With the changing orange hue of the leaves on Hillhouse Avenue, students all around campus know what season it is: midterm season. Spanning from the end of September to the beginning of November, you can observe students and their migration patterns as they balance the art of attending lectures, sections, and office hours. As we approach the middle of midterm season, I want to dedicate some time to focus on the different study space options I like to frequent.
View from my window
First, I need to give a special mention to my own comfy suite in TD where my desk sits at the window of my common room. Since I live on the fourth floor, my window is half covered by a balcony which is always a fun feature to show off whenever friends come over, but definitely hinders my view when I want a break from work.
Sunset outside YLS Library
Next, when I am looking to get all my work done with the utmost focus is the epitome of “dark academia”: Yale Law School library. Despite its designation as a graduate school, the library is open to all undergraduates and holds a warm cozy atmosphere while maintaining a serious vibe.
East Asian Reading Room
On the topic of libraries, I need to mention Sterling Memorial Library, with its labyrinth of hallways and constant bustling of academics and students. While it was extremely hard to navigate at first, after mastering the location of different reading rooms and study spaces, walking through the big front doors feels like home. Heading up to the second floor is my favorite spot: the East Asian reading room with big windows and well-spaced desks.
Crowded Bass during midterms
Lastly, I want to introduce the spot on campus where I have the biggest love/hate relationship… Bass Library! Every student has a strong stance on Bass Library, with me being no different, but what is the most important to note is that through all the noise, Bass is the place to reunite with friends, cry over classes, and collaborate with classmates. In fact, I would go as far to say Bass is a perfect microcosm of Yale, the perfect blend of socializing and studying. So even though everyone loves to complain about the horrors of being in Bass, at the end of the day, all roads will still lead to Bass.
