Author: jef5543

Sadly, as the days get longer, sunnier, and warmer, we are not back at Penn State to revel in the glory that is springtime. However for my final post, I will be discussing perhaps the students’ favorite springtime/warm weather spot, the HUB lawn.

On the handful of warm days we had before break, the lawn was immediately crowded with people enjoying the sunlight. Whether it be the group of people playing frisbee, the friend group laughing near the top, or the student sitting on the picnic blanket working devotedly on whatever project may be at hand, the lawn attracts all types of people for activities of almost every scenario.

It is the perfect place to take advantage of the warmer weather after a winter trapped inside, however true devoted students who sit on the lawn and manage to do work without getting distracted can all agree on a handful of things.

First, the WiFi on the lawn is bad. And I mean really pretty terrible. Occasionally I will get enough connection to sign into canvas and start hunting down my homework, however more often that not I am not even able to connect to the canvas page, making my computer obsolete and meaning I have to focus on any paper work or notetakings I have to study from during my jaunt sitting on the lawn.

Second, the lawn has no outlets. A rather obvious statement, however it needs to be stated. Honestly, It would be weird if the lawn did have outlets but even so, access to outlets needs to be considered in even the best study spots since today is so technologically oriented. However, as I stated in the previous paragraph, the HUB lawn had some of the worst wifi connection on campus so if even if you come to the lawn with a dead computer, you would not be missing out on an online homework opportunity anyways.

Third, the lawn is not comfortable. Laying on the grass seems nice, however when you realize there is hard soil and rocks hidden in the grass, it becomes slightly less comfortable and even more so when you have to sit up to do your homework and end up hunched over with your back aching due to there being no chairs or places to rest your back on the lawn.

Given these negatives, you may wonder why people would want to study in such an awkward area, in the middle of a club spikeball practice. However, the feeling of sunshine on the face of a student who spends their whole day under artificial lighting is intoxicating, it is the feeling of carefree and true happiness they do not get to experience in the dreary winter, and so we students put aside our discomforts for a moment to feel at peace with the earth, even if we are still working on some kind of work on the side.

Saving the best (or at least most used by me) for last of the study spots, I am rounding out the semester with the silent study areas inside of Pattee and Paterno Library. Personally, I do my best work in the dead silent when I can sit down, turn off my phone, rid myself of other distractions, and just grind out homework.

One of the first areas I discovered in the library was the notorious stacks. Hidden away by towers of books and home to a mysterious murder, the stacks of the library form a prime spot for people to hide away with their books in a small cubicle overlooking the road. During the day, these cubicles are typically empty but at night and as finals week approaches, they steadily get more and more crowded until there is hardly a spare cubicle open.

There are several floors of these stacks, each one as silent as the last. Each cubicle in these stacks is a simple metal desk, only a few having outlet access. However beyond that, the stacks are fairly well lit throughout the night, forming a stark place where people can feel like they are by themselves and are able to work on everything without distraction.

The other main place in the library I love to study is the quiet room with the long wooden tables and green lamps on the second floor of the library (formally known at the Paterno Humanities Reading Room). Referred to by many people I know as the “Harry Potter” room, this room is a 24-hour quiet room. Occupied heavily on weekends after 1 o’clock or weekdays from 5 o’clock at night to 2 o’clock in the morning, this room is frequented by many people.

At each table, there is room for eight people to sit with a comfortable

amount of room for each on of them, two lamps at the table for when it gets dark and there is not enough overhead lighting, and several outlets and USB ports at each of these lamps, offering enough charging ports to last several people throughout a multiple-hour study session (as I am prone to do here).

There is enough room for people to spread out and a quiet atmosphere, people can hole themselves away in a very antique-library setting that I find helps motivate me late at night better than the more bright and modern areas I have written about previously.

Overall, this “Harry Potter” room is probably the best place on campus for me to sit down at any hour and grind through hours of studying and school work. I would highly recommend this area (and the stacks too) to anyone who needs new spots to contemplate studying at next year.

