By: Amy Kidder, Senior Peer Advisor
As Finals draw near, you may be starting to think about your study plan. Planning what you need to study and when. But, have you considered where you are going to study?
The environment that you study in can impact how productive you are. In general it’s a good idea to find someplace where you won’t get distracted. Keep in mind the following:
- Find someplace quiet
- With minimal distractions
- Good lighting
- Enough space to spread out notes
- Have a snack and water nearby
- Bring all the school supplies you may need
- Bring earplugs if necessary
If you are looking for some options to study on campus, here are a few of my favorite locations:
Library - This is probably the most obvious location, so I thought I’d mention it first. There are several places in the library that are perfect for all studying options. If you want to study in a group, the first four floors in the library are my favorite. There are a lot of tables with access to computers if needed as well. There are also spaces to study in groups on almost all the floors in the library. There are also study rooms available to reserve for a group on the ground and first floor. You can reserve a room by going to the Library website and entering the information for the type of room you are looking for. These rooms often have computers or whiteboards and can fit different sizes of groups. If you prefer to study alone, you can sit at any of the tables on any floor. If you are looking to make sure it won’t be too noisy, try to fit a “quiet zone” in these spaces, people shouldn't be talking. They even have a section with exercise equipment if you want to fit in a workout with your studying. One of my favorite places in the library is the tenth floor. Here there are a few places to sit and study and there is also an amazing view of campus and the city of Charlotte.
Student Union - The student Union has a variety of locations to study. Along the main staircase, there are chairs to sit by yourself or with a friend on each floor. There is also a great space with tables and booths towards the back of the union near Wendy’s.
Fretwell - On the first floor of Fretwell there are chairs and cubicles to study in. There is also a great study space in the back of Fretwell in the location where Peet’s Coffee used to be. It looks like there should be a new coffee shop opening soon there!
CHHS- If you haven’t had classes in this building or walked through it on your was to the Union or Library, then you may not be familiar with it. It is one of the two buildings directly in front of the Student Union. They have several classrooms as well as offices for Education Abroad and International Students. There are also some great study locations for groups or individuals studying on the first and second floors.
Prospector - Not only can you grab lunch between classes at this location across from the Friday building, but you can also find a place to study. The upper and lower levels of Prospector both have seating available. I like the section of upper Prospector where Salsaritas is because it usually has great lighting. However, it may be quieter on the lower level near the Mail and Package services.
McEniry- If you haven’t had classes in this building you probably haven’t walked through it even though it is right next to Friday. However, they have a great recently renovated lobby area with good seating options for studying. I find that the quietest time in this location is in the evening after most of the daytime classes are over.
Cone - You can get Panda, Subway, and study in this location. It can be good for studying in groups as sometimes it may get a little noisy. There are plenty of tables available if you go past the restaurants and into the larger room of Cone. Just be sure to check that there isn’t any kind of meeting or event going on before you enter.
SoVi - Sovi has some great locations to study on the top floor. During winter, I love sitting next to the fireplace and in the warmer months you can sit outside and look at the great view.
Hopefully you can find the time to try out a new study spot this semester. Good luck preparing for finals!
