The official study snack tier list (no questions)

Every serious study session needs fuel. And every study snack makes a statement about who you are as a person. So we did the work nobody asked for and ranked them. The rankings consider three things: brain fuel, mess factor and library noise level.

These rankings are final. Please direct complaints to the group chat, where they will be ignored.

S-tier: elite, flawless, no notes

Grapes

Quiet. Clean. Hydrating. Bite-sized. You can eat one per flashcard as a reward system. Grapes are the study snack that would ace the exam itself.

Clementines

Easy to peel, smell incredible and come in their own packaging. The peeling also gives you a two-minute mental break that doesn't involve your phone. Genius.

Trail mix

Nuts for energy, raisins for sweetness, chocolate for morale. Everyone picks the chocolate out first and nobody talks about it.

A-tier: excellent, minor flaws

Pretzels

Satisfying crunch, low mess. Loses points only because the bag is louder than it has any right to be.

Granola bars

Reliable. Portable. The study snack equivalent of a friend who always shows up on time. Some of them are just candy bars in disguise, and we respect the hustle.

Apple slices with peanut butter

Peak nutrition, peak satisfaction. Docked a tier because peanut butter will end up on your notes. It's not a question of if.

B-tier: solid, situational

Popcorn

Great at home, risky in public. The smell travels across three floors and every person you pass will hate you a little.

Dark chocolate

A small square is a great reward. The whole bar is a decision you'll think about at 2 AM.

Instant noodles

A warm hug in a cup. Requires a kettle, time and a desk you don't mind getting splashed. A home snack only.

C-tier: you tried

Chips

Delicious, but greasy fingers and laptop keyboards do not mix. Also, see our full report on the Snack Crinkler. You know who you are.

Gummy candy

A fun fifteen minutes followed by a sugar crash right when you get to the hard chapter. Short-term gain, long-term pain.

F-tier: please reconsider

Anything with a strong smell, in a shared space

Tuna. Reheated fish. That one very garlicky leftover. We love you, but your study group does not. Eat it at home.

Powdered cheese snacks

The orange dust gets on everything. Your notes. Your laptop. Your soul. You'll find it on your keyboard in three weeks.

Crunchy anything in the silent section

Not a specific snack. A crime category. Carrots, crackers and apples all count. In the silent section, the only acceptable snack is one you can eat without making eye contact with anyone.

Honorable mention: water

Not a snack, but the most underrated study tool there is. Being even a little dehydrated can make you feel tired and foggy, which you will absolutely blame on the textbook. Keep a bottle on the desk.

Your snack says a lot about you

Grape people plan ahead. Trail mix people are optimistic. Instant noodle people are at home in their pajamas and fully committed. Powdered cheese people are chaotic and we are a little bit scared of them.

Want an official study persona to go with your snack? Take our finals week survival quiz. And if you're reading a snack tier list instead of studying, our procrastination style quiz would like a word.