Finals are just around the corner, and each student deals with the stress of how to study.Some find comfort in the casual, laid-back atmosphere of their own rooms, while others need the solitude and concentration provided by the library.

Many locations, both on and off campus, create an atmosphere that accommodates stressed-out students.

“I like to study in my own room because everything I need is at my fingertips,” said Jonathan Leer, a senior accounting major.

But some students said studying at home allows for too many distractions.

Iris Leip, a secondary education graduate student, said studying at home is harder for her because the Internet and television hinders her concentration level.

Jennifer Gavia, a freshman nutrition major, said she agreed.

“I need quiet, well, silence,” Gavia said. “I am easily distracted and need to find my own little corner.”

Different areas on campus provide students like Gavia with the solitude she craves.

“Last semester, I studied in the Moncrief Hall honors lounge,” she said. “But I think I might study in the basement of the library for this round of finals.”

Others, such as Marie Hart, a junior political science major, said they cannot stand the silence and opt for an off-campus location to study.

“I like to study at the Botanical Gardens,” Hart said. “There aren’t any tables so I like to spread out on a blanket. It is so peaceful and pretty, and there isn’t the awkward dead silence like in the library.”

Getting away from campus helps students such as Hart and Leip escape from the daily grind of study days.

“For me, getting off campus has positive psychological effects,” Leip said. “I think getting away from campus just mentally takes away from the monotony of studying.”

Favorite off-campus locations ranged from Barnes & Noble to IHOP for late-night cramming.

Some students said they enjoy the convenience and proximity of places such as Einstein Bros. Bagels and Panther City Coffee Co.

“I study at Panther City because it is close to campus, but not a lot of TCU students go there, so I know I won’t be distracted,” said Amber Carlisle, a freshman radio-TV-film major.

Like Carlisle, Ashley Van Hoef, a sophomore finance major, said she enjoys studying at coffee shops but prefers ones that are farther away.

“I really like Starbucks and Eurotazza Coffeehouse,” Van Hoef said. “You have a steady stream of caffeine, which is always good. And you’re not lonely, so studying isn’t as miserable.”

Leip works at Starbucks and thinks it has study-friendly environment.

“Even though you may see friends there, you aren’t distracted by a whole campus of friends,” she said. “The atmosphere of Starbucks is geared toward relaxation, and, if you are relaxed, you won’t be as stressed about getting your work done.”

So, if the word “final” sounds more like a screech than a chorus of hallelujah, try branching out to another studying location. It could make all the difference.