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Studying is something that all students have to do frequently to stay on top of their classes and grades. Students living on campus may have a preference for studying in public spaces across campus, their rooms or going off campus to study. Commuter students might prefer staying in their house and studying in their kitchen or living room. Or, like some on-campus students, they might prefer going out somewhere to study.  

What is important to understand is that everyone prefers something different. Generally, though, coffee shops are very popular study spots.  

When walking into a coffee shop during the day, there will most likely be quite a few students studying, working on their computers or just reading. Coffee shops can be a great place to go for a change of scenery, which has been shown to increase focus. This can make study time more effective.  

Spoon University, an online food magazine for college students, states that “coffee shop ambiance increases creativity, alertness, and ability to learn.” This was a common sentiment from multiple sources.  

A study from the University of Illinois also found that “individuals came up with more creative product ideas when exposed to ambient sound at around 70 decibels – the average volume of a bustling coffee shop.”  

Haley Vanzee is a college student at DMACC majoring in Business Transfer and planning on transferring to Drake or Grand View University after finishing her DMACC classes. When going off campus, Vanzee enjoyed going to a coffee shop to study. Vanzee named a few of her favorite places to visit. 

“Smokey Row in Ankeny or Best Day Coffee in Altoona,” Vanzee said. 

She also mentioned that the environment of a study spot was important to her. For the coffee shops she frequents, this was especially important to her. 

“The atmosphere is good for studying. I don’t get distracted,” Vanzee said. A lack of distractions is extra helpful for certain kinds of studying. Vanzee often uses Quizlet, which requires memorization that could be harder in a distracting area. For students living on-campus, the lack of study spots can be frustrating. This might be less of an issue, however, for a commuter like Vanzee. 

“Usually I study in the library. I don’t know if it’s my favorite spot, but there’s not a lot of options,” Vanzee said.  

Arminda Neppl, a senior Nursing major at GVU, has quite a bit of studying to do as well. As far as her favorite campus study spot, Neppl had a clear answer. 

“The nursing department because it is normally pretty quiet and I have all my teachers and professors there if I need,” Neppl said. 

Having resources on-hand to ask for help is not only convenient, but may mean more impactful and thoughtful studying. 

Neppl expressed a need to get away from certain spots that did not work for her as well. 

She expressed her preference to be anywhere out of the house, with her favorite study spot also being coffee shops. 

“I like to go to coffee shops because of less distractions from other people and my dog,” Neppl said. A distraction-free environment is a common theme between Vanzee and Neppl’s favorite study spots, and it is safe to say many students would agree. The atmosphere of a study spot can make or break a student’s ability to focus. Coffee shops can provide a relaxed space that is both public and laid backBeing around friends and peers can make studying much harder for some, and easier for others. Usually, it is better to do alone.  

Neppl said that recognizing the most effective study method for her is important for her success in her classes. It seems like this is something many could agree with. Both Vanzee and Neppl make it clear that what makes a good study spot is different for everyone. Students within different majors also require different levels of commitment to their studying, which also affects where one chooses to study.  

Finding a study spot that meets individual student needs seems to be the important thing and these spots are different for everyone. Coffee shops may work for one person, but not work for another. Continuing to explore what works best for them may help students perform better in the long run.