As someone who hates doing homework and studying, finding the perfect place to study on campus has been incredibly important to me. I spent the larger part of my freshman year trying out different locations at different times of the day to see for myself what the best places where. In order from worst to best, here is a definitive ranking of places to study on campus at Villanova.
7. Residence Hall Lounges
Arguably some of the most poorly decorated spaces on campus, and depending on your dorm, poorly lit as well. The combination of these two things is downright unmotivating, and the close proximity to your room makes it very tempting to quit and take a nap.
6. The Library
Unless you have a classroom on the third floor or one of the comfy seats on the first floor there is nothing appealing about studying in the library. Sure there's a Holy Grounds in the building, but they don't even take meals so what good is that? The first floor is too noisy and the higher floors are so quiet it's uncomfortable. There is no happy medium in this building.
5. The Reading Room
While finding a seat is borderline impossible, the reading room is a beautiful and comfortable place to sit and get some work done on a busy day. It's never too loud or too quiet and you can quickly access the library if you need to without stepping a foot outside.
4. The Connelly Center
Probably the loudest place on my list, but if you're in the right mindset and get a good table, Conn can be a great place to do work. You're close to Freshens, Belle Air and Holy Grounds too, what more could you want?
3. A Classroom in Bartley
Also difficult to come by, but if you're smart enough to book one a day or two in advance this is a prime location to settle in for a few hours. From the high tech classrooms on the second floor to any of the several lecture style rooms, these rooms are a great private place to get some studying done while still being close to everything going on in the exchange.
2. The Exchange (at night)
During the day everyone and their mother is trying to get a table in the exchange to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. And who can blame them, the hot food and sandwiches are some of the best options on campus. However what a lot of people don't know is that at night in the exchange everyone gets quiet and meets friends or classmates to work on homework and study. It's a really productive environment and one of the nicest locations aesthetically in my opinion.
1. SAC
Otherwise known as The St. Augustine Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences, The SAC is, in my opinion, the most underrated, but the best location on campus to study. It never gets overcrowded due to the fact that engineers, nurses and business students would never think to roam around.
Even most Liberal Arts students don't even know the greatness that lies within the SAC.
There is a secret dining hall in the basement, which professors have named, "The Lunch SAC," and two gardens set in the middle of the two wings of the building. And if that wasn't appealing enough, on each floor there are little alcoves that overlook the gardens in the center of the building. They are quiet and private and a great place to hide out on campus.
While I wish people would appreciate the SAC like I do, I don't want everyone getting carried away and taking away my favorite place. Check it out, stay a while, but make sure there's still a seat saved for me!
