Sai Kulkarni ‘23
Culture Editor
Where you study is a reflection of who you are as a person. It has deep consequences for your life and could potentially be the difference between a good OGI and a bad one . . . . I’m just joking, but it got the attention of all you gunners, didn’t it? Anyways, there are three types of spaces to study in the law school and two outside. In this late-night writing session I’m going to explain each of them.
The Library
This is the most common study spot: it’s literally built for this purpose. But let’s be real, each region has its own purpose. The most normal spot is on the second floor. It provides both study rooms and a nice space to study alone or with friends. With great views and sweet lamps, studying here means you like to get work done, enjoy good vibes, and leave once you are done. People who study there have good energy; they will get good placements and live their best lives.
The next spot is the infamous Gunner Pit. One would think that this is where the most focused of the aforementioned gunners study. But that’s just not true. A big draw for the folks that study here is the reputation that comes from studying on those tables. They strive to be seen as the most gunnery of students and that is precisely why they are not the biggest gunners. They waste energy that could be spent studying on looking like gunners. But at the end of the day, these folks are hard workers who also integrate social perceptions. The people that study here are going to run for political office one day. As a corollary, the quiet room in Scott Commons is a similarly situated location.
Pictured: Study in the Gunner Pit at your own discretion. Photo Courtesy of library.law.virginia.edu
The last major spot in the library is the third floor. I am going to be honest; I’ve never even been up there. I’ve only heard about people studying on that floor last weekend from two people I know. Those two people are some of the highest achieving students in the class of 2023. Thus, it is clear that based on only two examples, I can conclude that the third floor is the real gunner study spot. Silent, unknown, and focused. These are the best descriptions of the people there. These actual gunners will get what they want because they refuse to let their hard work go to anything other than their precise life goals.
Lounges and Other Study Spaces
These people like to study with their friends. They get work done, but on their own time. Sometimes they run up against deadlines. Sometimes they get work done early and go relax with a drink. Median is a way of life for these folks and they are dedicated to it. They fill the ranks of the stats that OPP disseminates; good firm jobs in good markets. Just great people all around.
Scott Commons/Spies Garden
The folks that study in Spies are the easiest to tackle. They work hard and play hard. From 30-minute marathon study sessions to 1-hour spikeball sessions, they make sure to get it done. They are gonna get good jobs regardless of how they do on exams. Their networking skills alone are enough to get them what they want.
Now for the big hitter. Everyone is reading this article for one reason and one reason alone. They are all thinking: “Is Sai self-aware enough to make objective commentary about people that study there?” Well, the joke is on you, dear readers, I am self-aware but I no longer study on campus. I have a whole section dedicated to me below. Back to journalism: the people that study in the interior of Scott Commons are a diverse group. From 2Ls who study once a month to quiet people who just want a change of scenery from the library to people who have just carried over their habit of studying in ScoCo from last semester, the group is full of variety. Unfortunately, I can’t make conclusions because the scatterplot has a low r-squared value.
Outside of the Law School
There are two types of locations: home and not home. The not-home, off-campus studiers take the vibe of “I need a new location” to a whole new level. Some prefer coffee shops and place themselves in the company of the “Lounges and Other Study Spaces” crew. Some people prefer other locations like a golf course or Kardinal Hall. These people can be described with the moniker of “2Ls and 3Ls.” These people had it together when it was important and don’t see a reason to keep it together still. Why should they? They are experiencing law school exactly as our predecessors at this great institution intended.
The final, most important group, is those students who study at home. These students are focused people who know how to shut out distractions and be the good law students that their parents, and more importantly the administration, want them to be. They work hard and do well on exams. The people who follow this plan may even have one of their outlines done. They keep their professional lives and all their schoolwork in one room. It allows for them to socialize when appropriate and keep their lives bifurcated. They have the ability to be on the staff of the Law Weekly, play softball, and keep a long-term relationship. These people are heroes and they inspired me to take up this lifestyle myself. Two weeks in and all I am missing is a long-term relationship before I have all of the infinity stones of an at-home studier.
But good luck to all of you great students. No matter where you study, I promise you will find success this exam season. Don’t take this article seriously; those outlines will get done regardless of where you choose.
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omk6cg@virginia.edu