Study spots outside the home

[BeMD13]

I was wondering where others study away from home. My neighborhood is full of construction noise, lots of young children, and neighbors with loud music so aside from studying after midnight, home just isn't an option. I'm not a student this semester so I won't have access to the campus free wifi. When I was younger I loved coffee shops but where I moved they are so noisy and crowded. Even the local public library is not a quiet place. Any ideas?

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[FutureD0C17]

I have an ignorant neighbor who loves to slam on the drums so I know how you feel. During the temperate months of the year, I love going to parks or even a field where people aren't around. Get yourself a packable chair or towel and enjoy not being cooped inside. I'll hang out at the school library during the winter if I'm not home.

 

[glepurple]

Library, local park, coffee shop, tutoring center, your house, (get yourself some early plugs), empty classroom. In my experience the library is the best. Hopefully there's more than 1 in your radius.

 

[22031 Alum]

I think you'll probably do better either investing in good ear plugs, or getting used to studying with some ambient noise, than trying to find a completely silent spot. If the library isn't quiet enough for you I can't imagine a park would be better.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Studying outside is an exercise in idealism. YES, it is fantastic to study in nice weather on the grass, at a picnic table, under a tree, but when you factor in some wind, bright sunlight (watdafudge, studying w/ sunglasses is just dumb) it doesn't work. Trust me I've tried.

I'd vouch for, if you are pre-med, getting a feel for studying at your nearest teaching hospital. They must have a library (I think it's a rule) and usually have open access till 7-8 pm depending on the librarian.

I'm actually w/ 22031. If your sensibilities are distracted at this phase, good luck when you get to the next step. When you get on the level of med student, you should be able to have some notecards to study at a rock concert. Train yourself now. Nothing from this point on happens in a vacuum.

 

[tluedeke]

I pretty much always find a library. I lived in Richland, WA, where they have a fantastic library - tables to spread out all my stuff, relatively generous hours. I'm now living in Omaha, NE, and my new study spot is the University of Nebraska Medical Center Library (the only downside is all the fabulous medical books, which are much more interesting to read than an MCAT test preparation book - LOL!).

However, I do maintain a room at home to study. I'm easily distracted, so I make it as conducive as possible. No clutter, no distractions, and generally not used for anything else. Once that door closes, I want to be left completely alone unless there is an emergency.

 

[22031 Alum]

I pretty much always find a library. I lived in Richland, WA, where they have a fantastic library - tables to spread out all my stuff, relatively generous hours. I'm now living in Omaha, NE, and my new study spot is the University of Nebraska Medical Center Library (the only downside is all the fabulous medical books, which are much more interesting to read than an MCAT test preparation book - LOL!).

When I was an undergrad, I went to the medical library to study because it "inspired" me to be surrounded by all the medical information I hoped to learn someday. Then I got to med school and started studying in undergrad buildings- specifically the engineering building. Why? Because being surrounded by all the medical information I needed to learn was extremely anxiety-provoking.

 

[gothicfoxes]

My haunts are empty auditoriums/theatres and a particular coffee shop hipster hangout in my favourite historic district. I can never study at home. I fall into a terrible rut of procrastination.

 

[Goro]

Go register for a 1 credit PE class at the local CC.

Use their library and get the wifi.

 

[quintessences]

Consider investing in earplugs. I used them throughout undergrad. Just you will slowly hear pulse...

 

[BeMD13]

Go register for a 1 credit PE class at the local CC.

Use their library and get the wifi.

Ha! That's almost exactly what I ended up doing. I found out that I can literally just register for a locker for $9 and then also pay a $35 technology and maintenance fee. I can use the campus computers and even store my junk for an entire semester. Perfect!

 

[Bebe12]

I agree with a medical school library as well. Another option is a starbucks if you have one nearby and it's not too busy. I sometimes sneak into empty classrooms on campus and sit there and study in peace (until someone kicks me out hasn't happened much yet though).

 

[2010houston]

My favorite places in med school were quiet relatively empty restaurants where I could go in the afternoon and have an appetizer and a glass of wine. Nice reward for studying 😉 And they don't get annoyed with you taking up a table if you're low maintenance and no one else is clamoring to get in.

 

[Gfliptastic]

My favorite places in med school were quiet relatively empty restaurants where I could go in the afternoon and have an appetizer and a glass of wine. Nice reward for studying 😉 And they don't get annoyed with you taking up a table if you're low maintenance and no one else is clamoring to get in.

Oh yes. I second this. The ol' Denny's (or any 24-hr diner) technique. I mean, if you really want to burn the midnight oil, get a Moons Over My Hammy, pitcher of coffee and study till the sun comes up.

(I think intern year is blocking me from remembering the ol' med school days. I did the quiet diner deal A LOT!)

 

[ROSC]

I've always found the desk in the library facing the wall put in my ear plugs and put the nose to the grind stone...... of course at this point my experiences have been undergrad and various specialty courses in my current field of occupation.

 

[beebreezy]

Oh man, I feel this struggle. My house is always noisy. When I wasn't enrolled for a semester due to scheduling issues, I found it a real struggle to find places to study for the MCAT. The local library closes at 5. Even when it was open, there's this guy who is in there literally every.single.day. having a loud conversation on his phone. He paces back and forth talking loudly, and no one seems to think this is a problem. One day, I drove 40 minutes away to go to a Starbucks that stays open until 11 and has a lot of seating. Some chick walked in, sat behind me, and began shouting into her phone for like 30 minutes about how much she loved Lululemon pants and how they were part of some genius business plan she had. No joke. Another time, I decided to camp out in McDonalds late at night. Aworker came up to me and started talking about how pretty my dress was and something about how it must have been my dress that made one of the light bulbs in the restaurant go out because my dress was too bright for it? Once he finally left, he kept coming back to ask how I was doing every 20 or so minutes.

I've never had one of those internet cards that allow you to access the web from wherever, but I'm thinking I'll have to invest in one of those to get my MCAT studying done after I finish this last semester of classes.