Welcome back everyone, after the couple week hiatus from blog posts, I will be back with a final two to round out the semester. Unfortunately for this blog, since classes are now being held online, I can’t necessarily go and visit new spots in person so I will be relying on my memory to write these last two posts.

For the last two posts, I will be writing about the Pattee and Paterno Library and the many spots it has to offer. This blog will be about the commons areas of the library (such as the media commons and knowledge commons) while the other post will focus on more of the quiet study areas such as the stacks and the harry-potter type room on the second floor of the library.

The library has several areas where noise is permitted to a certain level (shocking, I  know). The most popular of these areas by far are the new Collaboration Commons in the basement of Pattee and above it, the Knowledge Commons and Media Commons areas.

The Collaboration Commons is the most modern area the library has to

offer with bright white tables and chairs scattered in a variety of places with lots of natural light streaming in from the windows and bright artificial light to make up for it in the areas the light doesn’t reach.

This area is usually fairly busy, especially throughout the brunt of the school day and into the evening (10 till roughly 5 or 6). It clears out a little at night but it is an area that always consistently has over half of the tables occupied. There are ports to charge devices at almost every table and there are multiple rooms and pods in the area that are available to book online, however you need to book far in advance since this is such a popular area they fill up quickly and long in advance.

Up the stairs and to the left is the Knowledge Commons with the Media Commons housed in the back corner of it. Unlike in the Collaboration Commons, the Knowledge Commons has computers at every deck with several printers scattered throughout the area. It tends to be louder in this area mainly to to the group projects that tend to meet in the area and the click-clacking of students typing on the keyboards. Circling the area are rooms like in the Collaboration Commons with T.V.’s inside that people can project their computers onto. Further back in the Media Commons are more rooms to rent out and several studios people can use to record in too.

These area’s tend to have a fair amount of people in them, too, however not as many people as the Collaboration Commons and it tends to clear out earlier in the night.

Overall, I have found myself working in the Collaboration Commons quite often but not the Knowledge Commons. The Knowledge Commons tends to be harder and have a more cramped, dusty feeling while the Collaboration Commons feels new and open. I would recommend people to study in the Knowledge Commons if they want to use larger computers than their laptop or if their computers are broken, however I would recommend the Collaboration Commons to people who can work in more crowded areas and need more bright light shining on their work.

Known most famously for the legendary pastor that stands infront of the building preaching to passerby, the Willard Building is your standard classroom built several decades ago (1949 to be exact), outfitted with the barest minimum in terms of technology and boasting more chalkboard square-footage than almost any other building on campus.

This relatively outdated building is located on the downtown side of Old Main on the west side of campus. Currently under construction, a media center will be housed eventually in one wing of the Willard Building, a generous gift on behalf of Donald P. Bellasario. The estimated time of completion for this new media center is the 2020-2021 academic school year so next year, for those of us coming back (which I hope is all) there may be even more places to study in Willard than I will be able to mention here.

Honestly, it had never occurred to me to study here. The only reason I had stepped foot in this building before was for club meetings and, before I came to Penn State as a college student, when I was presenting for the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. It was only when a friend in my Economics 302 class suggested that we meet up and study here for a test that I ever considered it as a potential spot.

The only places to study in this building are old and outdated classrooms so if you are looking for some modern technology and pretty glass, you have come to the wrong place. Instead there are walls covered with chalkboards and, if you are lucky, pulldown projectors.

My friend comes to Willard often to study. They claim that they prefer the bland environment and find it less distracting and more conducive to studying, indeed something I saw echoed by a fair amount of people when I tagged along to study econ and we were searching for a classroom since most were occupied with diligent students writing long equations on chalkboards.

If you too are someone who finds environments like this beneficial, I would recommend Willard to you. There are enough outlets in a room and enough rooms that you will never be left wanting and likely never need to share a room. however, you have to keep in mind that classes and club meetings are being held sometimes even until 9 so if you are looking for a room before then you might not find one. However, luckily for you, Willard is open late (potentially maybe even all night, I myself cannot say since the latest I have been there was until 1 o’clock in the morning).

I can see the appeal of studying here and I hope by reviewing Willard I have broadened my horizons from the typical areas I usually visit, however I personally do not know if I would be found studying at Willard again unless my friend and I took another econ class we needed to study for together again.

