UD’s campus full of great places to prepare for exams
Finding the right study spot can make a big difference in how prepared you are to take your final exams. The list of criteria for that perfect place is long: not too quiet, not too loud, conveniently located, easy access to caffeine and snacks, good lighting, comfy seats (but not so comfy that you fall asleep) — the list goes on.
But there's good news for University of Delaware students: UD’s campus is full of great places to study. From quiet corners of the library to bustling cafés, UD’s campus is filled with spots for every kind of student.
Morris Library
When it comes to quiet places to study, few spots beat Morris Library. From cushy chairs on the first and third levels to group study rooms, the library offers a variety of places to prepare for exams. Students can also reserve a study room — though in the week leading up to finals, students should plan to do that a couple days in advance.
The library is open until 1 a.m. most days during finals week (but note that pulling an all-nighter can actually be counterproductive).
Adjacent to the Morris Library’s lobby, the Commons provides students an area to study or meet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers modern, collaborative seating for groups of all sizes, lounge chairs to relax and a cozy fireplace. Electrical outlets and USB charging ports are available throughout the space.
Student Centers
Both Trabant University Center and Perkins Student Center are great options for studying, as both places boast rooms with either ambient sound or near silence.
Adam Bonar, an Honors senior medical diagnostics major, likes to study in the Trabant Lounge.
“It’s quiet and there are lots of couches, and it’s also really close to food, so if I ever need to take a study break or grab some food, it’s right there,” he said.
In Perkins, students can take a study break in Hen Zone game room or grab a bite to eat.
Perhaps a hidden gem in Trabant is Daugherty Hall, a tranquil study space with dramatic arched stained glass windows.
“I like the aesthetic of Daugherty,” said Tess Donatello, a sophomore international relations and history major. “It’s really quiet and calm, and it’s really pretty. It’s different from other study spots. It has kind of a warmer, cozier feel.”
Eden Groum, a junior neuroscience major, also loves studying in Daugherty because there’s usually a spot open — if not a table, then a comfy couch or chair — and it’s quiet.
“Personally, I need it to be completely silent when I’m reading or writing, and this room is pretty isolated and there’s not a lot of distraction,” she said. “Everyone here is focused on what they need to do, and that drives me to do the same thing.”
If a student is looking for a little ambient noise but wants to get away from the hubbub of the food court, the second level of Trabant is a great option — not that we want to give away any secret spots.
“Downstairs in Trabant you have to search around for a table,” said Harrison Fleetwood, a junior environmental engineering major. “But up here — well, you’re not going to give away my secret, are you? No comment. Nah, it’s nice up here.”
Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Laboratory
Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Laboratory is full of nooks and crannies that are perfect for studying — and it’s conveniently located to lots of other academic buildings.
Emily Vanella, a first-year neuroscience major, likes studying in both the ISE Lab or Perkins because they’re close to all her classes, they tend to be pretty quiet, and there’s abundant seating.
John Kudalor, a graduate student studying robotics, also likes to study in the ISE Lab, particularly on the second floor because there are both group tables and carrels.
“Both of those work for me because sometimes I want to study alone and other times I need to work on group projects,” he said. “I like this spot because I don’t like walls all around me and the big windows make it feel very airy and open.”
Cafés and coffee shops
With easy access to caffeine and study snacks, plus lots of table space, cafés and coffee shops are great spots to study on campus — and there are plenty to choose from at UD.
The UDairy Creamery Café in the Barnes and Noble UD Bookstore on Main Street features abundant seating, lots of natural light and — perhaps most importantly — ice cream. It also tends to be a bit quieter than some of the other cafés on or near campus.
“I like the Barnes and Noble café because there’s lots of natural lights and it’s usually not too crowded,” said Ali Barker, a junior nutrition and dietetics major.
Other great café options include Einstein Bros. Bagels in the ISE Lab, as well as off-campus sites such as Dunkin’, Starbucks, Brew Haha! and Little Goat Coffee Roasting Co.
Outside
There are myriad benefits to taking study sessions outdoors: increased focus, reduced stress, enhanced academic performance — to name a few.
Aaron White, a sophomore geology major, said his favorite place to study is outside of the ISE Lab.
“It’s a peaceful atmosphere, it’s usually not very crowded, and I like to be outside,” he said.
Alyssa Bergstrom, a senior communication and women and gender studies major, likes to study outdoors whenever it’s nice out — her favorite spot is a bench near Mentors’ Circle because it’s secluded but also a nice view. But on days when it’s not so nice, she likes the Trabant Lounge because it’s quiet and also has a charging station.
Jaree Jackson, a senior statistics major, said his favorite spot to study is on the tables outside of the library.
“The library lights are kind of dim and make me a little sleepy sometimes,” he said. “It just feels better being outside.”
