Are there any colleges you know that have (an) uber quiet area(s) where people will glare at you if you so much as rustle your page too loudly? I would love to attend a college that has a space like that. (Preferably this space would be general-access rather than, say, reserved for law students.)
This isn’t the kind of information you would find in fact sheets on the web, so out of the colleges you happen to have attended or visited on a personal level
The library at my college does not really enforce noise levels at all and I want to have a space where it is because it’s an important consideration for me. I’m (possibly) transferring for other reasons but if I do this factor is a must.
I could be wrong and I have a sample of two - but libraries and other areas have study rooms you reserve and are very quiet.
I suspect that is at most schools.
Dorms and apartment complexes have this too.
I’m sure you’ll find quiet as needed on any campus. I’m sure there’s a space or room on your campus too.
My daughter (College of Charleston) lives in her library for the quiet…stays continually in study rooms.
As stated by @tsbna44, many colleges can be expected to offer quiet spaces suitable for private studying. If to any extent you also are seeking character and variety, an article such as this may be of interest:
You can also get noise cancelling headphones. This is cheaper than the hassle of transferring for this sake, or limiting your choices. Or ask for a single dorm room.
I am certain that you will find extremely quiet study areas at almost all colleges. I’ve visited about 35 and with the exception of Northeastern (it probably would have been quiet on other floors), I’ve never been in a noisy college library. And there are tons of nooks and crannies where you won’t find a lot of students at most colleges. Additionally, almost all colleges with dorms have separate study areas that are for just for studying.
There’s always the classic too: under a tree. You aren’t going to have a hard time finding places to study.
Another great quiet spot to study are in music practice rooms. They tend to be sound proof and most schools we toured had a few in the dorms that could be reserved.
Honestly though, this shouldn’t be a problem anywhere. I would bet that if you posted a question about your specific school that people could give you recommendations for spaces to study.
Please check the use of music practice rooms for things other than MUSIC practice. Even in the dorms, the expectation is that music practice e rooms will be used for…music practice.
Check the libraries at colleges. Many have small closed study rooms that can be reserved. And the suggestion of noise cancelling head phones is a very good one.
And lastly, if your screenname is your real name, please change it.
Virtually every college will have a quiet place to study and that place (or places) will vary from school to school.
Agree with the suggestion to get noise cancelling headphones.
OP- have you asked one of the librarians to help you? There are likely small meeting rooms, interview rooms, grad student study carrels on a floor you don’t know about that meet your criteria.
Have you asked an administrator in the Psych department if there are “subject interview” rooms, and if it’s possible to reserve one after hours for studying? Psych professors don’t want ambient noise during a research study.
Have you asked the Dean of Student Life for help? There might be a grad dorm/apartment building with rooms set aside for use by students who need and want quiet.
Is there a university archive, museum, historical society? There is likely to be a climate controlled room (which is soundproof) where old documents are examined.
Seems like a stretch to say you need to transfer because you can’t find quiet. Every university is going to have private places and spaces- you just need a little initiative to find a staff person who can help you locate them.
It is difficult enough for musicians to find good places to practice. One of the factors S23 (violinist) is weighing in his college search is non-major access to music practice rooms. This is a big concern for a musician!
If no one is using a music practice room, go ahead and study in it… but please don’t reserve these rooms in advance if you just want to study.
Engineers need quiet for acoustical projects. Psych students need quiet for both animal and human subject research. Archivists and Art historians need climate control (so sealed rooms with air locks, hence quiet). Musicians aren’t the only people with a need for quiet and there are administrators at every college who can come up with a list of viable alternatives if the library is too noisy! I know exhausted med students love the “sleep study” suites where brain activity during sleep is measured (those rooms are cool, quiet, and lock from the inside!)
Of course, musicians aren’t the only people with a need for quiet… however, the purpose of a soundproofed practice room is not just about quiet, it’s also about not bothering everyone else with your super loud instrument. It’s really a LOUD room, rather than a quiet room
I’d go with the noise cancelling headphones. You need to get used to studying and working with a little bit of distraction. Many offices are changing to open concept and there is a lot of noise you need to work through.
I always had an office but then went to work for the government and had to work in an open floorplan. Knew all about the personal lives of those around me, their doctor’s appointments, their children’s homework troubles, their tee times for the weekend. I had headphones on almost all the time, even when I wasn’t listening to something .
When I’m king, everyone will have an office but until that happens, everyone must get used to working in open spaces.
Generally the higher the floor in the library, the quieter it gets.
Or the lower the floor! I remember the stacks in the sub-basement where the microfiche was stored-- it was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat!
Buy a pair of noise cancelling headphones and then you have a noise-free study option no matter where you are.
You would probably be annoyed by my kid; she has been shushed in several of her college’s libraries! At her college, most buildings and college houses have libraries so it is easy to find a quiet place to study. Interestingly, the main library is the noisiest. Lots of students use it as a social hub. As others have suggested, noise cancelling headphones or booking a private study room are good options.
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