We’ve all been there.
It’s awkward to be a part of, yet highly entertaining to watch. It’s the race that you have with a complete stranger running up and down the floors of the SLC trying to find an open room during study week. Nine times out of 10 I’m going to say it’s going to be unsuccessful and your frustration of finding a place to study becomes your focus of attention instead of the actual studying itself. So to ease your stress for the next time you need to hunker down, here are a few placed on and off campus that serve as alternative yet equally useful places to get your work done.
The Main Library. Yes, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at the number of people I’ve met as seniors who have never even stepped foot inside. Renovated in May of 2012, the library has a lot to offer, with quiet study tables lining the walls towards the left when you walk in, to a plethora of computers on the right of the entrance that are suitable for almost any assignment. There is even a group study section in the computer area if you are needing to accommodate more than one person. The best part? The ‘Tween the Pages cafeteria that serves hot food, cold sandwiches, and snacks. Looking for an even more secluded spot? Try the floors upstairs, which isn’t as modern as the downstairs, but it’s one of the quietest spots on campus.
4th floor of the Journalism building. This is one of North campus’s best kept secrets. An entire floor space is open to your study leisure, andwith a mixture of high top tables to low seated couches, this is a perfect place to take your computer, plug in your headphones, and crank out that mid-term paper.
The Science Library. A smaller version of the main library, this sanctuary is located just a bus ride to South Campus away. The window desks in the back of the fourth floor are a fount for seclusion, elevating this underutilized study spot to a status of favoritism in my book.
The Tate Center. Located right next to the MLC, the Tate Center has a tendency to get overlooked in its value for study spots. Yet from the long silver tables on the 3rd floor that come complete with electrical outlets, to the individualized sofa tables on the first floor, this building is not lacking. What most people don’t know is the availability of areas to study space within the Center for Leadership and Services. Conference rooms, if not taken up for scheduled meetings displayed right outside their doors, is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. If not, outside the CLS, next to the small cubicles claiming organizations, there are a number of comfortable tables, couches, and swivel chairs to hunker down in. Props to whoever snags the prime long silver table towards the large window on the first floor.
Two-Story Coffeehouse. With a nice, isolated upstairs quiet section, and an innumerably large variety of coffee, this little nook on South Lumpkin St. in Five Points is just the ticket to get away from an overcrowded campus. They also serve gelato; absolutely no correlation to studying (I would have aced all my tests if this were the case) but you’ll thank me once you try it.
Walker’s. It’s still nice out. So while Walker’s has an awesome vibe inside, a coffee shop and bar with large, homey benches and tables to do your homework, take it outside while you can. Walker’s has an extension of tables on the side of the building (there are some electrical plugs outside), as well as some tables outside and towards the back that offer more seclusion. Warning: If you are in need of deep concentration, Walker’s may not be the place for you. Located in the middle of downtown, the hustle and bustle of overall human activity can serve as a distraction, as well as the music that can at times blare a little too loudly.