The college hustle and bustle makes it SUPER hard to study without having any distractions. As an engineer, I always find myself studying and doing homework; therefore, having good study spots have been crucial to my success here at USC. With that being said, here are my top five favorite spots to study on campus!

5) Cinematic Arts Courtyard
Coffee Bean and beautiful architecture? What more could a student want in a study space. On a nice day I like to come out here and sit at a table or against a column to do work and enjoy the pretty view. At the end of the courtyard, there is a coffee bean which I always go to after I have finished my work to reward myself with a vanilla ice blended drink.
Sometimes when the downstairs courtyard gets too noisy, I go upstairs and study on the second floor balcony. Nobody is usually at the balcony, which makes it very easy to stay focused and be productive. They also have tables and chairs that you can use to sit and work at and I often find myself getting so lost in work that I spend hours here without even realizing.

4) Great Lawn in the USC village
I personally love this spot because I love studying outdoors ! Whenever I have a lot of reading or writing to do I like to come out here and sit on a lawn chair. My favorite part about this location is being able to see all the cute puppies walk by. This is also a great location to sit with friends and have lunch or play some frisbee.

3)Kaufman School of Dance
Because I have been a dancer since I was three years old, I was beyond excited to be able to take classes in the beautiful Kaufman building this year. While having class here I found that right in front of the building is a great study spot! There are both tables and a cabana that don’t usually get that crowded. Sitting inside the cabana is really nice because people walk by and don’t notice you sitting there. This is another place I love to study at when I find myself getting distracted because it makes it easy for me to focus on my work and ignore everyone else around me. It’s a good spot where you can be outdoors but still not be disturbed. Plus if you ever want a study break you could always go inside to dance or watch some dance.

2) Leavey Library
While most students enjoy working in the library’s study areas, I prefer to study right outside of our 24 hour library on campus. Right in front of the entrance, there are tables with umbrellas that are great for getting work done. Also, there are rows of trees that are in front of the library which are great for hammocking. Whenever I don’t have much work to do and I just have to read or review notes that I took during class, I love to put up my hammock and sit under the trees. One of my favorite things about this study spot is that it is next to a 24 hour Starbucks which is the perfect fuel for studying. Another unique thing about this spot is that it’s right by the Wednesdays farmers market which is always fun to go to.

1) Viterbi Quad

Last but not least is my favorite spot: the Viterbi E Quad. I love coming here to sit at one of the tables or couches and listen to the fountain while I’m doing work. This spot is super convenient because it’s so close to a lot of my classes. My favorite thing about this spot is the solar powered umbrellas. Often when I study outside I worry about my electronics dying, but that’s never a problem when I study in the equad. The Equad is also very motivating to work at because there are always a bunch of other engineers sitting around on the tables and working as well.

Alexandra Rennie

Alexandra Rennie

MAJOR: Industrial and Systems Engineering YEAR: Class of 2022 HOMETOWN: Palos Verdes, California PRONOUNS: she/her/hers INSTA: @_alexrennie On campus I am the current captain of the USC Spirit Leaders, an ambassador for the Wrigley Institute of Sustainability, and a member of Greek Life.