It takes more than peace and quiet to make a good study spot. Comfortable nooks for sleeping, opportunities to chat and easy access to food and drink are some of the perks that made libraries and dorms the most popular venues in our recent poll.
Libraries, no surprises, topped the list. For a Berkeley marketer, '75, "it depended on what I wanted to do. Meyer was for socializing and studying, and the earth sciences library was for when you really had to get work done." A homemaker, '73, cherishes the memory of nodding off at Meyer. "You kind of fall asleep and wake up in a puddle of drool," she said.
Studying in the dorm had undeniable advantages for many. "I got kicked out of Meyer for eating M&Ms, and I can't study without M&Ms," said an investment adviser, '87. A social worker, '53, wrote papers in such a way that only her dorm room would suffice: "I'd sit cross-legged on my bed with my Royal typewriter propped up on my knees. I just stayed there until it was done."
The lure of sunshine and a fresh breeze made working outdoors a top choice for some. "I hated being inside on a beautiful California day," said a college professor, '83. "If I studied outside, I could kill two birds with one stone." A consumer affairs consultant, '36, remembered outdoor study excursions. "We used to drive out Sand Hill Road," she said. "In those days it was easy to pull off the road."
Restless scholars seemed inexhaustibly creative in their search for study spots. "I'd break into History Corner late at night and study in one of the seminar rooms," said a law student, '91. "I'd bring jugs of caffeine and Togo's sandwiches and stay for 24 to 48 hours straight -- until I was studied out or I went insane, whichever came first."
The Question
Where was your favorite place to study at Stanford?
The Answers
| Meyer or Green Library |
18 |
| Your dorm or room |
16 |
| Outdoors |
7 |
| Other | 9 |
Next Issue: Study Haunts
