By Kate Arnold

As you start your time at William and Mary, you will soon realize that most W&M students have a series of study spots they swear by. Those study spots can be hard to find, but when you find a location that works for you, almost nothing else will suffice when midterms and finals roll around. To help you on your study spot discovery journey, I have listed some of my favorite spots to study on and around campus

1. The Swem Basement: While not exactly hidden, this study spot is all too often underutilized. While I heard about the tiered noise system in Swem on my tour of campus, the Swem basement is something I wish I explored much sooner. Filled with art from other countries, beautiful statues, and a pit full of comfy couches and chairs, Swem basement is an incredible place to study if you enjoy the structure of a library study space with the fun and funky atmosphere of an alternative coffee shop.

2. Crim Dell Meadow: Throughout the pandemic, the Crim Dell Meadow has received some upgrades. It is now fully stocked with Adirondack chairs, bench swings, and hanging lights for all your outdoor social and studying needs. This is a great spot for anyone who likes to mix stretches with studying with breaks, as you’re sure to find some friendly faces if you take a break to wander around the corner to Sadler Terrace. The Meadow is also right next to the rock garden, the Wellness Center’s meditation walk path, and the “Spring” statue if you need to walk away from work and decompress.

3. Wolfe Law Library: Located in the Law School, this study space is a bit of a walk, but is completely worth it. This is perfect for students who work best when surrounded by silence and other students at work. One look at the law students in the library is enough to motivate any undergraduate to finish their assignments. Additionally, the Wolfe library’s resources are open for undergraduates to use, which can add some extremely interesting resources and citations to any research paper.

4. Reveley Garden: Located outside Jefferson Hall, the Reveley Garden is a new addition to campus, finishing construction last spring. This is a space full of outdoor seating for you to spread out your work, and is a short walk away from the many coffee shops of CW when you find yourself in need of a break.

5. Chancellor Hall: I wished I had learned sooner in my college career that academic buildings were open in the evenings for students to study. This is a great space for those who don’t do well in libraries, but need to work in an indoor space coded for academia. Chancellor Hall has individual and group study rooms, as well as classrooms that can be used for larger friend and study groups. I mention Chancellor in particular because as a Government major, I am in that building the most often, but other academic buildings I recommend studying in include Boswell, Washington, McGlothlin, and Tucker Hall

6. CW Tables: While not technically on campus, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful study space in Colonial Williamsburg that has emerged in the last year. The tables in CW are a recent addition to the landscape, but it has quickly become my favorite place in Williamsburg to work. Shops are mere steps away, so you can take a lunch break while you work no problem, and I have found that the hustle and bustle of families and tourists make for great background noise while I work.

7. Williamsburg Regional Library: Another incredible off campus spot! The Williamsburg Regional Library has a shaded terrace area, completed with tables and fountains. The sound of rushing water in the background and the cool atmosphere of the terrace make for a serene study location. Additionally, it is a study space few other students use, meaning you and your friends will have it all to yourself. Bake Shop is right down the street, so you can sip on a coffee while you write your papers.

About Kate

Kate is a junior at William & Mary from Woodbridge, VA. She is a double major in Government and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies on a pre-law track. She is passionate about law because she believes it is a powerful tool to help others, and hopes one day to either be a public defender or an attorney for a civil rights law firm. On campus, she lets her inner legal nerd loose with undergraduate Mock Trial and Merrimac Mentors.

During her downtime, you can find Kate taking night walks through CW with friends or sitting on the Terrace. She is a total extrovert and loves meeting new people, but be warned that she is known to share lots of information about niche topics, including but not limited to: American Girl Dolls, the Amish lifestyle, Taylor Swift, and early 2000s TV shows. Kate has been a GGV OA since her sophomore year and is beyond excited to make Orientation the best experience for incoming students it can possibly be.

By Josie Adolf

As someone who never really found a niche on this campus (and I’m still very happy here!), my biggest piece of advice to any students (new or continuing) is to join something new every year. I know you may think you have found your niche, or that your friend group is perfect as it is, but hear me out:

1. Things change! I say this from personal experience. I absolutely loved my first semester freshman year and developed a great, close friendship with my hallmates. When the second semester started, however, people changed and dynamics changed. I quickly found myself distraught and without a bubble. What helped me through it all was joining a new group and meeting new people– a buffer and some space is almost always what new friendships need.

