Finishing Strong: Best Places to Study During Finals
By Izzaya Gonzalez
Finals can be a stressful time for many students. Denise Padilla, a licensed clinician who works in the Social Wellness and Behavioral Support program at Chaffey College, said there is a simple thing stressed-out students can do.
“Your study environment plays a big role in staying calm for finals, too,” Padilla said. “If one space starts feeling too stimulating or distracting, switch it up.”
This can mean studying in a different quiet area of your home or finding an even quieter spot away from home. To find these peaceful locations, some of Chaffey’s most studious students shared their favorite on-and-off campus study spots, along with their personal study strategies.
Photo by Izzaya Gonzalez: Chaffey’s Rancho Cucamonga quad space.
The Quad
Psychology major Ethan Ramirez, 19, recommends the quad in the middle of the Rancho Cucamonga campus as a good outdoor study spot.
The quad provides plenty of seating and a large shaded area. However, it might get a bit cold this time of year and noise from construction on the neighboring MACC building may be distracting if you do not have headphones.
Ramirez recommends listening to instrumental music because it helps him focus, whereas songs with lyrics can be distracting.
County, S. B. (2019). Fontana Lewis Library and Technology Center. San Bernardino County. photograph, Fontana. Retrieved 2025, from https://library.sbcounty.gov/library-locations/.
Fontana Lewis Library
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 12 to 5 p.m.
Engineering major Angel, 19, praised the Lewis Library in Fontana for its extremely quiet indoor and outdoor seating. With a library card, students can reserve an even quieter study room. The library also functions as a technology center, offering a computer lab, strong Wi-Fi, and a coffee shop near the entrance.
Angel’s study technique of choice is “15 and 5,” where you work for 15 minutes and take a five-minute break before repeating. Paired with the doodle method, which involves doodling on a separate piece of paper while studying, helping to maintain focus.
Photo by Izzaya Gonzalez: Chaffey’s Rancho Cucamonga library.
Chaffey Library on Rancho Campus
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed on weekends.
Geology major Makai, 19, prefers studying at the Chaffey Library on the Rancho campus and has a particular fondness for the copier room. The library offers a quiet environment with study rooms, computers and rentable tech items, such as portable chargers.
The copier room is open for everyone to walk through, which can sometimes be distracting, but it can also serve as a study room when student traffic is low. The room is equipped with board games that study groups can use during their breaks.
Makai prepares for study sessions by eating beforehand to avoid getting up for food mid-study. He also advises against too much caffeine before studying, as it can lead to crashing and low energy later.
Photo by Izzaya Gonzalez: The copier room of Chaffey’s Rancho Cucamonga library.
C., J. (2017). photograph, Rancho Cucamonga.
Paul A. Biane Library
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The most recommended study spot by far was the Paul A. Biane Library, located in Victoria Gardens mall in Rancho Cucamonga. This library offers extensive seating, but because of its popularity, spots fill up quickly. Students who manage to find a seat can access computer labs, study rooms, free Wi-Fi and free printing.
Unfortunately, study room reservations have a two-hour maximum. Nevertheless, the main seating areas are quiet enough for focused studying, even without headphones.
There are many resources available for students in and around each campus. If students are having trouble with their finals, even small changes in routine or study environment can change how this part of the semester affects them. Sometimes that small change can make a big difference. These are just some of the simple and practical ways to get through a challenging -- but ultimately rewarding -- finals period.