1. House Lounge

If you can avoid talking to your friends, this is a great study space. There’s plenty of light, room to spread out, and enough background noise to stay focused but not so much that you’ll be distracted. Just remember to stay away from the Smash Bros. Game if you’re trying to focus.

2. Botany Pond

This is one of my favorite spots on campus. The trees and the pond make the spot feel peaceful, while the passersby provide just enough background noise. Combined with the beautiful fish and footbridge, this spot is perfect for calming down while you finish your reading. Maybe wait to study there until spring though, you don’t want your fingers to freeze off.

3. Lower Levels of the Reg

If you hate studying in the Reg because you feel like it is oppressively silent, try heading down to the first floor, or even the lower levels. While the first floor has a nice background hum, the lower levels have giant blackboards for you to write on while you struggle through your Calculus, and the additional benefit of suffering through problem sets as a group.

4. North Campus, 15th floor

For those of you who don’t live in North, I encourage you to get a friend to bring you up here. The reading rooms have a great view, and although it is quiet the group study rooms are often open during the day. And if you can grab a group study room, you can turn on your own background music and finally finish that essay.

5. Any Coffee Shop

The coffee shops on campus are usually pretty busy, but they’re still good places to work if you can get a table. It’s easy enough to tune out the sounds of coffee and food being made, but be careful; sitting in a coffee shop for too long may result in excessive drinking of coffee and/or hot chocolate.