Best of Stern: Study Spots
BY ALYSSA ZHANG
After a long day of classes, the last thing you want to do is stay in the same building to do all your work. However, separating Stern, the building, from Stern, the school, might just be the best thing you can do for your work-life strategy. Stern is a massive building with a plethora of resources to take advantage of; my favorite of these resources has to be the variety of study spaces and lounges available. Here are my tried and true workspaces, whether it be for cranking out a last-minute assignment or for doing some casual homework with friends.
1. SOSNOFF LOUNGE
Sosnoff is by far my favorite study space in all of Stern for all your versatile needs. I’ve had group meetings here one day and crammed a 10-minutes-before-midterm study session the next. Sosnoff is truly a beautiful, open space– it features high ceilings, bright windows, and great lighting. It’s conveniently located mere steps away from both KMEC entrances. The recent addition of Matto cafe (just a week or two old) has made Sosnoff the undeniably superior lounge of Stern. Matto is incredibly affordable, with the wide range of drinks, pastries, and sandwiches all falling at $3 or under, perfect for fueling your study sessions on a student’s budget. Overall, I fully recommend Sosnoff to all students because of its amenities, convenience, and ambiance.
2. UC-100
UC-100 is also a relatively new lounge, freshly renovated and opened last year. UC-100 is filled with mainly booths but also a few lounge chairs and tables, making it perfect for group work. Personally, UC-100 is a little too underground(literally) for me to spend too much time in; like all other UC rooms, there are no windows, so hours of time and light can pass right under your nose. However, its location on the UC level makes it a great space to stay in between classes, likely a minute or less away from many of your classes. UC-100 is also connected to Sosnoff through a short staircase that comes out the door to the right of Matto.
3. Tisch Third-Floor Silent Lounge
Sometimes, your procrastination gets the better of you or you simply need an intense work session. Either way, a quiet space with no distractions is likely your best bet for high focus. The third-floor silent lounge is the only room in Tisch with a mandatory quiet environment, to my knowledge. Sit down at one of the divided desks and you’ll be sure to get that assignment in on time!
4. Tisch Fourth-Floor
The Tisch fourth-floor couch space is what I would recommend to students trying to study in a more comfortable location, or even just to relax and chat with friends in between classes. The extensive purple couches and (oddly) warm environment become quite pleasant in the colder months, to the point that it is not uncommon to see someone stretched out for a nap on these couches. I warn against coming here if you’re a little tired and have a deadline coming up – this cozy location could definitely put you to sleep!
5. KMEC LOBBY LOUNGE
Directly across from the Gould Plaza KMEC entrance is a small nook that houses one of the more unconventional study spaces of Stern. This space has a few chairs with tables but also seats built in a staircase-style section that is pushed against the wall. I come here when I am looking for a change of scenery from the typical desk and chair study space. Positioned directly in a hub of foot traffic, you’ll definitely see some familiar faces, especially between classes.
Most of you are probably already aware of the majority, if not all, of these spaces. However, I know it’s easy to fall into a habit and spend hours in the same spot all day everyday. Hopefully, this post encourages you to revisit some past-overlooked spots or explore one you maybe weren’t aware of before. Again, Stern is a massive building, so I would love to hear about any gems that I missed out on!