Studying is a must for students who strive to be their absolute best. To stay in the zone, every nuanced aspect of their environment matters: stationery, a playlist, ambiance, techniques, and most of all, location. While the location differs for every student, here are some popular places where CHS students study.
Nothing fits the study vibe like a coffee shop. The atmosphere is calm, the place smells amazing, and both food and drink are available for purchase. Senior Tiffany Lu found she preferred studying in coffee shops after the library she normally studied at was full.
“I like the vibe,” Lu said. “Just being surrounded by moving scenes [of the people outside].”
Lu also commented that studying at coffee shops, particularly at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cafés, feels a lot less intense compared to her library studies. However, she also acknowledged that one can be easily distracted and unintentionally spend a hefty amount of money on coffee over time.
Using a ranking system of one being the worst and ten being the best for recommended study locations, she jokingly ranked coffee shops at a zero out of ten.
“I don’t recommend coffee shops,” Lu said. “I don’t want people flooding my sanctuary.”
There is also the classic strategy of studying at home. Whether it is at a desk, at the dinner table, or in an office, homes are a reliable and convenient place to study. A good majority of students find this option better suited for them due to its ease and accessibility.
Sophomore Lauren Odo mostly studies at home, and she admitted the pros and cons of doing so.
“It’s nice to study at home because I don’t need to go anywhere or buy [snacks and drinks],” Odo said. “But sometimes I get interrupted by my parents, my brother, or my dog. It’s also quite easy for me to get distracted by stuff in my room.”
Odo ranked at-home studying at an eight. When she gets distracted, Odo stays on a call with a friend to keep her focused.
“I like to be on call with at least one other person while they do something—whether it be chores or schoolwork—to help me stay on task,” Odo said, referring to the body doubling effect, which helps people feel motivated through accountability and support.
Another popular location amongst many CHS students is the Honnold Library, which is located in the Claremont Colleges. Seniors Kelsey Ha and Samuel Kim both study there frequently.
“It’s a really nice place, because of the multiple floors that have different levels of quietness,” Ha said. “I often study with my friends when they invite me, and we all have a group study session.”
On the other hand, Kim goes there to study alone, finding it easier to get work done in solitude.
“[I study] specifically at the zero floor on the Harvey Mudd side,” Kim said. “It’s very quiet, the complete opposite of the collaborative comments. No one talks there, it’s very silent. I can get my work done and get out.”
Both students rated the library a solid nine out of ten, but for different reasons. Kim rated it a nine because he can focus solely on his work there. He has realized that if he is with friends, he is less likely to get work done. Alternatively, Ha rated it a nine, knocking one point off for personal preference. She feels that she sometimes studies better alone, and having strangers around her can cause her to lose focus.
A much closer study spot is the Youth Activity Center (YAC), located just above CHS in Joat Park. Students are able to meet there after school hours to attend events, study, or hang out with their friends. Instead of going straight home after school, Sophomore Camille Mann studies there.
“I have all the resources I really need [to study],” Mann said. “But the drawback—specifically to the YAC—is that there can be really loud people there. It makes it harder to study.”
She rated the YAC an eight out of ten, deducting points for the occasional increased volume in noise.
With AP tests coming up and IB exams in full swing, students might want to check out some of the aforementioned study spots. As students continue their trek to getting good grades, they will discover that the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect study location.