2. New friends and things to do are good for even well established friendships. I found that by joining a new group (I became an Orientation Aide and joined an improv group at the beginning of my sophomore year), it gave me a greater appreciation for the friends I already had. I found that I was able to look at everything with more perspective, and I realized that the world is much bigger than any small group you find yourself in.

3. It combats X year slump. Sophomore slump is what I was worried about when I started my second year on campus, but it can happen any year. Your life on campus feels different and you don’t know why– it could be that the excitement of being in a new place has faded. Joining a new group allows you to meet people and always have something that you haven’t tired of yet. It sounds pessimistic, but I need consistent change! Especially due to burnout which is common in any college, having a new set of activities and people to focus on can help improve every aspect of a returning year.

4. It connects you to new students. One of the most surprising and rewarding moments of joining an improv group my sophomore year was becoming friends with the other “newbies” who were freshman. All of a sudden, my college friend group spanned years, older and younger. I had a reason to still be present on New Campus, even though all of my classes and friends were near the Sunken Gardens. Don’t underestimate the benefits of leveling yourself with other people– me and the other new members were on the same playing field! Which is a good thing!

5. Very humbling, very humbling. My roommate and I have decided to say this whenever something bad happens to us, and while I find it comical, it is also SO helpful. When you feel like you have already reached your potential, there’s a lot of room for burnout. Join something new, create a new challenge for yourself, and remember: very humbling, very humbling (abbreviated VHVH). <3

About Josie

Josie is a junior at William & Mary, studying Linguistics and Arabic. She is from Brunswick, Maine, so she’s a pro in the cold weather and thinks that rocks and trees belong on beaches. She plans on going to graduate school for a masters in Education so she can eventually teach middle or elementary school. Around campus, you can find her playing bass in a few student groups, doing improv with Dad Jeans Improv, or hanging out on any of the benches around the Sunken Gardens. She spends her free time crafting, playing music, taking frequent naps, and dragging her friends into doing painting nights with her.

Josie was an OA for the past two years for LR’HunTAL & Co. (now known as BLR’HunTAL & Co) and GGV. She is beyond excited to welcome in the next group of incoming students as an Orientation Area Director, and can’t wait to meet you all in the fall!

By Baylee Easterday

Hi all! My name is Baylee, I’m a Junior at William & Mary and an Orientation Area Director. I’m also a huge fan of horror movies, the campier the better! Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, any Stephen King movie, the Ring, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, they’re all great. There’s something about watching someone on screen making what seems like the worst decisions possible and thinking in the back of your mind that you could’ve outsmarted Freddy Krueger just fine or that you would have left Jason in the dust. Add in a few cathartic jump scares and you have my ideal Saturday night. I know for a lot of you who are transitioning to college for the first time, it might seem like a bit of a scary story. Dining hall food, doing your own laundry, sharing a bathroom with 15 other people, three midterms in a week… and just like with horror movies it’s easy to imagine that you won’t fall into any of the classic pitfalls. But can any of us honestly say with 100% certainty that if we heard about the tape from the ring we wouldn’t watch it? My point is, sometimes when you’re in it (it being a campy horror movie or midterm week) it can be hard to take care of yourself to the best of your ability. Stress and adrenaline can impact your decision making. That’s why I’m here with this themed list of lessons that, if you remember, will help you drive away from the corn field full of creepy kids and succeed in college!

Lesson #1: “No DON’T split up, gang! Ever heard of strength in numbers???”

This Fred-from-Scooby-Doo standard is a common pitfall amongst horror movie protagonists and college students alike. Those of you who are horror movie fans like myself can probably recall yelling at a screen as the protagonists of any cabin-in-the-woods slasher decided that the best way to respond to the menacing presence in the trees was to split up and look around separately. It is oh-so-common in horror movies to see the protagonists go their separate ways after entering the murderer’s menacing lair so that they can be picked off by the Big Bad one by one without the other characters learning too much relevant information about the antagonist. In spite of the fact that their chances of success are almost definitely higher if they didn’t split up! College students have a tendency to do the same thing. When things get tough or we are stressed, it can be easy to separate ourselves from our support systems. And it is true that sometimes locking yourself in a Swem individual study room for 8 consecutive hours with no outside contact and without leaving for meals can be an effective way to write a term paper. However, it’s also a good way to feel isolated and unsupported as you go through stressful times. Lean on your people, let them help you out when you are having a tough week and help them out when they’re doing the same! This looks different for different people, it can mean using meal times to meet up with your roommate, taking a one hour study break to take in the sun on the sunken gardens with a close friend, or just having some chill company while you go through a study guide. But don’t spend all of your days alone with your schoolwork, make time to spend with others and feel connected to your friends and loved ones. We are never in this alone, and when we try to go it alone, we are more likely to be killed off for plot reasons and more likely to feel unprepared to tackle big challenges. 