If it was not for my love of economics and desire to pursue a minor completely unrelated to anything I will ever do as a career, I would have never stepped foot in the Kern Graduate Building. Home of the economics department, the Kern Graduate building is located in the northwestern corner of campus, above the West Residence Halls and to the left of the Chambers Building (home of the English Department) and Moore Building (home of the psychology department).

Inside the Kern Building there is an open area with chairs and tables and then to the right, a Panera is tucked to the side offering even more seating within. Looking through the glass walls on the other side, there is a patio-type area with a handful metal chairs and tables for days when it is nicer outside, too.

The open-air congregation of chairs and tables in the center of the

entrance/first floor area houses relatively few outlets, however there are several comfy chairs strewn about alongside more traditional chairs and smaller tables in the area. There are no walls in this area and the chairs are relatively close so there is little feeling of privacy, however it makes for a good place to just sit and do work for a half hour between classes nearby or so.

Walking into the Panera, they have crammed more tables and chairs that I thought would be possible in the small area, however none of the tables feel cramped and there are enough dividers and walls that it doesn’t feel completely open. There are several more outlets available in the Panera seating, however depending on the table you chose to sit at, it may or may not have direct and easy access.

Additionally, no matter how empty the entrance-way area may be, the Panera always seems to be relatively crowded with students sitting and beating between classes, working on their laptops, or even some adults and professors grabbing a bite to eat.

Overall, I have sat here and studied every once in a while, however it was mainly because of location convenience (I would take my econ exams in the auditorium on the first floor and I would go to office hours on the third floor). I would not necessarily recommend studying here, it has nothing extremely special or unique to offer besides the Panera at your fingertips (which I do admit is nice, don’t get me wrong). If you are in the area and need a quick pick-me-up along with your studying, I would recommend it, however this space is just not for me. I do not find the busy and moderate noise level very conducive to studying, unfortunately.

As a biochemistry major, I rarely travel to the northern section of campus. A vast majority of my classes are in the center/south of campus so north always seems like such a far walk away. However, a fair amount of my friends are business and agriculture majors who spend their days up north and have been recommending numerous spots for me to review. By far the most popular recommendation has been Saxby’s, a student-run cafe in the College of Business building (that also takes both meal points and LionCash!!!).

Upon my arrival I grabbed a hot coffee from Saxby’s and made my home at one of the many tables in the business building’s atrium-style center, settling back for what I hoped to be an eventful study session.

The business building is always busy (one drawback to having a top rated business program I guess) but it offers numerous spots to sit and do work. There is outdoor seating by the side entrance (a relatively large entrance and area that is hard to miss) that would be enjoyable for warm summer days or cool (but not cold) autumn and spring days. Inside, glass walls reveal a variety of high barstool-style tables, low tables of the same type, or long tables (both tall and short) stretched in short rows along the back glass wall. In each of these long tables, several outlets and plugs can be found to charge electronic devises, allowing people to continue doing their work without having to fight or search for an outlet.

It is not exactly loud inside of the business building, but it can definitely not be considered quiet either and it is always rather busy so you will most likely end up having to share a table with one or multiple other people.

Going back into Saxby’s, there are a handful of smaller tables, however good luck grabbing one unless you are there bright and early before the crowds and classes really begin. Outlets are more scarce within Saxby’s and the chatter and noise of typical coffee shops is present, however it has its own distinct atmosphere separate from the rest of the business building.

Overall, I enjoyed my venture into the business building. If it was not on the complete opposite side of campus from my dorm room, I could see myself studying there more often. However, since it is so distant the only time I can picture myself making the hike is on days when my classes end early or start late so I can really use my time to the best of my ability and do not have to worry about spending half of my break walking to and from the building.

But, all other things considered, I would greatly recommend the business building and Saxby’s as a study spot for people who live closer to it. Quick access to food and coffee and a surplus of outlets are all that it takes to keep a college student happy for hours on end, and the business building is able to provide exactly that.

