10 Places to Study at Rutgers

We’re well past the halfway point of the semester and with finals just a few weeks away, it’s time to turn on “intense studying” mode. Students are starting to scramble and are looking all over campus trying to find the right place to study. But there isn’t just one perfect place to study; it depends on how you study as well. Some people like music and background noise, others prefer absolute silence. Here are ten places where Scarlet Knights can cozy up and commence their study marathons:

The Libraries

If you do get distracted really easily and need to be surrounded by people that are already studying, the library is a classic option.

Mabel Smith Douglass Library: A lot of people rave about how this library is the spot to get stuff done. They have booths that fit about five to six people, and they have a lot of spacious tables on all four levels, as well as a designated spot where you can eat freely and have a bit of low-level conversation with friends. Of course, the computer slots that they have are also very helpful and the stacks are pretty nifty to study at too. TIP: They hold stress-buster events near finals season where they offer snacks, drinks, and puppies.

Archibald Stevens Alexander Library: College Ave is mostly known for the party scene, but you can actually find a place to study there. This library has some spacious tables throughout all floors, and it’s huge! The one thing that attracts a lot of students is the study rooms located on the third floor. You can snag a room for yourself for a few hours (staff checks rooms for two or more people). Feel free to play some music and use the whole table in the room to place all of your study materials. You also have the option of reserving these rooms by phone or computer. ALERT: These rooms get filled up quickly, so I suggest visiting when there are classes going on or when the library opens on the weekends.

Passion Puddle

I think most of us all heard about the infamous Passion Puddle. You can find a lot of people laying on the grass and taking in some sun, playing instruments, or reading a book on benches. It’s also a really great place to get some studying done, if you’re into nature and outdoors. ALERT: Just don’t go there when there is snow on the ground, it’s too cold for that in the winter months. Try visiting in the fall or spring.

Learning Center in Tillet Hall

The remodeled learning center in Tillet Hall is so cool! Not only can you study in a very modern setup of the room with rolling chairs, but there are rooms that you can study in; just make sure there isn’t a class using the room. If you need help with studying tips or time management, you can speak with any of the academic coaches that work there as well. The rolling chairs are the best feature, in my opinion.

Outer MPR room/hall on College Avenue

A lot of people can be seen studying near the fireplace in the room outside the MPR of the Rutgers Student Center. The atmosphere is very calming and the noise level there is usually minimal. If there is an event happening in the MPR, they might ask you to leave, but most of the time you can hang there and get work done.

SAC Raritan River Lounge

Enter the SAC, walk down the stairs, and sit on a couch near a window. There you will have a nice view of the Raritan River and the basketball courts that are located outside of the SAC as well. It’s nice to see the river while the sun sets or just to watch a free game of basketball from the comfort of a couch inside. Since the lounge is usually silent, I would stay away from holding group study sessions here.

DSC NJ Lounge

If you’ve been to the Douglass Student Center on the second floor to go to the computer lab, chances are you’ve passed the NJ Lounge. It’s filled with couches, tables, and a piano. If you enjoy occasional live piano music while studying, this is the place to be. Every time I pass the lounge, people look really comfortable sitting on the couches, so if you feel like having your coffee mug next to you and maybe a blanket while you study, this is the spot!

The Cove

If you walk through the food court of the Busch Student Center and turn to the right when you reach the information desk you have reached The Cove. Here you will find a lot of students on their laptops or buried in their textbooks. There is a mixture of tables and couches for students to study in. Close by are places where you can have a meal or the convenience store where you can buy any last minute items you may need for homework.

Business School Building

With the new business building, there has been a lot of traffic and buzz going on at Livi. The business building’s architecture inside and out gives a very professional feel for students. You can find a study spot on almost every floor. The popular spot for studying and hanging out is on the second floor, where you can find couches and high tables for students. There are also nifty and comfortable seats at the entrance of the building near the information desk; it’s a great spot to catch up on studying for your next class. If you do decide to study at a higher level in the building, like the lounge on the fifth floor, you’ll get a really nice view of the campus during the day or at night.

Gardner A. Sage Library of New Brunswick Theological Seminary

Located by the Theological Seminary, the Sage Library gives a majestic feel when entering through the doors. It has a few tables in the middle of the room to study and some tables on the sides of the entrance. It’s a quiet library, so you will get studying done and focus if you need silence. ALERT: No wifi available, so if you need to just study by memorization or read, then this is ideal for you.

Your Room

Typical, right? If you can’t find another place to study, at least you always have your room. Some people actually have a perfect setting to study in their very own room. You may have an agreement with your roommate as to when your schedules will not clash so you can study in your room alone, or you may click very well and study together. Other students have single rooms and have space dedicated for studying with no distractions (lucky). Just make sure you don’t get distracted easily.

Good luck studying, Scarlet Knights!

Allison is a recent graduate of the Journalism and Media Studies major at Rutgers. She loves photography and is an aspiring traveler. She hopes to have a career where she is able to travel around the world.