Introduction
Inevitably, you will need to spend some of your time as a USC student studying. I know, it’s not the most exciting part about going to school in Los Angeles, but it’s unfortunately necessary. In between weekend trips to the beach, nights under the LA Memorial Coliseum lights and time exploring Downtown L.A., all Trojans must eventually buckle down and put their head into a book, watch a film, write a research paper, review a design, or immerse themselves in whatever other cool project they might find themselves tasked with. Luckily, USC has some awesome places where you can do these things.
Hi! My name is Jack Waterman and I am a senior journalism major. Over the past three years, I have gotten the chance to really explore the amazing campus we have. While there are some buildings and study spots you will get to know well because of various classes and extracurriculars, there are so many other spots you may just never venture to. So, in no particular order, here are my five favorite spots to get some work done on campus.
1. Verna and Peter Dauterive Hall (VPD)
I’m really not sure how well known this building is, mostly because it took me a few years to discover its existence, but I see it as a hidden gem. Known by most Price students, the front of VPD remains hidden behind Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall, home to the Sol Price School of Public Policy. On the inside, rings of floors surround a large column of empty space, with a beautiful piece of art hanging down in the center. With various couches and seating options, VPD gives a very minimalist, but productive setting for students of all programs to get their work done.
2. The Cinematic Arts Courtyard
There is something about a coffee shop that just makes people more productive. And when that coffee shop is smack in the middle of The Cinematics Art Courtyard, an area modeled after the Paramount Backlots, you feel like a star doing your work. I don’t even drink coffee, but the bustling environment of a café, matched with Cinematic Arts students working on the coolest projects, just makes me want to get work done. This is a pretty popular spot and there aren’t a lot of seats, so you’ll have to be vigilant and maybe wait your turn for a spot. But it’s totally worth it.
3. Doheny Memorial Library
I feel obligated to include at least one library on this list and Doheny makes the cut. Now, I am not the type that loves spending time in a library, but Doheny is the exception because it feels nothing like a library. No matter how cool and castle-like it appears on the outside, the inside is even better. Every wall is decorated with intricate designs and beautiful artwork. Every nook and cranny that you can study in never fails to impress. And, the main room where most students study looks like something right out of Harry Potter. It’s the place I go to when I need to get something done and want to look cool doing it.
4. Hammock Hill
This is a classic USC spot, featured in all sorts of USC promotional materials. As the trees are precisely spaced, it’s the perfect spot for students to hang their hammocks and get some work done. For me, someone who loves the outdoors, it's the closest I can get to camping in the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles. This wouldn’t be a place that I would go to if I had a pressing deadline on an assignment. I would simply be too distracted by students playing Spikeball in the quad or our weekly farmers market. More so, it’s a space to let the creative juices flow and just give me time to destress in the fresh air.
5. The Sculpture Garden
Tucked away on the southernmost part of campus, the Sculpture Garden is an extension of the Roski School of Art and Design. With the exception of a bench or two, most of this area is just grassy patches. But where else would you want to get some work done than in a sculpture garden? It’s one of my favorite parts of campus as it is usually silent, separated from the bustling campus. And, the art pieces displayed there are changed periodically throughout the year.
Conclusion
There is no perfect spot to study on campus. On some days I can’t focus on my work unless the sun is shining down on me and, on others, I have to lock myself in the library for a few hours in order to get anything done. Whatever works for you, USC has such diverse spaces that you can access. The only thing I would truly recommend is to explore those spaces and buildings as much as you can. There are still spots on campus that, three years in, I have never seen before in my life—and that excites me. You never know where that perfect study spot might be hiding. Happy studying!
Written By: Jack Waterman, Class of 2025