Students Face Stark Differences in Final Exam Locations as Finals Week Unfolds
With final exams underway, students across campus are confronting vastly different testing environments that could make or break their performance. Recent reports highlight that while some buildings offer bright, spacious, and comfortable spaces, others pose serious challenges like cramped desks, distracting noise, and difficult timekeeping—all impacting student focus during this crucial week.
Finals experience varies sharply depending on exam location, with popular spots like Martha Van Rensselaer Hall standing out as top-tier. Students lucky enough to have finals here enjoy long, continuous tables allowing ample writing space even beside a neighbor. The building’s bright, welcoming atmosphere and comfortable atrium seating for early arrivals add to the calm students crave during stressful exams.
Warren Hall also ranks high, featuring newer classrooms with stable temperatures and enough room to write, although the main lecture hall sometimes suffers from the common “small desk problem” travelers dread. It offers a fresh, clean environment many students appreciate.
Mixed reviews for Statler and Baker Laboratories
In contrast, Mid Statler Hall Auditorium and Baker Laboratory present mixed experiences. While neither is outright disastrous, small desks, cold rooms, and cramped seating can frustrate many test takers. Those seated on balconies, in particular, struggle to keep track of time due to poor sightlines to the projected clock, an essential exam tool.
Barton Hall sparks division among students. Its spacious tables mean plenty of elbow room, but echoing sounds like coughs reverberate fiercely in the large room, creating distractions. Students also find the digital clocks difficult to read from certain seats, further complicating time management during exams.
Campus buildings deemed least favorable for finals
The least favorable exam locations amplify stress and discomfort. Uris Hall G01 is notorious for its bright red walls that heighten anxiety, tiny desks that cause hand cramps, and stifling heat that leaves students drenched in sweat. Such conditions can seriously undermine focus during a critical exam.
Bailey Hall raises technical issues—no desks at all force students to hunch over clipboards on paper exams, while notoriously slow internet speeds sabotage online testing, wasting precious seconds and increasing stress.
Morrison Hall is burdened with location woes. Situated far from main campus near the Vet School, it demands extra commute time, especially brutal for students with early morning exams. Its dim, outdated interiors provide little comfort or adequate lighting for those who rely on bright environments to concentrate.
What students and experts advise during finals week
Krystal Kymn, a sophomore reporting on student experiences, advises all to prepare strategically regardless of location—prioritize rest, hydration, and nutrition to maintain peak mental and physical energy. While exam locations differ, individual preparation remains key to success during finals week.
For students across Delaware and the US heading into exams, these insights into the best and worst exam spaces offer valuable foresight. Knowing what to expect—and how to adapt—can reduce anxiety and improve performance during this critical academic period.
Finals week is in full swing now; where you take your exam might seem like a small detail, but it can make a world of difference for your focus and comfort as the clock ticks down.
