Study Guide

Author: Tess Russell

After a few weeks of getting 'A's in Mod partying while coasting through classes, the work is starting to pile up for many of us. Trying to juggle school assignments, campus jobs, extracurricular activities and social obligations necessitates a great deal of self-discipline and good time management skills, but even paperwork does not have to be painful. Indeed, for Middlebury students, where we study offers - perhaps sadly - a great deal of insight into our varied personalities, to the point where we will trek across campus just to settle into our preferred spots. So grab your coffee and your headphones and get after it (academically speaking).

ATWATER

Early birds will definitely want to take advantage of the 7-9:30 a.m. hot breakfast hours at Atwater, otherwise known as the only time of day when you can actually get a seat (thanks again, Proctor renovations). Spread out at spacious round tables and enjoy as much free food and caffeine as you can stand.

AXINN

Filled with empty classrooms and comfy armchairs, the new Axinn Center is a virtual wonderland of prime spots to hit the books. Still, first prize has to go to the Abernethy Room - add some single-malt scotch and '20s-era decadence and this gorgeous, wood-paneled mecca feels like a set straight out of Fitzgerald's Princeton. Our only complaint about the Ab Room? It is almost too quiet.

BI-HALL

A library alternative particularly favored by Ross dwellers and science majors, McCardell Bicentennial Hall offers a spacious computer lab and plenty of great classroom spaces, particularly on the upper floors. The ambient noise in the halls also makes for a slightly less rigid vibe - no one is going to give you a death stare for answering your cell phone here.

ROBERT A. JONES '59

Talk about prime real estate! For those who live at the top of the hill, the RAJ basement boasts not only an atmosphere that is unrivaled in privacy, but also a shower and a kitchen. Come finals week, you could literally move in.

THE LIBRARY

For social studiers, this is the place to see and be seen. Whether you cherish the view from the big windows upstairs, enjoy ciggie breaks outside with Middlebury's seven smokers, or take advantage of the café's later closing hours, the library offers something for everyone. But beware accidentally stealing the thesis carrels of stressed out seniors and never, under any circumstances, venture into the "dungeon" downstairs.

CAROL'S HUNGRY MIND

Sometimes we all need a break from the hectic pace of campus life, and on those days there is nothing better than the serene comfort of Carol's. Give yourself a pat on the back for patronizing a formerly-floundering local business, but take note - scores of the College's professors hang out here, so you are advised to leave your Spark Notes and other contraband at home.