Expert Article

Study Spots on USC Campus for Every Type of Student

Finding the perfect study spot is a serious struggle I’m sure all college students have experienced. There are just so many factors to consider! You need to think about the lighting, ambience, comfortable seating, outlet availability, sound distractions, and of course…ample supply of coffee. Every student has different needs and preferences and this guide will help you find that perfect place on USC’s campus to lock-in and get some serious studying done. Here is a curated list of study spots for 7 different types of students (hopefully one of them is you!). 

1. The Coffee Lover: Addicted to caffeine and always in need of more, this student is never seen without a coffee cup in hand… especially when grinding out a homework assignment.

Location: Ministry of Coffee  

Description: As the name indicates, this cute café located across the street from USC village has a number of coffee options available. Whether you enjoy an iced Americano or an Espresso Macchiato, Ministry of Coffee has all the classic coffee options available. The café also offers an assortment of teas and specialty lattes as well. The two Turkish baristas are incredibly friendly and provide great recommendations if you can’t decide on your order.   

Pros: outlets  ✅,  indoor/outdoor seating

Cons: Easily crowded on a normal weekday, loud indoor music

2. The Networking God: With a knack for making connections, this student is a master of the art of networking. They have an impressive Rolodex of contacts and always have a coffee chat scheduled on their calendar. 

Location: LiteraTea Courtyard  

Description: The courtyard beside LiteraTea provides a lovely setting to catch up on work and meet a mentor for a coffee chat. The four walls surrounding the outdoor space provides a cozy setting to have an intimate yet professional conversation.  

Pros: outlets  ✅,  Coffee available next door at LiteraTea, Bench and table seating 

Cons: Easily crowded

 

3. The Harry Potter Fan: Enchanted by the world of Hogwarts, this student loves Medieval Gothic architecture and is always looking to step into a different age. 

Location: Philosophy Library located at 2nd floor of Mudd Hall

Description: Aside from the more well-known Doheny Library, the Philosophy library also provides a similar aesthetic to Hogwarts campus. The ornate designs and Romanesque revival style sets a majestic backdrop for visiting students. This quiet and intimate space has classic woodwork, soft lighting, and small nooks for uninterrupted study. The shelves are lined with an extensive array of books and journals that are dedicated to exploring philosophical ideas.

Pros: outlets  ✅,  very quiet

Cons: No food or beverages allowed inside, limited opening hours (9am-4:45pm), not suitable for group work

4. The Procrastinator: This student runs on adrenaline, turning in every assignment at exactly 11:59pm and pulling all-nighters every day of finals week. 

Location: Leavey Library

Description: Leavey library is infamous for many reasons. Although it receives a lot of criticism, it is one place on campus you can safely study in until 4am. With 4 floors and an underground basement, your fellow students can always be found studying at Leavey. The individualized cubicle-style seating forces the procrastinator to hone in and get work done!

Pros: outlets  ✅,  quiet, study rooms available for group work, open 24/7, 

Cons: harsh lighting, hard seating, no food or beverages allowed, can get musty/stuffy when overly occupied 

 5. The Dreamer: With their head in the clouds, this person is always caught daydreaming… either about future ventures, philosophical questions, or their newest love interest.

Location: Annenberg Media Lounge Window Nook 

Description: The Media Lounge located on the 3rd floor of the Annenberg building provides one of the best views on campus. A big window sill is located at the back of the lounge and a cushioned nook allows the Dreamer to look out the window every now and then to enjoy a fantastic view of USC campus and simmer in their thoughts. Beyond just comfortable sitting areas, the lounge also features advanced editing suites, audio-visual equipment and is perfectly suited for everything from editing video content to hosting podcast recordings. 

Pros: outlets  ✅,  different types of seating 

Cons: limited space, caters towards Annenberg students 

6. The Nature-loving Hippie: With a deep appreciation for nature, this student loves being outdoors and surrounded by greenery. 

Location: Under the Trees located on McCarthy Way

Description: This central location is a line of trees planted onto raised land next to McCarthy Way. It is a great place for the Nature-loving Hippie to put down a picnic blanket or set up a hammock between classes. The trees provide great shade for LA’s year-round sunny weather and the raised ground allows for secluded people-watching. This is a great spot for students to do some light reading or clear out their email inbox.

Pros: outdoor shade

Cons: no outlets, must bring your own seating (blanket, hammock etc)

Here is a picture me and my friend Luke!

7. The Social Butterfly: Effortlessly floating around, this student seems to know everyone! This student thrives on human interaction and is the first to hear of all the piping hot tea on campus. 

Location: USC Village

Description: Everyone knows USC Village. It is a mixed-use area that combines student housing with ground floor retail and serves as a social hub for students. Grabbing a table next to the fountain, the social butterfly can get a study sesh in while never feeling left out! This is the perfect place for students to bump into friends and have quick catch-up conversations.

Pros: Lots of food options available, Two coffee shops available (Dulce and Starbucks) 

Cons: no outlets, often crowded (will take time to find seating)

Here is map of campus in case you get lost trying to find these spots!

Sources:

Best Places to Study? : R/USC - Reddit, www.reddit.com/r/USC/comments/cr8saj/best_places_to_study/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024.

University Park Campus - USC Events, events.usc.edu/assets/docs/USC-UPC-Map-2022.pdf. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024.

Lparsons. “Top 10 Study Tips to Study like a Harvard Student.” Harvard Summer School, 8 Nov. 2023, summer.harvard.edu/blog/top-10-study-tips-to-study-like-a-harvard-student/.

“6 Tips to Create the Perfect Study Environment.” Herzing University, 25 Mar. 2020, www.herzing.edu/blog/6-tips-create-perfect-study-environment#:~:text=The%20important%20part%20is%20to,to%2Ddos%20or%20other%20distractions.