Emma’s Top 5 Favorite Study Spots

I am beyond excited to study abroad in Copenhagen next term, but I’ll miss my favorite spots downtown and around campus. As I write this, it’s 10th week at Carleton, which means finals, moving out, and wrapping up the year. To celebrate my (many) hours studying this year, I’m sharing my top 5 favorite study spots at Carleton, (plus exactly when to go to make the most of each one)!

For readings & coding: A Cafe Downtown

Unless you’ve got noise-cancelling headphones (or you don’t mind some ambient chatter), most downtown cafes may be a little loud during peak hours. So, for work that is not extremely dense, like practicing writing code or reading, I go to my favorite cafe, Little Joy.

For unbreakably deep focus: 1st & 2nd Libe

The lower floors of the library are where I go if I truly need to lock in. My go-to is a desk with dividers by the window. If I have a take-home exam or am working on an essay, this has been my trusty spot.

I remember being terrified of 1st and 2nd libe when I was a first-year student. You truly don’t have to be. No one is judging you for unzipping your backpack too loudly or pacing back and forth looking for the ideal seat (shoutout to my jeans for always rustling). There are also individual study rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors if you want more privacy!

For “studying”: Sayles or the Anderson Atrium

Sometimes, Sayles and the Atrium can be conducive to good studying. But a lot of times (especially during peak hours in between classes), a lot of socializing will happen.

Since Carleton is such a tight-knit community, it’s rare to go to Sayles or the Atrium during the bustling hours without bumping into someone you know. That’s kind of the charm.

Great for group work, light reading, studying with friends, or if you’re one of those people who can study deeply in bustling places (props, could not be me).

For getting ideas: the Arb & the Rec Center

This one is a little niche, but hear me out: when I’m creatively blocked or am procrastinating on an essay, I will walk in the arb with no music and my notes app open. The movement and nature help clear your head and allow ideas to flow.

During winter or on rainy days, I’ll walk on the treadmill at the Rec or do some yoga and give myself time to think about what I want to write. It’s surprisingly effective.

For warm-weather studying: Evans Deck or outside on a blanket!

Come May (or on a warm September), everyone’s outside. And for good reason. Studying in the sun hits different.

One of my favorite college gifts I received as a first-year (that I didn’t realize would be so life-changing at the time) was a massive outdoor blanket. Many students also set up hammocks around campus.

Sure, studying on the Bald Spot during a weekday might be pretty distracting, but Bell Field and the Evans Hall deck are usually pretty quiet if you need to focus.

Emma is a junior Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor, originally from NorCal and now living in Miami, FL. Needless to say, she’s happiest when the sun is out and there’s no snow on the ground… which, in Minnesota, isn’t always the case. She stays energized and positive by diving into her comps and doing academic research in the Perception Lab. You can usually find her lifting weights at the Rec Center or sipping matcha at her favorite cafe downtown (Little Joy… and only Little Joy). As a first-gen, low-income student in TRIO and a former peer leader at the GSC, Emma is passionate about community and support systems on campus. She’s also one of the few Brazilians at Carleton. Como vai?