When I was in college, my study set-up during my first semester of freshman year was a package of chocolate chip pop tarts, some coffee, and my books and papers all over my bed. And then my roommate decided to start up a sorority for Hispanic scholars, so my dorm room became less of an educational oasis and more Latina World Command. It was then I discovered a desk in the northwest corner of the sixth floor of the library, which was to be my constant companion throughout the next three and a half years. Libraries top the list, of course, but here are some other alternatives to study in when your house has become your hell (academically speaking).

They’re quiet, they have alternative texts if the book you’ve got isn’t much help to you, and these days many local libraries host and sponsor free tutoring programs. In fact, though Frog Tutoring specializes in private, in-home tutoring, most of the tutoring sessions for college students happen at libraries due to the disruptive nature of the student’s home life and the accrued cost of meeting at a coffee shop three times a week. Library chairs are also very cushy, by and large.

Ah, for the days when I studied James Joyce on a soft, velvet cushion with a nice blueberry muffin, a caramel macchiato, and an industrial sized bottle of ibuprofen. You can find an English tutor to help you with pretty much any genre and/or book but Finnegan’s Wake, although I understand that getting an A on that paper is a good indication that your psychiatrist is about to up your dosage. It’s also a great place for small, relaxed study group sessions, as long as everyone’s wallet is equal to the task.

Many high schools and dorms have large rooms dedicated to this purpose. Mine had one with a piano in it, which was nice when the pianist was a music major, but impossible when the pianist was practicing for his Billy Joel cover band (true story). Nine times out of ten, this is not an issue.

Fresh air and sunlight are actually conducive to retention and performance. You are also likely to run into a classmate who may also need to study. These situations are actually really great for language students looking to hone their conversational skills.

Yes, seriously. The background noise is white and not distracting and people will generally leave you alone. If you’re a structured studier, your study breaks are predictably timed and you’re managing your time effectively – especially if you do actually meet the [person] of your dreams there after all.