No one likes studying for their stressful exam more than doom-scrolling on TikTok — or, dare I say, Instagram Reels. We all want our work to be done and over within the shortest time humanly possible. However, matters are made more difficult when your roommate is talking to you about who witnessed their humbling wipeout outside of Persson Hall. You end up reading the same page four times over and still have no clue what the book is about. Rather than showing up terrified to the exam because you “studied” for 10 hours but actually know none of the material, what you need is a good study spot. There are many amazing places around campus where you can hunker down, finish all your work, still listen to your roommate’s rant and ace that test.
Case-Geyer Library is the majority of Colgate University students’ tried and true study location. Each floor offers a different atmosphere, from those who prefer the pin-drop silence of the fourth floor to the more collaborative fifth-floor flex room. When it’s 8 p.m. and your paper is due by 11:59 p.m., the cubicles have the comfiest chairs, block out your surroundings and are equipped with outlets so you cannot be tempted to walk around and procrastinate. If you have a group project with total strangers, a private library study room is a great place to meet up. Feeling a little famished? Head up to the fifth floor and try the Chobani soup of the week.
Dorian Noble, a junior at Colgate, shared their thoughts on a unique study location they prefer: the Pink Haus dining room.
“My go-to study spot on campus would probably have to be the dining room in my house, because that’s primarily what it’s used for,” Noble explained. “It provides a quiet space to study the majority of the time. Since there are other people working there, it feels less stressful, and you can just catch little breaks of socialization that make the burden of work less burdensome.”
However, they do admit to indulging in a library study session from time to time.
“If I really need to lock in, I will go to the reading room on the fifth floor of Case: always quiet, beautiful view and comfy chairs,” Noble said.
However, there is not just one library on campus. The Cooley Science Library in the basement of McGregory Hall is a miniature Case-Geyer further up the hill. It’s the ideal spot for those productive, in-between-class study sessions.
Senior Kaleigh Wright frequents Cooley often, specifically the “Mosh Pit of Learning” section.
“It’s usually pretty empty, and they have big tables for group work and desktop computers and cubbies for solo work. People are typically in good spirits. I feel like [people] who study in Case are over-stressed,” Wright said. “I frequent this spot at least five times a week, probably every day if I’m being honest. It’s also nice that it’s up the hill because I can go in between classes or grab a sandwich from Coop to bring it back to Cooley.”
For the student-athletes, Reid Athletic Center is the perfect place down the hill for doing schoolwork after practice. The room’s design feels sports-inspired, with a carpet that looks like a field to make athletes feel right at home. Those who prefer to work quietly can choose its single study spots with table dividers for zoning in. If you have 30 practice problems to go through before your exam, Reid also has booths with whiteboards that are helpful for a group study session.
Danielle McNerney, a senior on Colgate’s swim and dive team, makes the walk over from the pool to Reid at least five times a week.
“It has everything you need to be a successful student-athlete,” McNerney shared.
Senior Katie Caracciolo, who is on the track and field team, reiterated the same feeling.
“I love the Reid Athletic Center. It’s the ideal place to study since it’s in the same building as my locker room and such a short walk to my apartment,” Caracciolo said.
While it’s tempting to do your work from the comfort of your room snacking on Oreos, it might not always be the most productive. Have your parents ever said, “I regret not using all the resources and opportunities my college had to offer”? Do not make the same mistake as them. Utilize these incredible study spots Colgate has to offer and become that put-together person on your “For You” page.
