Since the effects of caffeine last three to four hours, according to the U.S. News article, trying to fall asleep after a cup of coffee is not going to work. After intensely studying or working on a project until all hours of the night and finally lying down with exhaustion, it is almost impossible to fall asleep. I learned my lesson, though. When it came time for the final, I procrastinated as usual, but I woke up four hours before my final and studied much better than before. I'm sure we have all been to the reserve room in the Kennedy Library at night and seen it almost full.
Most students study or work on projects late at night rather than in the morning.
Studying in the morning leaves the information fresh in your mind before the test. Students who become so accustomed to staying up late to get work done will end up suffering after college. William Sydnor, adviser at the Academic Skills Center, said there is no telling if studying in the morning is more effective than studying at night. He said, in general, the best time for people to study is after they are rested. It is all a matter of personal preference, he said.