Do you ever feel like your study habits are not cutting it? Do you try hard to focus but struggle to stay motivated while studying? No matter how great of a student you are or how consistent your study habits may be, sometimes your environment is the reason you do not see results in your studies. I have learned that I do not do well studying in the confinement of my dorm. I find the silence distracting, and it can be difficult for me to focus in the space in which I also relax and sleep. A tip that has kept me motivated to study is simply getting out of the dorm and into a new space. I have found multiple places I enjoy working in, each with different qualities to look for depending on what I am working on.

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Extremely Quiet: Quiet study floors in the W.E.B. DuBois Library

The W.E.B DuBois Library is located in the heart of campus, on the west side of the campus pond. The large building is home to multiple levels of study areas, books, the Procrastination Station café, student resources, and group-study rooms. Floors 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20 are designated to quiet study. Independent desks line the floors’ perimeter, where students can focus on their work in complete silence. I have been to these floors when I need to be anchored entirely into my work, specifically when studying for an exam. If you work best with absolutely no distractions or noise pollution, this is the best on-campus study space for you.

Medium quiet: South College

Are you looking for a relaxed space to study? I would recommend checking out South College, located near the Old Chapel and Goodell Hall. South College holds classrooms and lecture halls, faculty offices, and a central atrium that celebrates the old and the new. This space is my particular favorite place to study within South College. One side of the atrium is the old brick from the original building; the other side is modern paneling and glass windows, and between is contemporary seating and tables for student use. This area usually remains quiet while still having the perfect amount of background noise.

Least quiet: Carney’s Café in the Isenberg Hub

This is my favorite spot on campus for studying. As a business student, I spend a lot of my time in the Isenburg Business Innovation Hub already. In the center of the renovated side, known as “New Isenberg,” is the Isenberg Hub, with plenty of seating areas for studying. If you follow the curve around the center of the Hub, you will reach Carney’s Café. This is my favorite café on campus, serving Peet’s coffee and tea, smoothies, sandwiches, pastries, and snacks. It is a calm area with comfortable seating. There is definitely movement and background noise, but I find that it is the perfect place for me to focus and stay motivated during long study sessions, of course, accompanied with a good coffee to get me through.