Opinion: Best Study Spots at WPI

1. Unity Hall 9.5/10

Unity Hall boasts alcove booths fit with large tables, televisions, and comfortable seating. You and up to five friends can sit comfortably in one of the semi-private booths, without a reservation! There are also restaurant-style two-sided booths that sit up to four people. The noise levels are typically lower than other spots on campus and people are more focused. However, the availability of these booths is limited. Trying to snag one of these spots is difficult, so I recommend grabbing a table in the early hours of the morning before classes. If that’s not possible, you can always share the table with friends and alternate sitting there when you don’t have class.

2.  Gordon Library

Libraries are often synonymous with study spots, so, unsurprisingly, the Gordon Library is a great study spot for Mass Academy seniors. Seating is typically fairly available and the noise level is dependent on the floor. The only downside to the library is that during finals it can be impossible to get a seat.

3. Innovation Studios

Innovation Studios hosts many study spaces with a variety of seating options. There are many tables and chairs, comfy chairs, and even a couch area. Similar to Unity, Innovation is a newer building, so the ambiance tends to be slightly nicer than other study spaces. Common to many of the top spaces on this list, Innovation Studios doesn’t always have seats available. 

4. Outdoor Campus Center

The tables outside the campus center, despite being outdoors, have outlets! These are a lifesaver when you want to study outside, but your laptop is dying. The only downside is that during the winter, cold weather, rain, and snow, the tables are unusable. However, during nice weather, the tables outside the campus center are a great place to study and soak up some vitamin D!

5. Fuller Laboratories

The tables on the far end of each floor of Fuller Laboratories are a decent spot to study. The chairs are okay, the tables are okay, and the overall ambiance is okay. Nothing exactly stands out. Yeah, these tables are often available, but I think they are available because they aren't anyone's first choice.

6. Atwater Kent

The tables and chairs inside Atwater Kent are somewhat uncomfortable. While it is often quiet, it gets very loud during passing periods. The space does not feel like it was made for studying, but rather as a space to wait before your next class. 

7. Inside the Campus Center

While that one table near the pool tables in the campus center might be the hot spot for all Mass Academy seniors, it is most definitely not the best place to study. When you are surrounded by friendly faces, your first inclination isn’t typically to bury yours in a book. The campus center may be great for socialization, but it does not reign supreme when it comes to studying.