This week’s blog is about all those places scattered across the campus that lead to the greatest amount of productivity. That’s right, Penn State’s best study locations. The best part about going to a big school is you have no end of locations with different vibes that can help lead to finishing assignments ahead of time or just in time. 

Starting off with one of my favorite places to crank out essays, and where I’m writing this blog right now- the third floor of the HUB. The seats by the windows overlooking the bustling HUB ground floor ooze inspiration for writing assignments like these. It’s also generally a nice quiet space which allows you to think. It can also be fun to watch the people and tour groups all coming from different places and heading to different classes and activities. Another huge bonus of studying in any location at the HUB, if you get hungry, there are plenty of food options available. 

If you happen to be writing a chem pre-lab, or doing a practice test that requires a bit more desk space, there are plenty of tables just above the Jamba Juice in the HUB. If you need a quiet space to complete these types of assignments, the Library has hundreds of tables across the massive library with everything you need. Your laptop needs a charge? They got plugs in the tables. Your mac can’t handle Solidworks? They have more computer labs than I’ve been able to visit since I’ve gotten here. Natural light? They got rooms with that. Wanna work in a dungeon? The stacks are the place for you (assuming you’re less than 5 foot 8). The library even has board games if you ever make it up to the fifth floor. There are rooms I’ve studied in that I’ve never been able to find again. (of course I don’t frequent the library as often as some people.)

When it’s 8 pm and you’ve got multiple assignments due at 11:59 and an exam tomorrow, the PTC study sesh is just what you need. The Pollock Testing Center has a large computer lab with plenty of desk space to get work done, and it’s always completely silent. When you’re surrounded by so many other productive students, you can’t help but get work done. 

For those who live in Atherton or Simmons, the go to places for group work are the GFC lounge in Atherton and the Piano lounge in Simmons. (The Globe lounges are nice, but they always have people in them so I’ve never gotten a study room to myself.) You can never enter those lounges without seeing a bunch of people you know, and they both have big tables with plenty of chairs. Well, I take that back, the dictionary room in the back of the piano lounge needs more chairs. But both these places are A1 locations for group work.

Perhaps the best way to study- and save money- is the Pollock Stakeout. A term that my friends and I have coined, In a Pollock Stakeout you head to Pollock sometime before 11am and buy breakfast, then you work for a few hours and eat lunch too. By far my favorite way to study. Breakfast, Lunch, 3-4 hours of work, and the legendary Pollock music playlist all for the price of $2.80 on your meal plan. I encourage everyone on a campus meal plan to try a Pollock Stakeout at some point. It is a college staple that I will be immortalized in my college stories after I graduate.