Running out of places to cram for exams? Everywhere seems too crowded? Studying for finals can become even more tedious when you have to study in the same place over and over again.
While Fairfield isn’t as interesting as New York City, where college students can choose to study at a wide array of coffee shops or parks, it does have appealing spots on campus. It is possible to find a place where you can hide away and fully concentrate. But watch out for those places that are overflowing with distractions.
Most students say they study in their rooms, houses, or at the library. Shannon Cummings ’06 says she is a frequent visitor to the library during finals.
“I like to study in the big chairs by the window because they are comfortable, and if you get too tired and bored you can watch all the people walk by,” said Cummings.
Maybe the crowded library isn’t the best place to go during this busy time of year. Many students also say that they find it nearly impossible to get work accomplished at their desks when there are so many distractions only a click away on the computer. Stalking people by their away messages, reading email, online shopping and checking favorite websites are only a few of the preferred ways to procrastinate.
For those of you who can avoid the temptation: good for you. For everyone else (the upperclassmen who need a new study spot and the underclassmen who can’t find one) here are some unique ideas that some students recommended.
If you’re in a club, utilize its meeting place or office. Jessica DiBuono ’06, a FUSA member, says she does all her work in the FUSA office.
“It is close to my dorm and quiet, but not too quiet,” said DiBuono. “It’s also relatively close to Jazzman’s so I can get coffee when I want, and it’s got a really comfy couch.”
Not crazy enough for you? Just follow Evan Berard ’07 to the laundry rooms.
“You get the best washers and dryers, and why not?” said Berard. “Guys don’t do laundry, so the constant flow of girls coming in and out provides you with built-in study breaks. By the time you’re done, your clothes are clean, your work is done, and you have lots of numbers in your cell phone for dates.”
Jackie Macchi ’07 loves to study on sunny days at the Japanese Gardens, which are located next to Bellarmine Hall.
“Sometimes when I have difficulty studying because I can’t stay focused, I go to there to take a break from all the disruptions around me and really focus,” said Macchi. “It’s comforting to sit on the rocks and it’s secluded enough that I can’t become too easily distracted.”
While studying for finals, get creative. If you’re someone who is easily distracted, branch out from traditional crowded study spots like Jazzman’s, the Stag, the first floor of the BCC, and the library.
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