This next study destination is a liiiiiittle bit different than the ones I have previously done. To be quite honest, I didn’t know people were allowed to study here until I came with my Freshman Year Seminar (FYS)Class to take a tour and do a “scavenger hunt” at this location.

The Palmer Museum is an art museum located in the central-western portion of the Penn State campus. With free admission, anyone is able to visit and admire a wide range of art pieces on display (it is the largest art museum between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia according to their website).

As I learned on my tour there with my FYS, they actively encourage people to come and study at the museum due to its quiet and serene atmosphere, something most people find conducive to studying. The only drawback is that backpacks and bags are not allowed in the museum, they have to be stashed away in the closet-area so you have to bring your computer and whatever books you need to study with you in your hands.

Once you enter the museum, there are plenty of nooks and crannies for people to sit and do their work, however they are not necessarily the most comfortable spots, even when they have chairs. Most likely, you will end up sitting on the ground in a corner while a few people meander around you looking at the art.

The art museum is a relatively judgement-free environment so even if you feel awkward sitting and doing homework in there, people admiring the art are not bothered and do not judge any students who choose to sit in there and do work.

Another downside to working in the museum is that there (unsurprisingly) is a lack of outlets in most of the rooms (since art usually does not require being plugged in…. haha). However for these downsides the environment created int he museum is a very quiet and yet bright environment that I know many people find necessary to grind out homework.

As a place to stop between classes or go on a weekend and just sit and grind out a paper with relatively little distractions (besides the art and occasionally the people walking through) the art museum created a unique environment to study in that not many other places or college campuses have to offer to their students. It definitely caters to a niche of people who do not necessarily mind an unconventional place to study, however there are definitely people I have seen taking advantage of it as a study spot.

Since classes have just started and I have not had much homework, I will admit I have not tried anywhere new this year to study at. However towards the end of last semester while cramming for finals, I ventured downtown into Irving’s to fuel up on caffeine and buckle down on studying.

For those who do not know, Irving’s is a coffee shop/breakfast cafe/lunch spot that it seems just about everyone has heard of (since it is consistently included on lists of downtown coffee shops “people just can’t miss”). I had gotten coffee there before ad attended club events held there, however I had never actually sat and studied there, so I decided that it could be an interesting place to test in the grind leading up to finals.

Located across from Old Main Lawn and near the Sackett building, Irving’s is only a step across the street from the southwestern portion of campus, an easy journey for most majors.

Stepping into Irving’s it is immediately apparent that the cafe is meant to hold a fair amount of people with a sizable amount of seats available for people to sit at (definitely more than most cafe’s usually offer). Tables ranging from a couple of barstool tables to more typical wooden tables and chairs, with one bench running along a part of the wall in the corner of the seating area.

Underneath this bench, several outlets are strategically placed to offer electricity to the people sitting there without overcrowding the amount of people demanding to use the outlet.

I studied at Irving’s on a Sunday so it did not start getting crowded until around 12 or 1, however I was mostly done with my work by then so I did not mind the dull roar that was steadily building. However, I would say that if you are a person who needs to study in near-silence, I would not recommend Irving’s to you since not only are there the typical coffee-shop sounds of grinding coffee and frothing milk but there is also an abundance of conversation and typical noises in the area.

I do not think I would study at Irving’s very often, during the school week I tend to enjoy staying on campus and studying, but I can see myself venturing out to get coffee on the weekends and grinding away at some work while I am there. Overall, the seating is not very comfortable since it is wooden and it is rather loud, but it is near a quick caffeine-fix so there are definitely both pros and cons to studying here.

Having come this far into my first semester at Penn State, I decided it was time for me to branch out my blog posts a little bit. Broadening my range of study locations from simply on campus to the surrounding downtown area too provides all of you reading my blog with more varied study spots (and also ones that will be open on the weekends…. unlike most university buildings).

That being said, my study spot for this week is Saint’s Cafe, a cute little hole-in-the-wall cafe downtown between Target and Panera. I went to Saint’s for the first time the Sunday everyone was returning to State College from Thanksgiving Break. I arrived around 9:30am and was pleasantly surprised with a cute cafe crammed full of different seating areas ranging from small tables at a bench to a row of window-seats to a long raised table in the back of the cafe.

