With midterms upon us, and finals approaching a little too soon for comfort, it's super mportant that we have many places to study. The library is great, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you just need to go elsewhere. For starters, the library gets insanely crowded during those peak test weeks. You waste so much time just looking for a table. Second, it can be really hard to concentrate at the library, because you're constantly seeing people you know. So, sorry not sorry, Robert E. Kennedy, here are a few other options for studying around SLO.

1. Coffee Shops and Cafes

OK, OK I know you're thinking that coffee shops might just be the most overdone study space ever. This may be true, but in SLO we're lucky enough to have SO many different coffee shops that are all so uniquely decorated and tranquil, making them the perfect location for your next study date. Most, if not all, coffee shops in San Luis Obispo also have free Wi-Fi. And what's the biggest plus about studying here? The endless coffee, duh! If you also consider yourself quite the coffee connoisseur, consider Kreuzberg Coffee Company, either of the Blackhorse Espresso and Bakery locations, Scouts Coffee Co., Front Porch, Sally Loo's Wholesome Cafe, Peet's Coffee and Tea, and of course Starbucks.

2. Outdoors

We are lucky enough to live in a town where there are more sunny days than not. Instead of staying cooped up in the library all day, next time, you should try studying on one of Cal Poly's many outdoor lawns. Of course there is Dexter Lawn, located right next to Subway on campus. However, if that is a little too open for you to concentrate, my personal favorite is the lawn tucked away in front of the Baker Science building. I've found that studying outdoors helps me concentrate better and with San Luis Obispo's great weather, you might even get a tan!

3. Study Centers

Whether you're living in the dorms or in off-campus housing, most places around SLO have specific study areas. If you're living in the dorms, take advantage of the Connections Center and study spaces. Not only do you save a long walk to the library and back, but you also don't have to fight through the crowd of people looking for a place to study. As for off-campus housing, many apartment complexes around SLO include dedicated study areas. Some apartment complexes around Cal Poly that include study rooms are Valencia Apartments, Mustang Village Apartments, and Stenner Glen.

Lastly, if nowhere on campus or downtown is doing it for you, go to the beach! I absolutely love studying at the beach, especially when spring quarter rolls around. With Avila Beach being a short 15-minute drive, it's the perfect distance to take your mind off of everything happening on campus and just focus on studying. Not to mention, when it's time for a study break, Avila Beach has some of the best little eateries, my favorite being Kravabowl.

Happy Studying!