Iowa State’s campus is home to several places where students can study. Here are some student-favorite spots and a little more information on what makes them stand out.

Ryan Mays, a freshman in business analytics, said he prefers to study on the first floor of Parks Library. 

“I love all the openness and the natural lighting,” Mays said. “Plus, it’s never too busy and I can always find a seat. I have found that some other spots on campus just feel really stressful, like the higher you go in Parks, and I want a spot where it feels less stressful.” 

Emily Saddoris, a freshman in agricultural studies, said she favors the Maple-Willow-Larch commons.

“It’s a good place for me to go and focus and lock in on my work,” Saddoris said. 

Saddoris said a perk of the space is occasionally running into people she knows.

“Usually when I’m up there, I run into people I know and it’s a place that I can say ‘Hi’ but also get my work done,” Saddoris said.

Makenna Bode, a freshman in diet and exercise science, said despite its busyness, her favorite spot is on the third floor of Parks.

“It can get crowded at times, but normally there’s always a table,” Bode said. “For me, being in an atmosphere where other people are working and studying helps me focus and stay on task.”

When she needs a quiet place to work, Bode prefers the more secluded areas of the library.

“If you go behind the bookshelves, there’s tables back there that are more individual, so sometimes I’ll go back there and that’s nice and quiet,” Bode said.

Not interested in either of these locations? Here are some other study spaces to check out: