, but when you hear them play music from Interstellar or La La Land while you’re studying, it adds a whole new level to the atmosphere, and it makes it way easier to focus.
- Owen F. Sellers Music Amphitheatre
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This next spot is one that I don’t hear many people talk about: the Owen F. Sellers Music Amphitheatre. It’s located near the music school and the Westcott building, but if you’re someone who needs to study in silence and likes to be outside, this place meets every requirement.
There’s almost no one around during the day, except for people occasionally walking by, and the area around the amphitheater is so beautiful with its old oak trees and colorful flowers. Also, the area is shaded, so you won’t have to worry about the heat, and there are outlets around in case your device’s battery gets low.
After exploring each of these locations, I hope you have found a new place to lock in for an upcoming exam. While Strozier is amazing, sometimes it’s nice to try new places and see a new area of campus you didn’t know about before.
If one spot for you doesn’t work, keep trying new spots. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you can find an environment where you’re relaxed and concentrated so that you do well on your exam.
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