Best Places to Study on Campus

Throughout the course of the semester, students naturally start to gravitate to their favorite study spots. Looking back on my last finals week, I felt like I practically lived in the library study rooms, working on group projects, taking notes, and preparing for tests. So I understand how important finding your favorite spot is for successful studying.

To help you get a head start to your school year, I did a deep dive into all the best study spots on campus to help you find the places that work best for you.

Murdock Library 

The Murdock Library is by far the most popular study location on campus, as it offers a wide range of resources and studying accommodations. Murdock is a large three-story building, and the main floor is where the majority of resources are located. If you need to print out a worksheet or study using a large whiteboard, the main floor is the place to be! Here, there are printers, large roll-around whiteboards, study rooms, and library computers you can log into with your student information. This is also where you’ll find the Academic Resource Center, a resource for students who need writing assistance.

During the day you’ll find large groups of students studying here, gathered around whiteboards and tables. Although this is a fantastic place to study in groups, Murdock is also a place where you can study quietly and concentrate. When studying here, be sure to be mindful of noise levels. There are tables of all sizes throughout the first floor. If you want to study in a group or by yourself, you’ll be able to find a table that's just right for you. 

If you would rather work with some privacy, or if you know your study group may be a bit loud and distracting, I would recommend reserving one of many study rooms in the library using this link. These study rooms are amazing if you're working on a group project because there are TVs you can project your computer screen on. Study rooms are located on all three floors of the library. 

If you need to do deep focus work, you should study on the top floor. This is where you won't run into friends or get distracted by other students' conversations, as the floor has single study desks with dividers and a quiet atmosphere that allows for privacy. 

The last thing that makes Murdock so great is its 24-hour study space. The library closes at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Students have to leave the common areas, but this doesn't mean you have to leave the facility. On the main floor there’s a 24-hour study space, open all semester, where you’ll still have access to printers, whiteboards, and study rooms. It also has a vending machine! As it gets closer to finals week, you’ll often see students studying here all hours of the night. 

Klages 

Klages is another popular 24-hour study spot which also doubles as a social area. During the day you’ll find a mix of students hanging out, studying in large groups, and passing time between class periods. I often go here to knock out a few assignments when I have about an hour or two of time between classes. Every student knows the feeling of having too much time between classes to stick around the academic buildings but not enough time to go back to your dorm. Klages is the perfect place to fill in those awkward gaps. Here is also where the Makers Market is located, where you can grab a quick lunch or snack using your Bruin points.

Klages is also an amazing place to study later in the day. Studying here in the evening is a completely different experience than being there midday. At night you’lll see students quietly studying at booths, often for hours on end. This is because it is also a 24-hour space. If you find noise and chatter overwhelming, I would recommend checking out Klages later in the day.

Foxhole 

The FoxHole is an underrated study spot on campus if you want to host a competitive group Kahoot game session or Quizlet before finals. The FoxHole lounge is located in the same building as Klages, but you will need your keycard to scan in. This is a 24-hour area for commuters but is available to any student. Students often host movie nights or club meetings in this space. Here, you must be mindful of commuters who may want to use the area, so be sure to be respectful of their space as you study!

The Bridge Cafe

The Bridge Cafe is a beautiful and aesthetic place to study, especially if you want the coffee shop atmosphere without walking to a local Newberg coffee shop. In addition, you can use your Bruin points here to purchase a drink, snack or lunch. It gets busy during the day, but the big windows letting in the natural light make it worth it. I often come here when I want to meet up with a friend or do a quick homework assignment while enjoying a latte with the beautiful sunshine that the large windows let in.

Lobbies in Academic Buildings 

An extremely underrated place to study are the lobbies and empty classrooms of your academic buildings after classes are over. When classes have ended, these buildings are usually empty but still open to students. If it's later in the day, you can scan in with your keycard if it’s a building related to your major. If it's earlier in the day, you can just walk in. Academic buildings have many tables and couches spread around for students to wait and mingle between classes. I have studied here a time or two when all my regular study spots have become overcrowded.

Studying in an empty classroom is a hack when you are trying to get a large group of students from your class together to study for the same class final. Sometimes these study sessions are hosted by the professor or class TA themselves. I would highly recommend taking advantage of these study sessions when provided.

Study Rooms in Dorm Buildings

Many dorm buildings have designated study areas or study rooms. These are extremely useful, especially if you don’t want to go far from your dorm room. At some point in the school year you may find yourself wanting to stay up and study even though your roommate wants to go to bed. If you don’t want to leave the building but still want to be considerate to your roommate, you can go study in the dorm lobby or study in one of the study rooms. These are lifesavers when it comes to situations like these!

Outdoor Areas

Last but not least, the most underrated place on campus to study is our beautiful outdoors. Our groundskeepers do an amazing job of maintaining our campus, keeping it clean and walkable for students. Around campus there are picnic tables, benches, and lawn chairs that can be used to hang out with friends, eat lunch, or study. This is one of my favorite places to study when the sun comes out during spring semester.

You can catch some rays and join in on some of the campus fun, as there will be groups of students playing Frisbee, Spikeball and volleyball all over the quad. As you explore campus, you’ll also find hidden spots like the firepit and tables near the canyon and the amphitheater. Those are amazing locations to read, write and study.

Encouragement

Finding the right environments can completely change your relationship with studying. And when the semester starts to get challenging, the school has a variety of resources for you, because Fox wants to see you be successful! From the ARC to whiteboards and study rooms in the library and 24-hour study spaces, there are spots that will fit your needs.

The last bit of studying advice I can leave you with is that finding good groups of people to study with is just as important as finding the right studying locations. Finding a group of classmates and friends that will help each other be successful and keep each other accountable is what may just make your study spots so effective!