When I committed to Hopkins, one of the first things I heard was that Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Library was being renovated. As an incoming freshman, this news honestly stressed me out. Hopkins students study a lot, and I was convinced that without our biggest library, I would never find a good place to work.
Ironically, the closure of MSE ended up being one of the best things for me. Instead of settling into one study spot, I ended up branching out and exploring campus. I discovered hidden corners, favorite coffee spots and cozy lounges. Some of my favorite memories came from camping out in these spaces with friends during reading week or doing a “study crawl” across campus.
So here are all the places that I have conquered at some point or another during my time at Hopkins so far.
The Annex
I lived in AMR I my freshman year and AMR II during sophomore fall, so the Annex became the place for me when I needed to lock in. I would describe the atmosphere as quiet, focused and somehow always motivating me to be productive. Some of the longest study sessions took place here, especially during reading week when the libraries stayed open 24/7. And if you stay late enough, you might even get lucky and spot a few tiny campus critters, or as I long to call them furry friends, to join your study session.
Hodson Hall
For the longest time, I avoided Hodson. I think every difficult exam and every class that gave me a minor existential crisis seemed to take place in Hodson 110, so I associated the building with stress and avoided it like the plague. Eventually, though, I started studying there before class with a friend on the third floor. Then I discovered the first-floor cubicles. Before I knew it, I was spending entire afternoons there and even studying in the open classrooms during reading week. What I love about Hodson is that it combines the best of both worlds. You can work quietly by yourself in a cubicle, or you can spread out with friends in a classroom, use the chalkboards, project problems onto the screen and work through material together.
Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall
This was never my favorite study spot, but it was absolutely my emergency study spot. I can’t tell you how many papers were written here within days, maybe even hours, of their deadlines. That being said, there’s a reason why so many of my classmates love Hutzler. The architecture is so beautiful, the space is quiet without feeling intimidating, and the couches are so comfortable that I occasionally had to fight the urge to take a nap next to the stained glass windows instead of finishing my work.
Brody Learning Commons (BLC)
There are layers to BLC. No, seriously, there are so many levels. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by one of the greatest inventions known to Hopkins students, Daily Grind. BLC is one of the most versatile places to study on campus because every floor feels a little different. If you’re looking for a spot that’s productive but not completely silent, the main levels are perfect. There are always people around, conversations happening and just enough background noise to keep you awake. The reservable study rooms are some of my favorite spaces. They’re equipped with whiteboards and plenty of room for group work, making them perfect for working through difficult problem sets, holding meetings, collaborating on projects, or — let’s be honest — occasionally pretending to work while catching up with friends.
Then there’s the Brody Atrium. The Atrium is my ideal Saturday afternoon study spot. It’s lively, full of students and somehow makes studying feel less lonely. There are plenty of tables, lots of seating and enough activity around you to keep you sane during long hours of work. One floor below is the Brody Tech Room. It has a similar collaborative atmosphere with large tables, whiteboards everywhere and plenty of space for group studying. To me, BLC represents one of my favorite parts of Hopkins: learning alongside other people. Some of my best memories involve crowding around a whiteboard with friends, trying to solve a problem together or collectively deciding we’d rather just sit there and pretend to study. And at the very top sits the famous Brody Reading Room. I should probably have more to say about it, but if I’m being completely honest, I’ve never actually stepped foot inside.
AMR II Blue Jay Lounge
This might seem like an unconventional study spot, but it became the place for some of my favorite memories at Hopkins. Because it was so close to my dorm and open 24/7, it was incredibly convenient. During busy weeks, I practically lived there. My friends and I spent countless nights studying together in the lounge. What I loved most was that it made it easy to be productive while still being social. We held review sessions the night before exams some days; other days, we would be working independently and still take breaks to chat but then jump right back into studying.
Mudd Hall
Mudd is one of my favorite cozy spots on campus. For a while, I had a somewhat religious routine: leave class, stop by Daily Grind’s second location for some coffee and park myself into one of the giant red chairs before my next lab or commitment. The space is warm, welcoming and filled with lots of natural light from the huge windows. Between the comfortable seating, the cute decorations and the friendliest baristas, Mudd always felt like a place where I could slow down for a moment before diving back into work.
Student Center
One of the newest additions to campus, the Bloomberg Student Center (or Stuce as everyone likes to call it) opened at the start of the 2025-2026 school year and quickly became one of my favorite places to study. If you’re looking for a cafe-style atmosphere with lots of energy, then the lower level is perfect, with lots of food options and just the right amount of background chatter. But if you need something quieter, I loved studying in the Multipurpose Rooms (MPRs). And don’t even get me started on the furniture — it might honestly be the comfiest on campus. I have definitely taken a nap on the blue couches by the entrance. Beyond studying, it’s also one of the best places to have meetings, catch up with friends, get work done before practice, squeeze in a low-pressure study session or simply take a break and recharge.
Overall, did I spend a lot of my time at Hopkins studying?
Absolutely. But when I look back on those hours, I don’t just remember the assignments, exams or deadlines that I had. I remember the friends cramming around a table during reading week, running to Brody for coffee and having life-altering debriefs at 3 a.m. The truth is that the places where we study are an essential part of our college experience, and the spaces at Hopkins made campus feel a little more like home and the hard work a lot more enjoyable along the way.
Eesha Bellad is a junior majoring in Neuroscience from Orange County, Calif. She is a Leisure Editor for The News-Letter.
