Written by Cai, student
No two Waterloo students are the same and we all choose to do different things with our time on campus. Some engage in student politics, some play on sports teams, and some learn to play a musical instrument. There is one thing, however, that all students have to do and that is studying.
From time to time you will take a course with homework or reading material that is interesting or even fun to work on. Frequently, however, studying for a course can feel like a total drag.
Regardless of your view on studying, it’s something that we all have to do and finding the best place to study is something that all Waterloo students go through. When you come here, you’re going to spend a lot of time studying and you’ll want to find a good place to do. The space where you choose to study can change everything and it’s important to find the one that works best for you.
The space where you choose to study can change everything and it’s important to find the one that works best for you.
If you’re on a quest to find the best spot to study, libraries are a great place to start. Waterloo has many libraries on its main campus that offer a plethora of study environments. Whether you like to study silently or with a group, these buildings feature several different floors to accommodate everyone.
The Davis Centre and the Dana Porter library are two such buildings that have these features. They even have bookable study rooms with whiteboards that are ideal for working on group projects. These buildings have something for everyone and plenty of seats so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a spot to study here.
Lounges are other great spots to study on campus. The mood in these spaces is less predictable and they can go from vacant and quiet to busy and noisy in a matter of hours. The sound of voices and movement isn’t always a bad thing.
Some students thrive in this environment and appreciate the background noise because it keeps them concentrated. For these students, the noise of a coffee shop or a lounge could be treated as white noise, which is comforting when they’re studying.
If this noise isn’t for you and you find your quiet space has been taken over by a noisy group of friends, don't worry! Another study space is only a stone’s throw away.
This often happens to me but fortunately the Environment buildings (where I frequently study) feature several great study spaces. These include the popular ES Lounge, the quiet EV1 atrium, the newly renovated EV2 Study Space, and the top two floors of EV3, which feature the best view of campus! I rotate through these study spaces or an empty lecture room when I’m studying throughout the week. There are many concentrations of great study spaces scattered across campus.
Overall, don’t be afraid to go out there and try a bunch of different places until you’ve found the study space that works for you. Sooner or later, you’ll find the perfect place and maybe even the perfect person to study with!
