The stress of finals is building and those semester-ending exams the only thing standing between you and a much-deserved summer vacation. Your planner looks like a bowl of Lucky Charms, a rainbow consisting of every study plan and final meticulously laid out and scheduled in preparation. You can practically taste the success. But where’s the best place for you to focus and go through a thousand Quizlet flashcard decks? Where can you spread out your textbooks and fav pens? Is it quiet? Does it have comfy chairs?
Every person is a little bit different when it comes to their study environment. Some like to study in big groups, huddled around white boards while verbally processing the material. Some like warm, cozy and dim spaces that are filled with the quiet ambient noises of pages turning, pens scratching feverishly against paper and coffee cups clinking. Others enjoy a silent, clean and bright environment with minimal distractions to enter a level of hyperfocus that can’t be broken. Then there are students who find that the best study spots aren’t in a building at all.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite study locations across campus that should set
you up for success in acing your upcoming exams. No matter where you fall on the study
spot spectrum, USC has the environment you need to focus and get it done.
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Darla Moore School of Business
Just down the hill from central campus lies the Darla Moore School of Business patio and Dominion Energy study commons. If you’re a student who likes to switch up scenery without having to go somewhere entirely new, this location is perfect for you. Inside is filled with different kinds of seating, depending on your preference, and floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and Columbia views that will keep you alert through every flashcard. Outside on the patio, the sounds of the city will become the soundtrack to your study session as you stretch out across one the large patio tables.
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South Caroliniana Library
After years of painstaking renovations, the South Caroliniana Library reopened this past fall. Inside, you’ll feel at one with history as you tap a nervous toe on the original floors and study at the same desks that the university’s Board of Trustees used back in 1844. The library is airy, quiet, studious and will make you feel like you’re studying in the Library of Congress rather than on a college campus. Even though you’re not allowed to have food or drinks in the library, its proximity to a Cool Beans latte or a Carolina Café bagel makes it an elite spot for focus and vibes.
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Humanities
Just across the Pickens Street bridge from the historic Horseshoe you will find the serene humanities section of campus. Between the Welsh Humanities Classroom and Office Buildings, you can find plenty of spots to settle down and dig into your notes while enjoying a Starbucks coffee or a sandwich from Horseshoe Deli. Or walk next door to Colloquium Cafe for a snack and relax at the tables outside of Gambrell Hall for a scenic study day.
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Science and Technology
Tucked away between the Honors Residence Hall and the Darla Moore School of Business, the Science and Technology Building serves as a sleek and modern backdrop for you to get in the zone. Formerly USC’s law school, the building was updated in 2024 to include refreshed classrooms and study spots with mixed indoor seating and a spacious terrace overlooking Devine Street.
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The Graduate
Give yourself the hotel guest treatment by settling in at the Graduate Columbia on Pendleton Street. This Carolina-themed inn offers a quaint spot to lock in away from busy academic buildings while never stepping away from campus. Enjoy Poindexter Coffee, comfy couches and soothing decorations that will help you push through your study session and feel refreshed when you go back to the classroom.
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Patio at Barnwell College
The patio at Barnwell is a gem hiding in plain sight. This shady outdoor study spot is perfect for those who want the vibes of Gibbes Green but prefer a table to layout their study materials. Plus, the tables at this location have enough room for the whole gang.
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Currell
Get the best of both Greene Street and the Horseshoe by setting up shop right outside of Currell College. Another former law building in the heart of USC’s campus, Currell is right between the hot spots, making it easy to grab a coffee or run to your finals in a pinch. Enjoy shaded tables and even space for a hammock while you run through your Quizlet. Or stop and take a look at the Melton Observatory next door to help jog your memory.
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