The quarter system is an ambitious proposition. The idea of taking 15 weeks worth of material and cramming it into just 10 is bold. Yet, Drexel University students are inundated with a constant drone of midterm reminders and homework due dates. In order for a Dragon to slay the quarter system and reach the promised land that is winter break, they must find at least a few good places to get work done where they won’t waste precious time. That being said, here is the definitive upperclassman’s guide to Drexel’s study spaces.
Every college or university needs to gives students a space where they can escape their dorms and work, read or even just socialize and casually study with friends. At Drexel, the Hagerty Library is that place. It is located on the southwest corner of 34th and Market streets.
Sure, many of the outlets don’t work, and the hours are a bit restrictive, but this doesn’t mean it’s a terrible place to study. The library caters to a wide variety of study habits. For those that enjoy absolute silence, there is a silent area with small carrel desks, and for those that enjoy a social environment or working in a group, there is the collaborative area which is always buzzing with discussion and group work. They even provide students the opportunity to reserve private study rooms for group work.
Many students still find the lack of space and inconvenience of Hagerty’s hours during weeks one through ten to be off-putting. Luckily, there are some other sweet spots where students can spread out their papers and get work done.
Gerri C. LeBow Hall houses Drexel’s Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, and it is located in the central quad. It is the newest academic building on campus and offers great areas to study in a clean, open, inviting and modern workspace. Plus, there’s a Starbucks in the building. This is absolutely one of the best places to study on campus … if you can get a spot. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get a large table, and there is limited study space.
If a student is lucky enough to be in the College of Business or takes one of the college’s classes, they have access to any of the building’s 19 private study rooms. They sport 65-inch display screens that are laptop compatible. This space would be perfect for students looking to brush up on presentations or meeting to work on collaborative projects, as the rooms are only for groups of three or more students.
The next hidden gem for studying on campus is Main Building. Main building has intricate architecture and a beautiful lobby, but it also houses quite a few classrooms and study areas where a student can get work done without being bothered.
The building has very flexible hours, and is one of the most accessible buildings on campus during the week. This makes it perfect for those night owls who can’t get much done until well past midnight. As one walks through the hallways, they may notice that the name of the building changes quite frequently. The expansive complex is actually three smaller buildings connected: Main Building, Curtis Hall and Randell Hall.
Curtis Hall houses a small study area with carrel desks which very rarely has anyone in it. There is almost always an open desk. There is also a little-known space on the fourth floor of the Main building close to the dance studio. Here, there are two small spaces with large chalk boards and some big tables with bunches of chairs. Bring your own chalk!
There are lots of off-campus options as well. The Barnes and Noble on Walnut Street in Center City is a good option as a general study spot, and Rittenhouse Square is a good choice for those who like to sit on the grass and study outside. For those looking for a library setting outside of campus, the Free Library of Philadelphia at 1905 Locust Street is definitely worth trying out.
The best way for any student to find a productive workspace is to try out new places regularly. Exploring both Drexel buildings and Center City Philadelphia can help any student find a study area that suits their needs.