Studying
goes beyond the library
By Kristen Force
On-line Forty-Niner
One
size fits all. Everyone knows this is not
true for clothes sizing nor is it a valid
idea when trying to choose a place to study.
Traditionally, the library is the most common
place to study outside of a person’s house
or apartment.
 “I
can’t study at my house,” senior biology
major Laura Bohlken said. “At the library
you can see everyone else doing the same
thing and it helps me stay focused.”
But not everyone agrees on the helpfulness
of this atmosphere.
“I don’t like the library at all,” Norihiko
Takara, a senior earth science major, said.
“Sometimes people are talking and I can’t
concentrate.”
Takara prefers the common rooms in the engineering
and geology buildings because they are usually
quiet and very clean.
Coffee shops and cafes appear to be on the
rise as a desired place to study.
Portfolio’s Coffeehouse, at 2300 E. Fourth
St. between Junipero and Fourth street,
is a popular location for students.
“We get a lot of students here,” manager
Buck Roberson said. “From 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
is our busiest time, but during finals it’s
all day.”
Roberson attributes the appeal of coffee
shops to the atmosphere and accessibility.
“It’s just a really comfy place,” he said.
“There’s room to spread out and sit in home
furnishings but you don’t have to really
be at home. People can choose to be alone
or sit in groups. We’re also open late,
which students like and everyone is welcome,
you don’t need a membership.”
Many cafes have web access, which can be
a great benefit for students. And of course,
coffee shops have coffee, providing students
with the additional caffeine boost they
need to continue studying for that important
exam.
Triple major Jennifer Laprise spends a great
deal of time studying and prefers the University
Student Union to other areas on campus.
“There’s stuff happening and it’s not totally
quiet,” Laprise said. “I need music or some
kind of noise while I’m studying. Majoring
in chemistry, biochemistry and classics
takes a lot of studying.”
Choosing the right place to study is an
important determiner of how effective a
study session will be, according to Jen
Ramirez, director of the Learning Assistance
Center.
“Studying is so individualized,” Ramirez
said. “There is no such thing as the best
place to study. People’s needs drive where
their best place is.”
Ramirez suggests asking a few questions
before deciding where to study:
•
Can you study by yourself or do you need
to be around others to be motivated?
•
Is what you are studying something you are
fairly confident about or do you need help?
•
Will you need any resources (books, internet,
media sources)?
•
What time of day do you study best?
The Learning Assistance Center sees over
10,000 students each semester, according
to Ramirez.
“We see the world here,” she said. “Straight
A students come to stay A students and then
we have others who are trying to get off
probation.
“It is a myth that the LAC is only for students
who can’t do it alone. Better students usually
come because they are smarter in terms of
strategy.”
The LAC has tutors available to help students
but it can also be a place to study alone.
“Many students come and don’t want any help
at all,” Ramirez said. “They just want some
accountability to get their work done. If
they are going to sit in here, they might
as well get some stuff done.”
The most important part of studying is to
recognize what methods are most effective
and utilizing them in a set schedule. Catering
to an individual’s strengths and preferences
will create the most effective study environment.
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