7 Out-of-the-Box Places to Study

By Alyssa Laffitte on February 10, 2018

We’ve all heard of the typical places for students to study, like the library, a coffee shop, and the common room in your dorm building. These are all good places to study. After all, they’re typical study spots for a reason. But what if you get bored of studying in the same place all the time? It’s okay if you want to switch it up for a while and move out of the library. Here are some unconventional places around campus where you can get some studying done.

Image via Isorepublic.com

The library stacks

A lot of people like to study in the library, but few venture up to the stacks. I like to study in the stacks sometimes because it is extremely quiet. You could hear a pin drop! Plus, if you need to find any books, you are likely to find them in the stacks. If you want to study somewhere that’ll inspire you to stay focused and not get carried away talking to others, the stacks are definitely the place to go.

The student activities center

When you think of the student activities center, you usually think of a crowded place where many student organization meetings happen. However, you can also study in the student activities center! Of course, it won’t be as quiet as the library stacks, so it’s best for those who like to see a little bit of movement in their study spaces. Your student activities center is also likely to have food, so you can easily take a break for lunch or for a snack.

Outside

When the weather is nice, it’s wonderful to study outside. I go to school in Florida, so I love studying outside in the winter, when it’s not extremely hot. The fresh air is definitely good for your focus and productivity. Your campus might have tables and chairs set up outside the buildings, and if it’s not too cold or too hot, I would definitely recommend studying there.

Your department’s lounge

The building that houses your major’s department might have a lounge! I’m talking about the room with comfy couches, a nice big table, and a coffee machine. It’s a great place to study independently or with friends over some snacks in a laid-back environment. But beware that this environment might be a little too laid back, and you might end up distracted!

The lobby of your department’s building

Similarly, your department’s building might have a beautiful lobby where you can study. They are very comfortable and convenient spaces. It might not be the quietest place, but you’ll be close to your classes and to your friends. I enjoy studying in the lobby of my school’s science building when I know I’ll have a class there later on in the day, because it’ll only take me two minutes to walk to class! Like the student activities center, it’s a great way to bump into friends. If you have a friend in a different major, you can study in the lobby of their major’s building, too.

The food court

Yes, the food court is crowded and loud, but if you’re hungry, you can study at the food court while you eat. The food court is another great place that’s conducive to studying with friends.

Your workplace… if you’re not too busy

When you are not busy, of course, you can get some studying done while you are at work. You can escape to the office for a few minutes to review your flashcards if it’s a slow day or if it’s not yet “rush hour” for your workplace.

For example, I work in a lab on campus. When I’m finished with my work, or when I have to wait an extended period of time for samples to cool, I can go to the graduate student offices and study there!

If you are not otherwise busy while you are at work, take advantage and get some studying done.

Typical study spaces like the library are great for getting lots of work done; that’s why these places are known for being good study spaces. But you don’t always have to study in one of those places. There are a few hidden gems on campus that you can go to study if you want to switch things up. For example, you can study at the student activities center, the library stacks, outside, in your building’s lounge, or even at your workplace if you are not otherwise busy.

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