Favorite Study Spot?

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
once

once

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
215
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Boston
  1. Pre-Medical
Members do not see this ad.
Where is your favorite spot to hit the books?

Mine is a completely abandoned corner of the library on the 4th floor. It has a bookshelf in front of it and its pretty much hidden to anybody who doesn't know it exists. I get sooooo much done there; best spot ever.
 
once said:
Where is your favorite spot to hit the books?

Mine is a completely abandoned corner of the library on the 4th floor. It has a bookshelf in front of it and its pretty much hidden to anybody who doesn't know it exists. I get sooooo much done there; best spot ever.
Click to expand...

Lab or Uni. honors room. I have yet to find a place that is completely hidden from ALL people. I need to find a place soon because I have my practice FLs coming up soon.
 
I study in the basement of my university's business school. There's nice big tables, vending machines nearby, and it's quiet. It's a great spot.
 
Nowhere too quiet or I get super distracted on my computer and just stare out in space. I need to be around people who are also studying.

Never study with friends!
 
Starbucks (Actually, my local independent coffee shop). The noise and talking becomes a white noise and I have easy access to my drug of choice.
 
once said:
Where is your favorite spot to hit the books?

Mine is a completely abandoned corner of the library on the 4th floor. It has a bookshelf in front of it and its pretty much hidden to anybody who doesn't know it exists. I get sooooo much done there; best spot ever.
Click to expand...

For a second I thought we went to the same school. I, too, have a secret spot on the fourth floor in the library that few people know about!
 
Slowpoke said:
i prefer not being so hidden. i find that i do my best work when i am surrounded by many others who are diligently studying as well.
Click to expand...
Same. My school has areas that are secluded and even designated as "quiet". But I can never work in those type of areas, unless of course I am using those private study rooms with a group of people. The dead silence is actually distracting at a certain point.

If not studying with someone else I usually just prefer the university's library. It's often quiet enough but not dead quiet, you can still hear some quiet talking in the distance. It's like "white noise", it's not silence but not distracting.
 
Depends what I'm studying. Regular studying happens at my favorite local bubble tea shop - the baristas there have gotten so used to me that they routinely come over and give me new teas free of charge because I bring them so much business (as it's also where I have study groups four times a week).

For pre-exam review, I bogart an empty classroom in the nearest lecture hall and teach an invisible class.

For the MCAT, I study in the sub-basement of my school library behind the legal reference texts (covered in an inch of dust, no joke) near an unsoundproofed wall and directly adjacent to the ventilation duct with noise-cancelling headphones on. It's so remote and noisy that no one comes anywhere near me, and I can work for hours without interruption.

And since my job doesn't allow for much downtime (I have to patrol campus for about five or six hours per shift), I've gotten into the habit of recording my notes as mp3s and listening to them while I work. It's bizarrely helpful to hear it in my own voice. Weird.
 
Starbucks. I ended up making really good friends with the barristas. He helped me write a paper on Nietzche. Or when I don't want to drive... the honor's room 🙂 Our Hons director is great and keeps us supplied with snacks.
 
:whoa: Omg it's once
 
I don't think I've ever had one favorite spot. I feel like I have to move somewhere new every so often to change things up.
 
Janieve said:
And since my job doesn't allow for much downtime (I have to patrol campus for about five or six hours per shift), I've gotten into the habit of recording my notes as mp3s and listening to them while I work. It's bizarrely helpful to hear it in my own voice. Weird.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be able to stand listening to myself talk! Great that it works for you though.

I've always been a big couch studier. My desk is basically an extension of my closet, so I'd have to rearrange my entire wardrobe to be able to study there. Back when I was taking OChem though, I could ONLY study in the library in the quiet room.

When I was studying abroad, I actually did most of my studying at the convention center next to my apartment. The only drawback was that an acapella group would practice in the elevators on weekends, so every three minutes when the elevator would arrive at my floor I'd be hit with a burst of obnoxious singing.
 
In my room. Closed curtains (my room has to be dark), door locked (so that I could study while being only in my boxers), and a little soft jazz music playing in the background. When I have this atmosphere set, I grind out about 8-12 hours of studying.
 
Gust said:
In my room. Closed curtains (my room has to be dark), door locked (so that I could study while being only in my boxers), and a little soft jazz music playing in the background. When I have this atmosphere set, I grind out about 8-12 hours of studying.
Click to expand...

This, or 5th floor library:

cadillac cubicle, lots of desk space, electrical outlets, garbage can, quiet
 
The surgical waiting room at the university hospital.

Its closer than the library, comfier chairs, cafeteria nearby and people crying. Its perfect.
 
In my dorm. Most of my floormates are science majors, so we hit the books together.
 
I generally do most of my studying in my room at my desk. I lived in my sorority house for 2 years during college, so I often holed up in our basement room when I was studying for finals. I've never really been a big fan of studying in the library, if I can help it.
 
mmmcdowe said:
A Hungarian pastry shop. Only unlimited coffee refills that I have found so far in the city 😍.
Click to expand...
is this midtown near the burnt out cathedral by any chance?
 
mmmcdowe said:
Yes, I work at the hospital next to the cathedral.
Click to expand...
lol that's awesome, that's the cafe where i chilled and prepared the day before my columbia interview, apparently a lot of columbia grad housing is in that area.
 
The bar.














