As the dreaded midterm season comes to an end, I have really scouted out the perfect study spots around campus. I am going to share with you my top five favorite places to do my work!

1. The Ref Room

The Ref Room, which is located in Hatcher Graduate Library is dead silent, from the second you step in the room. With long wooden tables and chairs, you are destined to recognize a familiar face. However, the minute you go to have a “quiet” conversation to say hello, you will get many stares indicating that even your whisper is too loud. This is the perfect place to go when you know you have a paper to finish or have many lectures to review before your upcoming midterm. The Ref Room is definitely the place to be when you have serious studying to do.

2. West Quad Basement

Although many people think 3A is the place to study in West Quad, the basement is where my friends and I spend most of our time studying. There are many study rooms that are good when you need to be quiet and focus or when you need a little break to talk with your friends.

This is the perfect location to study because I don’t even have to walk outside in the cold to go home and my friends and I are able to be serious and take breaks without getting stares for being too loud. However, during midterms and finals make sure to reserve a room because they do get full!

3. The Union Ref

The Union Ref is a hidden gem that I have recently discovered. The Union Ref is just like the Ref Room, however, it is located in the Union which is attached to West Quad. Therefore, I don’t have to walk home in the cold at night. The Union Ref is the perfect place to camp out all Sunday because Starbucks and Au Bon Pain are only a few steps away.

The Union Ref is perfect for serious studying with friends and whenever you want to take a study break, you can walk outside to the couches and chairs right outside Starbucks.

4. The Fourth Floor of the UGLI

I spent hours on the fourth floor of the UGLI every day first semester, but it was just because I didn’t know of many other places to study. This is a great place to study and it is very convenient that there is a café right downstairs to get a snack.

The UGLI does get very crowded sometimes so it could be hard to find a table. In between classes if you don’t want to walk all the way back to your dorm, the UGLI is the perfect place to go and study, however it is not my preferred location.

5. 3A

For those of you who nod your head and pretend to know what people are saying when they say they are in 3A, it is the huge study lounge in West Quad on the third floor. Although it is more of a place to socialize than a place to do work, 3A is the perfect place to work on group projects.

It is a more laid-back environment for those weeks when you don’t have a lot of serious studying to do. If you are ever lonely studying, just walk to 3A and you are destined to find people you know.

It has taken me some time but I have finally found the perfect study locations on campus. Most of my favorite study places are near West Quad because that is where I live, but no matter where you live these are all great places to study.

Happy Studying!