Cozy Places to Study During Finals Week

Photo Credit/ Charlese Freeman The upper union can be a quiet place to study during finals week.

Elizabeth Deczynski 

Contributing Writer 

It’s officially finals season and you know what that means: long nights cooped up in the library getting any last-minute studying done (and crying too, of course). 

But what do you do when the library is too crammed with other students prepping for their own exams? You could always go to your dorm room, but sometimes the halls are loud or maybe your roommate’s laundry smells and you simply can’t focus.

Downtown Stroudsburg offers plenty of places for you to escape to so you can finally work on that paper you’ve been putting off all semester.  

Here are a few places both on and off-campus you can rely on to get some studying done.

Starbucks on Main St. 

While the Starbucks on campus is convenient, it is often filled to the brim with a line of students spilling outside.  

But did you know there is another just minutes from campus? The Starbucks on Main St. is a great place to go when you still want to enjoy the atmosphere Starbucks offers without that long line of bustling students.  

With an abundance of tables, free Wi-Fi and easy access to caffeine, you’re sure to put a dent in all of that studying you have.  

Starbucks on Main St. is open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends and from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, except Friday when they close at 9:30 p.m. 

Panera Bread 

Just a short drive from campus, Panera Bread is a convenient studying location. Like Starbucks, they also have plenty of tables, free Wi-Fi and food that has that homemade feel.  

Emilie Seda, junior, said, “Whenever my friends and I have an exam or something we need to study for, we usually go to Panera.”

Panera Bread is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sunday and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  

So, what if you don’t have the transportation to drive off-campus. Where can you go? Studying on-campus is easier than you think and no, the library isn’t the only place.  

Here are a couple of places on-campus for those times when you can’t afford to go off-campus but still need to prepare for your exams.  

Upper Union 

The lounge on the second floor of the union is a great spot to turn to when you want to get some studying done. 

It’s a quieter room filled with couches, tables and enclosed study desks that makes for a perfect study space.  

Not only is studying in the Upper Union convenient but if you get hungry during your study session, you can always take the stairs down to Center Court to pick up something to eat.

STC Café 

If your schedule doesn’t take you inside the Science and Technology Center, chances are you probably didn’t know about this sweet study spot. 

According to the ESU website, the STC Café is ESU’s best-kept secret featuring quiet seating, Peet’s coffee, hot breakfast sandwich bagels, and homemade soup.

The STC Café will be open during finals week Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

Of course, if none of these options appeal to you, you can always head to Kemp Library which has plenty of resources to help you succeed.  

If you need research help, you can easily schedule a meeting with one of the librarians who will gladly assist you with finding resources, formatting questions and much more.  

So stressed that you forgot your calculator, or worse, your laptop? No worries, as long as you have your e-card you can check one out at the circulation desk.  

Kemp Library will be open 24/7 beginning on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. until Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. 

From downtown Stroudsburg to the second floor of the Union right here on campus, there are plenty of places to study to prepare for your exams.  

We hope you consider this list as you search for your perfect study spot and we also wish you success on all of your final exams. Happy finals week!

Email Elizabeth at:

edeczynski@live.esu.edu