At the time I arrived, there were only a small handful of people there,

mainly what appeared to be grad students and adults who actually live in State College, however as time progressed the Cafe gradually filled to near-maximum capacity around 10:30-11:00am. This created a really home-y atmosphere with everyone enjoying the coffee and either chatting or doing work as muted Christmas music played in the back.

Saint’s is not the biggest cafe, so I would recommend going in the morning to avoid most of the crowd. That being said, I have never experienced it during a “school day” so it may have just been crowded since it was the weekend.

Overall, I really enjoyed Saint’s, it reminded me of small cafe I go to in my hometown all the time. And, it seems like the rest of the population of State College also enjoys Saint’s, too (as evidenced by the high Yelp rating and endless comments praising it). I definitely recommend going here if you enjoy studying at coffee shops or having a different type of coffee than the Starbucks served everywhere on campus.

The only downside to Saint’s was a lack of electrical outlets near a majority of the tables. Since it the cafe is so packed full of seating, only the seats on the wall have outlet access and some of the tables tend to be on the smaller size too, only able to fit a laptop and little else.

No doubt, Saint’s is going to become one of my go-to spots on weekends when I need to sit quietly, sip some coffee, and steadily work on material.

As a proud resident of Atherton Hall (and since it is #confirmed to be better than Simmons Hall), it is only right that I talk about some of the study areas it hosts.

The entrance to Atherton Hall forms one of the main images people see when talking about the Honors College (besides the medal its students receive at graduation). Located at the end of the HUB lawn, separate from any other residence halls, it is truly a unique building due to its architecture and its layout inside.

Starting in the basement, there is a large room with couches and numerous tables off of the laundry room, however at the end of the day and on weekends it gets pretty packed and rowdy. There are a couple other rooms in the basement however which have tables and desks and outlets and remain relatively subdued at all times that provide other options for people camping out and doing work waiting for their laundry to be done. However the rooms in the basement are sparse and shabby-looking so if you prefer to be surrounded by serene beauty when you study I would not recommend these areas.

Moving up a floor, the ground floor has two private study rooms with a TV and a table that can be reserves, and then several bar-stool tables and some couches scattered around the rest of the floor by the offices. these areas (besides the private rooms, of course) get a fair amount of foot traffic so these make to be more social studying areas, not ones where people can truly grind.

Onto my favorite floor, the first floor. Here by the entrance are two tables people, again, can social study at but this floor also offered two unique rooms on it. One room is called the Grandfather Clock Lounge (named because it has a grandfather clock in it) and it hosts 3-4 large square tables, two areas of couches, and a baby grand piano. This lounge is where most clubs associated with Schreyer hold their meetings so you have to be wary about using it from 6-8 on certain days for fear of interrupting a meeting. However, across the floor from the GFC is the pride and joy of Atherton, the Zombie Lounge.

The Zombie Lounge is a quiet study area full of tables, appearing as if it was taken out of Harry Potter or somewhere with the brick fireplace and lamps lighting every table. It is PACKED full of tables and therefore provides the most study area in all of Atherton. During the day this lounge is fairly empty, however at around 6 o’clock at night and beyond this lounge if flooded with students, reaching usually up to around 3/4 of its capacity. Even with this many students, the lounge truly stays silent. And, I can vouch for it, so many students come and do their work in here because it is easy to get it done. The Zombie Lounge mixes just the right amount of interesting and boring to keep you wanting to be there (because it is pretty) but also focused on your task (because it isn’t THAT pretty). There are outlets at every table for people to plug their electronics into and the people in the lounge don’t mind sitting elbow to elbow with others because they understand everyone is in their to grind on homework and is not trying to disturb anyone else.

I have been finding myself in the Zombie Lounge quite frequently these past couple of weeks. It is the ideal place for my to study late at night since I don’t even have to leave the comfort of my dorm and brave the cold and dark weather. I highly recommend it to anyone else living in Atherton or even near it, however it is probably unrealistic spot for anyone else since Atherton is so far out of the way from the other dorm buildings.