Just kidding. Study rooms at the college of pharmacy/medicine/public health or the health science library where only docs, residents, med students, pharm students, public health students, and nursing students study-- which means they are quiet! There is access to university medical center cafeteria (decent food!) and a coffee shop. Comfy chairs, helpful librarians, study rooms that lock, and a good view from the top floor. 👍
 
Panera Bread, Starbucks, or any other coffee shop with free WiFi
 
SuperHiro said:
Mmm...I thought you were talking about the one in Morningside heights by St Lukes's Hospital and Columbia Undergrad campus?
Click to expand...
isn't he? at least that's the one i'm talking about.. how many hungarian cafes with unlimited refills can there be!
 
I need coffee, a setting where people are talking (starbucks/certain library spots), computer, headphones, a music playlist...and I'm good to go. I dunno how I'm going to survive in grad school. I tried the old silent room by myself study technique, and I just end up falling asleep or looking at YouTube.
 
SuperHiro said:
Oh lol. You said midtown and cathedral so I thought you meant there was one by St Patrick's Cathedral.
Click to expand...
sorry, is morningside not really midtown anymore? you'll have to forgive my hopefully soon-to-be-rectified new york ignorance :laugh:
 
Library. I have a studio apartment and there are 3 sets of tires for my car stacked up against the wall and a queen sized bed on the other side. Not much room for desk+chair here. :laugh:
 
bleargh said:
sorry, is morningside not really midtown anymore? you'll have to forgive my hopefully soon-to-be-rectified new york ignorance :laugh:
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm talking about St. Luke's and the undergrad. I don't consider morningside to be midtown I guess, I just read "m" and moved onto the next word.
 
.
 
Last edited:
Anyone study at home??? I study in my bed all the time. Backrest, little table, laptop, notes, textbooks... i'm all set.

Also curious: what sound do you like to study to? Some people already mentioned background noise.

I like the white noise generator or good ambiant/trance. Or if i have to write a big paper, black metal/death metal.
 
The windmill hut in Kakariko Village. Best place to study ever!






Anyways I like to study in those private study box's libraries have, you know the ones with the comfy chairs and the giant blackboards. 😍
 
library in any moderately quiet place, because I study with music on headphones anyways, so it doesnt have to be super quiet. But the place where i have had my most productive days has been my room by far. Not on my bed though, i couldnt study on my bed.
 
10th floor of the library when I want to study alone, 8th floor when I need motivation. Motivation as in have other people study in the same room as me, that way it's harder to get distracted.

Noticed the even floors? Even = men's room. 😛
 
runawayclock said:
Anyone study at home??? I study in my bed all the time. Backrest, little table, laptop, notes, textbooks... i'm all set.

Also curious: what sound do you like to study to? Some people already mentioned background noise.

I like the white noise generator or good ambiant/trance. Or if i have to write a big paper, black metal/death metal.
Click to expand...

Music just doesn't work for me. Maybe if I'm writing or typing but when it comes to reading music will make me go crazy. It's either I'll sing the song or sing it in my head and that just destroys reading. Consider it a gift that you're able to do that
 
Honors building on campus, they have private study rooms with chairs, a table, whiteboard, extremely helpful when working out problems for chemistry because i see the whole problem/reaction, etc.

Also like the library alot for reading

If im typing a paper i prefer to chill on the futon and type it up with music going

Man i have alot of other great spaces at my university as well.
 
sc4s2cg said:
10th floor of the library when I want to study alone, 8th floor when I need motivation. Motivation as in have other people study in the same room as me, that way it's harder to get distracted.

Noticed the even floors? Even = men's room. 😛
Click to expand...

Study groups don't work for me. I'll just talk to the people and get distracted. I find that riding solo's the best method for me. I don't do libraries or study lounges. Just my room at my desk and I'm good.

And something weird, I find that I like to study / work in just boxers and no shirt.
 
Chamahk said:
Study groups don't work for me. I'll just talk to the people and get distracted. I find that riding solo's the best method for me. I don't do libraries or study lounges. Just my room at my desk and I'm good.

And something weird, I find that I like to study / work in just boxers and no shirt.
Click to expand...

I prefer t-shirt + underpants combo. My fiancé was pretty happy to visit when it was exam week... It's just more free without pants.
 
serenade said:
The windmill hut in Kakariko Village. Best place to study ever!






Anyways I like to study in those private study box's libraries have, you know the ones with the comfy chairs and the giant blackboards. 😍
Click to expand...


I actually tried studying there, but I found the Windmill Guy to be both annoying and scary, especially if you anger him! I prefer the secret grottos in Hyrule!
 
Pharmacol90 said:
mmmc,

By the way, how far is the hospital from the GW Bridge bus stop? Is it within walking distance?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The columbia medical center is about a five minute walk. A number of people live in jersey or elsewhere and take the bus in. However, St. Luke's and the Hungarian pastry shop is 50 blocks south (I'm on an away rotation, my mentor is at St. Luke's.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FuturePediatricNeurosurge
Anyone have a favorite piece of medicine-related art? Feel free to share here
Replies
9
Views
746
LizzyM
LizzyM
Mr.Smile12
UT Tyler admissions study
Replies
1
Views
1K
etxmedstudent36
E
Mr.Smile12
Study of course requirements among medical schools
Replies
0
Views
729
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
H
Is it okay to study abroad this spring as a current applicant?
Replies
2
Views
2K
LizzyM
LizzyM
Rishi Jayanth
Should I drop my hobby to study for the MCAT?
Replies
9
Views
2K
pedneuro6894
P
Top Bottom