Brace yourself, finals are coming.
With the final exam season almost upon us, I’ve definitely been kicking my study habits up a notch. As a college student, I spend enough time studying at home, so I try to take my books elsewhere when I can. Here are a few of my favorite study spots around Southwestern College campus and San Diego. For the last entry on the list, I asked Southwestern College students to choose. Find out below who won the fan favorite study spot.
Academic Success Center
If you’re looking for one-on-one tutoring in math, assistance with writing assignments, and the perfect group study spot on campus, head to the Academic Success Center (ASC).
The ASC has two main areas. The first area is home to a computer lab and Writing Center, where you can get help from dedicated tutors, and the math tutoring center where you can have a tutor help you one-on-one with a particularly tough problem. The second area is more private, with tables and whiteboards to work on. The ASC is a great alternative to the library if you’re looking for a place to work, but don’t want any dirty looks if you drop a pencil or push your chair in too loudly.
Coffee Shops
Study sessions in coffee shops are a normal scene for most college students. And it’s not hard to understand why, because let’s be honest, studying is always better with coffee. The Starbucks right across campus on East H Street is a good start since it’s so close to campus. It’s usually open until 10 p.m., which means you’ll have access to a caffeine fix to get you through a night of calculus homework.
Although South Bay is home for most Southwestern College students, sometimes you need a change of scenery. My favorite coffee shops for studying outside the South Bay area are Young Hickory in North Park and Twiggs in University Heights. Both these locations have an amazing coffee and tea menu, as well as some good eats to fuel all that brain power. Young Hickory has a calm atmosphere and plenty of seating. Twiggs is also a well known bakery, so when you finish that midterm paper you can reward yourself with a cookie or two.
South Bay Botanic Garden
Located in a more secluded area of the campus, the Botanical Garden is calm, picturesque, and the landscape will make you feel like you’re in a scene from “The Secret Garden.” The South Bay Botanic Garden is located near lot E behind the Automotive Department at the Chula Vista campus.
Campus Grass Area
The grass areas on campus are some of the most beautiful aspects of our college, and they’re also a convenient and nice place to study. This is a popular study spot between classes, since it’s convenient and takes less time to find a spot under a shady tree than it does to get settled in the library or ASC.
The downside? There’s no guarantee how much studying you’ll actually get done. You have a pretty high chance of seeing some friends and chatting the time away until your next class begins. Nothing wrong with that.
Library
For the last entry on this list, I took to social media and asked Southwestern College students what their favorite on-campus study spot was. More than 1,000 students voted on Instagram and Twitter, and chose the Library as their study spot favorite.
When it comes to studying, the library is definitely top of the food chain. It’s quiet, convenient, and has all the reference books you will ever need. One of my favorite features of our library is that you can rent a private study room for you or a study group, and it’s great for when you might need more table space or less distractions to get work done.
Some desks have cubical dividers to help you focus more, so you’ll never be far from an outlet to charge your laptop or phone. The library also offers free tutoring, workshops, and even building tours for new students. Not to mention, the staff are super friendly and quick to help with any questions you may have.
