Olá! I'm Luana from Brasília, the capital of Brazil. I hope to be an environmental engineering major, but, surprisingly, my favorite class right now is Humanities 1. You can find me studying in the Tower Room or at AQ, our Catholic Student Center. One year ago I was looking through this blog hoping to get to know Dartmouth. Now, I get to tell you why I love this place so much while I learn what it means to be a Dartmouth student. Consider this an invitation to accompany me.
As a bookworm who loved dissecting and analyzing novels or philosophical works, a writing class focused on classical literature with weekly discussions was the right fit for me. Between reading Sophocles, Nietzsche, and Rawls, I had the opportunity to reassess my approach to reading, deepen my interpretations, and improve my public speaking skills while broadening my recognition of the significance of critical thinking.
Studying is of course a huge piece of college life and, at Dartmouth, the many conventional and unconventional study spots you might find yourself in are always a source of inspiration and will match your mood. Here are some of the many options Dartmouth offers!
The Hogwarts Vibe
So many of the study spaces at Dartmouth genuinely make you feel as if you are studying for an exam on levitation spells for Professor McGonagall's class. If you are in need of inspiration for an essay or you are doing readings for a class, these are the places to go to:
Tower Room
Sanborn Library
Aquinas Library
East Reading Room
Berry Library
In Berry Library, there are four floors of study rooms you can use. All of them have different noise levels; the higher you go, the quieter it gets. Some are perfect for group studying, others are great for locking in and forgetting the outside for a few hours.
FFB - First Floor Berry: normal noise level.
2FB - Second Floor Berry: noise level normal.
3FB - Third Floor Berry: noise level silent.
4FB - Fourth Floor Berry: noise level silent.
Class of 1902 Room: Open to all students every day, all day. A real safe haven during late study sessions.
Stacks: Four floors of stacks of books where noise levels are at their lowest. Perfect for when you are desperately in need of locking in for a big exam. Usually full during midterms and finals seasons.
Rauner: Beautiful library where thousands of artifacts and manuscripts are kept. From the first writings of Gregorian chants in Latin to Dr.Seuss's first drawings of the Cat in the Hat, you can find true relics to inspire your work.
Collis Student Center
Cafe@Baker
Novack Cafe
Other honorable mentions:
Your Room: Of course your own room is also an option to go to when hoping to do some work, although it is refreshing to be around people studying with you.
Common Room: Your hall common room is also a great option, especially for cold days when you don't want to go very far.
Cafes on Campus: So many cafes around campus are the perfect place to get a latte and lock in on your work. We have multiple options, here are some of my favorite ones.
The Green: Large quad or green space where everyone enjoys warm days studying, playing games, or simply resting on warm patches of sunlight.
ESCS: The modern and innovative Engineering and Computer Science Center, where many students enjoy study sessions.
Irving: Campus's most modern building, where you can find great spots to study and go through some STEM homework.
Blobby (Baker Library Lobby): also known as Reiss Hall—with no noise level restrictions, Blobby is an infamous place for group study sessions.
Dr. Seuss Room: Dartmouth dedicated a room to Dr. Seuss—a famous American writer and Dartmouth alumni—where relics of his drawings and writings are kept at Baker Library. It is a quiet and comfortable room where anyone can find inspiration to do work
As a Digital Media Student Director for Dartmouth's First-Generation Office, it is my role on campus to amplify first-gen voices, foster community, and create meaningful connections through creative outreach.
