One of the many great things about Hamilton is its vibrant academic culture, with hundreds of young and brilliant minds hungry for knowledge and intellectual prosperity. There are few sights more inspiring than a packed KJ balcony filled with students hard at work, putting their cerebral gifts on display as they put the finishing touches on their problem set, the final footnotes on their research paper, or enhance their creative spirit as they scroll through their TikTok feed. Because the academic juices flow at such a high rate at Hamilton, I have often found myself a part of heated debates surrounding the workspace options on campus. It has become clear to me that many Hamilton students suffer from a severe and disturbing lack of study space education, as some of their preferences have been nothing short of preposterous. I have elected to share my list in an effort to bring to light some of the study spaces that are flying under the radar, and I also intend on reaching a campus-wide conclusion on the pecking order of homework habitation. I know this is the opinion section, but it would be a stretch to call this an opinion; rather, this is a definitive list of the top ten places to study at Hamilton. I am going to be as specific and holistic as possible; not an inch of this campus is safe from my evaluation. I fear that I may be giving away some valuable information in this list, but I feel like I owe it to those lost souls that have yet to figure it out. Unfortunately, I do not have enough space in one article to flesh out the full list, so I am going to restrict myself to honorable mentions through number eight, but be on the lookout for the top seven next semester. Here is part one of the top ten study spaces on campus.

Honorable mentions:

CJ, Third Floor, Nook Outside QSR Center

In these honorable mentions, I shall note some popular or interesting options that just have too many flaws to crack the top ten. The CJ third floor nook is certainly an interesting proposition. I vividly remember watching the Yankees-Red Sox wild card game at its small circular table. It is a very nice spot to pretend to do work. One major issue with the nook, however, is its unusual warmth. I am not generally particular about temperature, but it was noticeably steamy during my time there. My experience was possibly marred because the Yanks lost, but overall, it was not a particularly comfortable option.

Library, Third Floor, Balcony

This spot is way too quiet; it takes me five minutes to unzip my bag because it feels as if any sound louder than a pin drop would get me caught from across the floor. Some consider it ideal for absolute focus when required, but I disagree. The eerie silence, zero ability to talk to people and the feeling of walking on eggshells make me not a fan.

KJ, Atrium

I figure this would be one of the more controversial takes on this list, but the KJ lobby just does not quite do it for me. It is a great spot for talking to friends, sure, but let us face the truth: no work is getting done whatsoever. Why not take the conversation elsewhere to avoid being distracted by the prospect of you potentially doing your work? It feels like the place to go when you want to feel productive without being productive. There is some value there, but at that point, I say one should just ‘take the L’ and go elsewhere so that you no longer have to pretend to be busy.

The list:

10. Commons, South Side Balcony

I now proceed to the main event: the list proper. This spot is unique, but like I said, every spot has to be considered. The obvious primary positive here is the access to food, which — if you have read my previous articles or have ever spoken to me for more than 10 seconds — is unsurprisingly a benefit which I value very highly. It does admittedly take a big hit in the distraction department. There is no chance this would be a good choice with any sort of approaching deadline, but it is a solid overall option.

9. Library, Second Floor, Group Tables

I have always wondered why the study tables are so seldom utilized. To me, the individual desks in the library feel uncomfortably lonely. The study tables provide a great balance of privacy and quiet without feeling too isolated. However, it can be an awkward spot depending on the time of day, especially with lots of people walking around; they can be kind of intimidating with books in every direction. It is also worth mentioning that the library closes at midnight, which is less than ideal.

8. Alumni Gym, Lobby

This is a huge ‘dark horse’ option right here. This area is very quiet but also spacious. It is not desolate, either; there is some foot traffic to remind you that other human beings exist, unlike some of the other options to come. It even checks the box for comfortable seating. Its big downsides, however, are the limitations on the type of work you can do. Without a flat surface for writing, humanities are often exclusively the subjects one can get done there, but overall it is still great for talking to friends and usually comfortable.

To be continued…