Best buildings to study in
As the semester is starting to ramp up and classes are in full swing, I’m finding myself spending more and more time studying and doing work than I was a week ago. I personally prefer to do work around friends or in more public spaces; I focus better when I feel the prying eyes of everyone watching and judging me for playing on my phone instead of working on my paper. Of course, no one is actually watching me, nor do they care if I play on my phone or watch Netflix, but the anxiety motivates me to actually accomplish work.
That being said, there are many study spaces on campus to choose from, and I’m going to rank them based on the following criteria: seating availability, access to power outlets, comfort, noise level, and vending machine access, all of which are necessary for studying.
First off, the worst place to study on campus is Welles. To begin with, the table and seating space is one of the most limited. The second floor of Welles has more tables and chairs, but access to outlets is minimal, so if your computer or phone begins to die, you will have to move anyway. Welles is also constantly and abominably hot—I truly believe that all of my tuition dollars are being funneled into boiling the students who have the misfortune of being seated next to a heater in Welles. There is only one pair of vending machines in Welles, one of which you can’t even see into to know if they have your favorite beverage before you feed the last of your retail dollars into it. The only thing Welles has going for it is that it is reasonably quiet, but even then, if a big tour group comes in, it is quiet no more.
Next up is Bailey. I can already feel the wrath from devoted Bailey-dwellers, but hear me out. First, let’s acknowledge strengths: vending machine access in Bailey is superior. There are vending machines on both floors that are well-stocked with snacks and drinks, however they frequently do not work. Bailey might be a little on the chilly side in the winter, but if one dresses appropriately, temperature shouldn’t be a problem; however, it can be almost impossible to find a place to sit in Bailey during the busier times of the day. You might be able to snag an empty classroom, but you could get kicked out by a class, which throws off all your plans. On top of that, most of the outlets in the furniture don’t work, which complicates matters even further. And again, just like Welles, the noise level, while normally a little louder than some halls, is manageable… until a tour group walks in.
Next is the MacVittie College Union. Now, it’s hard to do the Union justice when it houses so many different spaces, but in general, the Union is pretty great, and I can’t think of any other building that has as many study spaces. There are a lot of tables, most of which are close to outlets. The Union tends to be a reasonably comfortable temperature, if a bit chilly. As for the noise level, it varies—tour groups are frequently brought through the Union, depending on the time of day it can be busy, and you are constantly seeing people you know who want to stop and chat, all of which are more than a bit distracting. There are, however, silent study rooms on the ground floor. On top of that, the vending machines are extremely finicky, and they almost never work for me.
Runner up is Brodie. Brodie has a number of practice rooms to snag, but again, be prepared to be kicked out by a class or group who has a room reserved. Brodie gets less traffic in general, so it is fairly quiet. You may occasionally hear people singing or playing instruments, so that’s something to consider. Brodie is pretty comfortable, and there are plenty of outlets in study spaces. Now, again, I don’t spend a lot of time in Brodie, but I have never once seen a vending machine there. According to Knights’ Life editor Ella Pearcy, however, who apparently has many classes in Brodie, “There is a working vending machine on the first floor in the study lounge.” Do what you will with that information.
Lastly, the best building to study in is the Integrated Science Center (ISC). The ISC and Newton have a lot of lecture halls and small classrooms to study in with some decently sized common areas to boot. There are also lots of tables, chairs, and outlets. The building itself is fairly comfortable, and there are a few nice vending machines that usually work and have a fine assortment of snacks and drinks.
Do you have thoughts on the best building to study in? Write a response and we can hash it out! In the meantime, happy studying, and good luck on your next test.
