Secret Places to Study On Campus
By Isaac Moody MA ‘15
Midterms are some of the most dreaded times of the year for most students.
During this time, you’re probably spending most of your time last-minute cramming before the exam or essay is due, and there’s even more stress added, if you have a part-time, full-time job, club meetings, internships and other activities.
But don’t fret, as long as you manage your time and study a little bit each day, you’ll be fine.
But be aware of who you study with, and when and where you study, because it may affect your overall ability to prepare.
It may be best to study away from home, because there are no outside distractions such as roommates, noise, and it’s a lot harder to be counter productive (but it still occurs).
If you’re on campus and in need to find somewhere to study, you can start by going to either the:
Doheny Library
or
Leavey Library
And for obvious reasons. They’re the largest libraries on campus and have the most room to study.
Leavey has several places to study, but is often crowded and has limited hours throughout the week, closing at 10pm.
Doheny has several levels of study space and even offers study rooms, but the library is often filled with people, and the very site of crowd can overwhelm or distract students.
If you’re looking to find somewhere to study that’s low-key and exclusive, you can try these locations:
The Law Library (located at the USC Gould School of Law). It’s quiet and small, but you will get carded if the library becomes too crowded, and law students have priority.
The Philosophy Library has a Renaissance- gothic feel, and most students don’t know about, however, it closes at 5pm throughout the week.
Ground Zero is a hidden gem to study, it’s easily one of the hardest places to find, has ample tables, couches and lounge areas to study, plus, you can order milkshakes!
You can also try the graduate lounge located on the 4th floor in Dornsife. It’s private, cozy and quiet.
Most students choose to study at their home building of study, however, some students explore other places to study for the pressure of competition of school.
Honorable mentions that have not been mentioned are Viterbi, the Science and Engineering Library, and the Marshall School of Business.
Of course, choosing a place to study depends on your preference. That’s why it’s important to explore and try new things. And who knows, you might learn something new.
Until next time, fight on!
