Finals season is underway and students across campuses are already grappling with more than test questions—they’re dealing with where they’ll be seated for their exams. Recent accounts from students reveal sharp contrasts in the quality and comfort of exam locations, showing how much test-taking experience can depend on the room you’re assigned.
Martha Van Rensselaer Hall tops the list as the most comfortable location to take a final. Students praise its bright, well-lit lecture halls featuring long rows of continuous tables that provide ample space—even if a neighbor is seated close by. The welcoming atmosphere and convenient ground-floor atrium with cozy study spots offer last-minute prep options before the exam begins.
Warren Hall, known for its modern facilities, also rates highly. While the main lecture hall B25 suffers from the common “small desk problem,” other classrooms provide enough room to write. Students appreciate the consistent and comfortable temperature indoors that avoids extremes, creating a less stressful environment.
The Statler Hall Auditorium offers a mixed experience. Its large space doesn’t feel cramped, but small desks and tightly packed rows can make it hard to find a seat and move about. The room can get cold, and students seated in the balcony face difficulties seeing projected countdown timers, a critical feature during timed exams.
Baker Laboratory, favored by students living on North Campus for convenience, shares many concerns such as small desks and occasional balcony seating hindering time tracking. However, temperature control is stable and overall the building doesn’t present major issues during finals.
Barton Hall presents a divisive opinion. Spacious tables offer plenty of elbow room, but the echoing acoustics turn even a single cough into a distracting chain reaction. Students also struggle with digital clocks placed in hard-to-see spots, but the ample table space and overall size make it a passable option.
On the opposite end, some locations have drawn sharp criticism. Uris Hall G01 is described as a nightmare, with bright red walls that heighten anxiety, tiny desks causing cramped hands, and stifling heat pushing stress levels higher during finals.
Bailey Hall, despite being lesser-known as an exam location, is notorious for lacking desks requiring students to write on clipboards. Its slow, unreliable internet also disrupts online exams, wasting critical test time for many.
Morrison Hall, located near the Vet School, stands out mostly for its inconvenient distance and dim interior. Students warn about leaving extra early for morning tests and missing adequate lighting needed to focus, making it one of the least favorable locations.
With finals now a pressing reality for many across the nation, the choice of exam room plays a pivotal role in student performance and comfort. While some buildings offer spacious, well-lit environments conducive to concentration, others compound stress with cramped desks, poor lighting, and distracting acoustics.
Krystal Kymn, a sophomore at Cornell and the original reporter of these findings, urges fellow students to prepare strategically beyond academic studies by ensuring proper rest, hydration, and nutrition during this intense period.
As colleges nationwide finalize their exam schedules, students are encouraged to check their assigned locations early to best prepare—whether that means scouting alternate quiet spots for last-minute review or planning extra transit time for distant halls.
The diversity in exam room conditions underscores a growing call for institutions to prioritize student comfort and infrastructure upgrades as part of creating equitable testing environments. For now, students are advised to adapt swiftly, focusing on what they can control as finals decide futures.
