The Sower’s Guide to Studying On Campus

The downstairs of Link Library provides a quiet place to study. Photo courtesy of Sonja Brandt.

By Janis Wagner

As finals week approaches to close out the fall semester, many students find themselves needing a quiet place to study. 

Concordia has many different places to hide when you need a place to sit down, listen to music, and focus on your homework, so here are 10 different places listed from least to most useful you might not have considered to look for to help you prepare for the multiple deadlines ahead.

#10 – David Pit Lounge

Believe it or not, the David Hall Pit is an excellent place to study. Not only is there a large table for groups to go when everywhere else is too loud or taken, there are also couches near the vending machine and microwave so you can grab a snack before your 8 a.m. exam. 

If the Pit is taken, there are also other areas throughout the David Hall lounges where you and your friends can go and hide. The Pit just has the best accessibility to other amenities without becoming a distraction.

#9 – Music Hall Upstairs Practice Rooms

If you are a music major or taking music lessons, these rooms are unlocked all of the time and don’t require a key to get in. However, make sure that if you are going to use one, you are only doing so for music-related activities. They are secluded and away from most other people, making them perfect for last minute memorization techniques or warming up before your jury or final lesson exam. These usually also are open since there are so many other music students practicing in their private lesson rooms and it can be difficult to get into the individual rooms on the main floor.

The labs are also usually open if you specifically need access to programs for Music Theory. Smart Music computers may not be accessible in the open practice rooms for everyone, but ask your professors for a key if you need access to yours.

#8 – Janzow Top

This one had to make the list, but it is definitely lower on the scale if you want a more quiet place to study. While there are four distinct areas that do vary in noise levels, they are usually pretty loud and inconvenient during dead week and finals because everyone is trying to use Janzow to study.

Janzow also is the hub for others to get connected to their classes, which creates some traffic issues during dead week. 

#7 – Dunklau Study Rooms

One of the most recent editions to the study room list is the open areas in the Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business. There are many different places to study, whether it be by yourself or in small groups. These also have the capability to be connected to the TVs if you need to work on presenting a project for a class. You can even check out markers and erasers to work out complicated problems on whiteboard walls, depending on the area of the center.

However, due to it being the most recent edition to campus, be wary of the people-to-space limitations of Dunklau. If you are not a science major, be prepared to see different people there and possibly for a long time, especially if they are working on intense equations and other homework with a group.

#6 – Brommer Art Center

If you are looking to work on your art projects, Brommer is excellent for that. As an art student, there are multiple different places to quietly work on projects that give access to different types of materials used for those pieces.

For the majors that are not centered and working on art pieces, be aware that Brommer does not have the normal study areas that most of the other buildings do. However, they do have a nice seating area at the front of the building to work with some friends.

#5 – Link Library (Part 1)

The main floor of the library has multiple tables and computers available for anyone who does not really want to work very quietly but also needs less noise than in Janzow. Upstairs on the second floor has a similar issue with number control, so if you want a table in Link, make sure you try to snag one as early in the day as possible.

You can also check out the green room or the study rooms upstairs for group study if necessary. Markers and erasers are also available for check-out. Just be aware of the time limit using the rooms and markers, as they do run out and people like to rent them for specific times.

#4 – Link Library (Part 2)

The second section of the library is the lesser-known areas, specifically targeted for those studying by themselves. There are two individual study rooms that are on a walk-in basis (if they’re open), as well as the downstairs study areas that is specifically designed for no noise.

If you need specific help on a paper or project, the tutoring area is open. This area is located behind the reference book section that is also connected to the computer lab area on the main level. You can also reach out to the tutors on the schedule by emailing them.

#3 – Thom Leadership Education Center

Thom has a really nice area that most people use during the day for independent or group quiet study, especially since the amount of classes in session during the day generally cannot permit excessive talking.

What really makes Thom stand out is that since most students have classes there, most generally assume that the level of loudness does not permit studying there late at night, which means that though the building is open for night classes and even for some hours afterwards, it is usually empty during the evening. 

#2 – Ruth Lounges

One of the quietest areas to go with tons of sitting room are the lounges between Ruth A and B, and B and C. These areas are generally empty, with the exception of holiday hall events which usually happen during the weekend. 

If you need to work in a group, there are different seating options to help you while you work. There is also a piano that you can use if your class load includes music-related activities.

#1 – The Sower Office

Yes, the Sower has dead week availability! It is a come-and-go format on Dec.13 and 14 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will have snacks available. Since the Sower is located on the third level of Jonathan Hall, the study area is quiet and secluded from the busier areas on campus.

Stop on in before finals week!