Lesson #2: The dramatic reveal… that character has been injured all along!

Slasher movies are full of chaotic scenes, complete with subpar lighting and already banged up and bruised protagonists. Many directors take advantage of this chaos to utilize the trope wherein the audience doesn’t realize that a character is injured until they literally collapse into some kind of comatose state. The other characters are also shocked that the injured character didn’t say anything before! As a general rule, don’t be that injured guy! Sometimes when there is a big, intimidating antagonist, whether it’s the ghost of a 17th century murderer or a 30 page paper, we can ignore “smaller” things like self-care or mortal injuries, until they get so big that tackling these issues can be very difficult. When we have a ton of academic things going on, it can be easy to not want to take the time to make filling meals for ourselves, skip our laundry, or push off outside responsibilities. I do it as much as anyone. But we have to remind ourselves that taking care of yourself is productive. Rest is productive, self care is productive. Eating a good meal gives you brain power, getting enough sleep helps you remember and process the information you’re learning. Having a clean work space can help put you in a good headspace. Don’t neglect treating your minor wounds until they cause you to collapse in the middle of a battle. Be active in taking care of yourself.

Lesson #3: “He’s leaving her behind? I can’t believe this!”

Horror movie love interests are stereotypically major jerks who are completely willing to abandon the protagonist when the going gets tough. Often after forcing the protagonist into a situation they weren’t completely comfortable with in regard to substance use, romantic/sexual situations, or breaking the law. Don’t settle for the kind of people who are only there for you when things are easy! In your friendships and your romantic/sexual relationships, seek out the kind of people who would listen and validate you if you didn’t feel comfortable in the cabin in the woods, and wouldn’t leave you if you broke your ankle while running from a serial killer. Find the type of people who want to be with you all the time, on your good days and your bad days, who always take your feelings into account. When you are moving to a new place, it can be scary, and this can mean you want to find friends fast. Don’t let that desire keep you from finding the kind of people who would always double back when they realized that you weren’t with the group. You are worth it.

It’s a scary world out there. Especially for those of you who are new to college. Take care of yourself, take care of others, and you’ll do just fine.

About Baylee

Baylee (she/her/hers) is a Junior from Pasco, Washington. She has spent the Fall semester at home working and raising some succulents, so she is very excited to be returning to campus in the Spring! Baylee is a double major in Government and Hispanic Studies who takes classes on Shakespeare whenever she can. After graduation, Baylee is hoping to move to a Spanish-speaking country to teach English before continuing on to study international law.

On campus, Baylee is involved with research and advocacy related to American Sign Language, and research on sociolinguistics and diplomacy. She is also involved with the Moot Court team and the rock climbing club. Baylee loves science fiction, waffles, and Taylor Swift (her favorite albums are Reputation and Folklore). Her favorite spot on campus is the bench across from Washington Hall, in spite of the fact that she once got pooped on by a bird there.

Baylee has been looking forward to being an OAD since her own orientation. She’s previously worn the neon three times: as a member of LRHunTAL & Co, Botetourt, and the Spring transfers and exchange staff. She’s incredibly excited to plan next Fall’s orientation, and to help a new incoming class of William & Mary students feel comfortable and welcomed, just like she did as a freshman!

By Neel Simpson

I didn’t expect to be a science major when I came into college. In high school, I was interested in science topics but always found my humanities and language classes more interesting. However, after multiple identity crises and semesters of turmoil, I decided to declare my major in geology. I was super excited for my geology classes, but between that and other requirements like math, bio, and chem, I was noticing that my schedule was lacking in time to take those humanities classes that had made me so excited to come to William and Mary. With some careful planning, I’ve been able to take at least one class per semester on a topic I was interested in, from Music to Economics to Religious Studies. I recommend this for anyone considering a STEM major, not only to diversify your coursework and improve your writing skills but also to develop a critical thinking mindset that’s necessary for leaders across every discipline. I can’t say that I had a favorite subject that I took as an elective, but I had thoughts about the buildings. Here’s my guide to the best places to take these classes.

