Where Oh Where to Study?

So you’ve been in school for about ¾ of a year now.  You’re a pro now, you’ve pretty much got everything down to a T.  You know your class schedule, you know where your favorite dining commons is, you know what nights your club meets, etc.

Here’s a question: do you have a designated study spot?

I’m sure most of you do.  And if I were to guess right, it’s probably the library.  Don’t get me wrong, the library is a great place to study -- especially our great library here at University Park . 

I remember taking a tour of Penn State as a high school senior, and arriving at the Pattee/Paterno Library.  Let’s be quite honest, the place is a maze and a half.  If you’ve ever been in the stacks and got out alive without a tour guide, I amend you.  Maybe you’re not like me, who gets lost in their hometown even though I’ve lived there since I was two years old.  But still, it is quite confusing navigating yourself around such a big place.

Still I love the library.  I feel like I’ve spent an adequate amount of time in the media commons due to this class alone.  I am particularly a fan of the Arts and Humanities section of the library, if I go the library to study, I will usually got here

So while the library is great, I think it’s good idea to recognize some of the other amazing study spots our campus (and downtown) has to offer!

Some people prefer to study in their dorm.  Most, like me, find that to be distracting, however there are people who can pull it off.

Most of the residence halls at Penn State have a designated study space.  Mine does, and I use it a lot.

The HUB can also be a great place to study.  It’s got everything you need from table and chairs to food (and more importantly, Starbucks).  I usually tend to use the HUB as a meeting spot for when I have to meet up with my fellow classmates to perform a group project.

While these spots on campus are nice, there are also places downtown that are great for studying.

Downtown has its own library, Schlow library, on the corner of South Allen and Beaver.  I’m sure most students have never been inside, but I have and it’s actually a nice and quiet place to get some studying done.

There is also Websters, one of my personal favorites although I’ve only been there a couple of times.  It’s a cute little bookstore/café located on Beaver.  They have tables and chairs where you can sit down and study, and their coffee is A+

So here is some advice on how to choose the study spot perfect for you:

Explore!  Like I mentioned before, I’m sure you already have your designated study spot.  However, if you try one of the different ones I mentioned, to your surprise you might like one better than your original spot.  See what works for you.  You want area where you’re comfortable and where you’ll be the most productive.

Here are some articles on finding a study spot

• Here is a list of some of the study spaces offered on the University Park campus
• Here are some tips to finding a good place to study