Study spots around UCLA are limited, especially during exam season. Do not waste your time in the wrong places.
As midterms quickly approach, so does the fast paced exam schedule that UCLA’s quarter system demands, leaving many students scrambling to secure a good study spot before the libraries fill up. However, there are several places on campus that students should be strongly advised to avoid. While it may be tempting to settle into the closest or most familiar location, not every study environment is created equal, especially when distractions are everywhere.
One of the worst offenders is Bruin Walk. At almost every hour of the day, this stretch of campus is packed with club flyers, interviews, music and students rushing to class. While there are several tables available and they are in close proximity to classes, a stop to study at Bruin Walk can quickly turn into an obstacle course of distractions. Between being asked to sign petitions, joining organizations you don’t have time for and getting flyers thrown in your face, it’s nearly impossible to stay focused for more than a few minutes.
While a space designed for studying outside of the room, the dorm hall study lounges often feel better suited for socializing than studying. At any given hour, the space is filled with students unwrapping takeout, catching up with friends or loudly scrambling to finish a last-minute group assignment. Students take phone calls and I’ve even seen projectors pulled down for an impromptu movie night. This is hardly the atmosphere you want when you’re trying to memorize lecture slides or finish an essay. These lounges simply become just another common room.
Another tempting study location is one of the various coffee shops in Westwood. While the prospect of getting a fun drink or some caffeine might become motivating, the noises of espresso machines, the constant background chatter, baristas calling out orders and the likelihood of running into friends can make it hard to concentrate. Alfred Coffee, while home to an amazing latte, has very few seats, plays music that can be more distracting than your homework and features sun-drenched windows that leave you squinting at your screen instead of focusing on your work. Starbucks, while undeniably popular, often feels less like a study spot and more like a social hub, where you plan to review notes for an hour but end up running into three friends while competing for the rare seating availability.
Perhaps the most unproductive study spot is your own bed. Everyone falls victim to the convenience of opening up their laptop in their pajamas, and while it may feel comfortable, the temptation to scroll on your phone, take a “short” nap or dive into that Netflix tab that is only one click away can quickly take over your planned productive study session. Comfort on the bed ruins focus, and sleeping becomes as easy as just closing your eyes. Doing non-sleep activities in bed can even lead to difficulties in falling asleep later on. So, your bed is designed for rest, not productivity.
While these locations might not be ideal for focused studying, UCLA offers plenty of better alternatives. From quieter spaces like The Study at Hedrick to distraction-free spots such as Charles E. Young Research Library, students can tap into the motivation of those around them and actually retain what they’re reviewing. In these environments, it’s easier to stay on task without the pull of conversations, naps or endless scrolling. Sometimes, knowing where not to study is just as important as knowing exactly where to go.