1. Blair Hall

Cards on the table, I’ve never actually taken a class in Blair and probably never will, but it is consistently my favorite building to walk through. The mahogany walls and marble floor have peak dark academia vibes, and the classrooms are all comfortable to sit in. Even if you’re like me and can’t take a class here, make sure you check it out some time!

2. Wren Building

I’ve taken one class inside the Wren, and one this past Fall in the tent outside. It might seem controversial that I put it in second, but when I had a class here, tourists would always be walking around or even trying to step into the classroom. Still, the religious studies department is phenomenal and there’s nothing like sitting in one of the classrooms here!

3. Tucker Hall

I will say that I’ve had all sorts of classes in the Tucker Theatre, including a geology class, but never an English class. I’ve also never had a class in Tucker that was not in the Theatre. However, this has to be my favorite academic building design-wise. There’s so much natural light and that staircase on the second floor is a great spot to study, hang out with friends, or just sit and read. The colorful walls are also a great touch!

4. Andrews Hall

Andrews is often forgotten because it sits kind of in new campus and kind of in old campus, next to Swem and the ISC. I haven’t been able to take a class here, but the few times I’ve walked through, I’ve appreciated the modern vibes and art installations from the incredibly talented students in the art and art history departments. The only time I ventured into a classroom here was for a pre-study abroad information session, and I remember it being very difficult to find. For its navigational faults, I had to put Andrews in fourth place.

5. Ewell Hall

I took a Music COLL 100 my freshman spring, and while it was the only music class I’ve been able to take, it has been one of the most interesting classes I’ve taken yet. Ewell gets bonus points for having the music library as a study spot, and also the ability to walk around and listen to faint classical instruments hum in the background. However, I just remember my classroom being packed with desks and being difficult to walk around, so I have to push this building back to fourth place.

6. Washington Hall

Washington Hall is BIG. I’m genuinely surprised that I didn’t get lost in this building more than I did, but there’s so much to see here and some of my favorite classes have been in this building. I recommend taking an archaeology class here and seeing if you might be able to access some of the collections they have in the basement. The Washington lecture room, while it is a fun space to have larger classes, definitely lacks acoustic capacity and can be hard to hear. Additionally, nothing stands out about the classrooms here, so it gets an average score. 

7. Morton Hall

Morton gets a bad rep, and I do wish I could defend it, but this has to be one of the worst buildings on campus, hosting some fantastic departments and students. My favorite part of Morton is walking through the hallways and learning about events and opportunities from departments like Sociology, Africana Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. That being said, it takes forever to walk to, there is consistently a puddle outside, and the classrooms are dim and cramped. The students in this building deserve so much better.

8. Tyler Hall

Tyler is the most cursed building on this campus. Ever since my 9 am in this building my freshman fall, I have been adamant about never taking a class in here. It seems like they tried to make it seem nice and modern but at the cost of any personality. And why are the lights so harsh? If the lights are going to be turned to their absolute brightest possible, then why are all the floors, ceilings, and walls also a bright white? Stepping into this building gives me the same sense of dread that I get when I’m on a zoom call and I realize I’m not muted when I thought I was. If you can avoid a class in Tyler, please do. If you can’t, please work on your priorities. 

About Neel

Neel is a junior from Vienna, Virginia, who is double majoring in environmental geology and anthropology. While he has been an orientation aide for both GGV and Botetourt, his heart still belongs to his freshman dorm, Hunt Hall. When he’s not sporting his neon as an orientation aide, he spends his time volunteering with the office of sustainability,doing research in the Keck Environmental Studies lab, or working with his team on GeoLab.

Outside of classes, he enjoys playing guitar, cooking vegan food, and anything outdoors. He is a Sagittarius and INTJ, but his most telling personal characteristic is that he genuinely enjoys Swem third. After William & Mary, he hopes to attend graduate school to study human and environmental geography, but is beyond excited to make the most out of his last two years here.