Ole Miss’ 4 Best Study Spots

Midterms and exams will be upon us before you know it. Most freshmen will immediately head to the J.D. Williams Library and will quickly find out that spots to study are few and far between. The truth is there are more places to study on the Ole Miss campus than you may think. Here is a quick Hotty Toddy guide to other study spots on campus.

1. Science Library

Don’t let the name fool you. The Science Library is actually open to any student. It is located in the Thad Cochran Research Center, and it just happens to be a regular stomping ground for pharmacy and science majors. It is much smaller than the main library, but always seems to have open study space and it’s completely quiet. It is home to the chemistry and pharmacy collections on campus, which contain over 65,000 volumes and some 450 journals. Pharmacy student Lexi Schneider loves the science library as a study option. “It is all pharmacy and science majors so it’s super quiet and I know I won’t get distracted,” she said. “I can buckle down and get a lot done, it’s great.”

2. Building lounges and study rooms

When you think about it, there are a lot of seating areas scattered around campus. There is no need for everyone to pile into the library, when they can just go into another building. Carrier Hall, pictured above, has quiet lounge areas that make great study retreats. Brevard, Farley, Weir and Bryant Halls also boast lounge areas. Then there is the Honors College, which has the infamous dungeon, an area in the basement that is a 24/7 quiet zone. Another option, the Croft porch; it has a beautiful view of the Grove. The only issue is that students involved in the majors housed in these buildings can get a little territorial if you don’t belong. The Honors College has a student ID swipe to get into the building, and the Croft porch is reserved only for those in the program. So you might need to make some friends if you want to access those areas.

3. Mezzanines in J.D. Williams

Ever have the frustration of not finding a seat in the library during finals week? Bet you didn’t know that J.D. Williams has one little hidden secret. There are mezzanines, also referred by some students as “the half-floors,” that are almost always unoccupied. Senior history major, Victoria Samson, was introduced to the mezzanines by a friend during her sophomore year, and they’ve been her study spot ever since. “They aren’t overcrowded with a bazillion people drinking their Starbucks and in their study groups,” she said. They are tiny and have limited seating, but they’re little study spot treasures.

4. The Grove/ Circle

On a nice day, many students flock to the Grove or even around the flagpole in the Circle to get their studying in between classes. With recently installed lighting in the Grove, students can now go there after the sun goes down. “I love to study in the Grove because it’s quiet during the week and a lot less crowded than J.D. Williams,” said sophomore Mary Kate Berger. Its outside location can lead to issues when it comes to the weather, though, Mississippi heat can make it unbearable during the summer or at the start of the school year. So if you can brave the humidity, either spot provides a nice change in scenery from being indoors.

Story contributed by Ole Miss journalism students Natalie Moore, nemoore@go.olemiss.edu, and Morgan White, mswhite2@go.olemiss.edu