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If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Tufts student, it’s how to pick the best spots on campus to study for classes. With a new semester upon us, I wanted to share some of my favorite spaces on campus to study. Thankfully, there are a wide variety of study spots at Tufts, so if these spaces don’t work for you, there are plenty of other options to explore! Here are my top five study spots at Tufts.

1. Tisch Library
When you think of studying, you probably also think of libraries. Thankfully, Tisch offers a wide variety of study spaces to cater to every kind of studying style. If you prefer to study with friends, there are group work areas where you’re free to talk with others. Alternatively, if noise tends to distract you, there’s an entire section of the library dedicated to silent study. The Tower Cafe is located within Tisch and is occasionally open for mid-study snack breaks. My personal favorite place to study is on the first floor, in one of the many study carrels nestled within the stacks.

2. Campus Commons
Commons is the perfect place to study if you’ve found yourself with an extra half hour between classes or want to get some readings done during lunch. It has three different dining options and a cafe, so if you’re the kind of person who wants to have snacks close at hand while you’re studying, commons is perfect for you. It’s usually bustling with other students, so you’ll likely bump into friends or acquaintances to study with here. If you’re looking for a quieter spot in the building, you can also reserve a study room at the front desk or sit at one of the desks on the second floor. 

3. Joyce Cummings Center
The Joyce Cummings Center, also known as the JCC, is one of the newest buildings on campus and has plenty of available study spaces. With its wide windows and clear views, it offers plenty of sunlight while you finish up your homework. It’s not hard to find a study spot in the JCC with six floors of classrooms, offices, and sitting areas. There’s also a Starbucks on the first floor if you’re ever in need of a caffeine boost. Best of all – if you’re ever in need of a study break, the recently-opened Green Line Extension is a thirty second walk from the JCC. You can easily take a train into Boston!

4. Ginn Library
The Ginn Library is the graduate student library, located in the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Located fairly centrally on campus, you can stop at Ginn if you’re done with your classes for the day. It’s cozier than Tisch, with an expansive reading room that’s perfect for quiet studying. In addition to the reading room, there are also areas for group work, study carrels, and plush couches to settle into.

5. Mugar Cafe
Also located in the Fletcher School, Mugar is frequently populated by undergrad and graduate students alike. I’ve found that the burbling coffee machines and chatter of students provide background noise that’s conducive to productivity. Mugar is not as large as Commons, so it’s a better alternative if you’re looking for a cozier setting. I’ve spent many hours here both finishing readings for classes and having conversations with friends, so I can certainly attest to its versatility. If you want an informal, coffee shop-like atmosphere or are looking for some caffeine, Mugar is the perfect place for you to study. 

Given the busy schedule of a college student, it’s important to determine what settings are most productive for you to get homework done. Rest assured that there are plenty of welcoming, productive spaces for you to study in at Tufts.