College Note-Taking Tips
Getting the most out of college means studying hard and using your time in class wisely. One way to do this is with an effective note-taking strategy. Your class notes can only help you if you can find them, so when you are taking notes be sure to keep all your notes for one class in one place. Dating and numbering pages can also help to keep them in order and to make it easier to refer back to them. Before class review the materials assigned for that class thoroughly. Bring a list of questions you may have from the reading to remind you to get answers. During class make the best use of your class time by having a note-taking method. Things to keep in mind while taking notes are to write down the speaker’s main points; you don’t have to write down every word you hear. Organize your notes as you write, pay attention to cues such as repetition and emphasis. Indicate main points and supporting points as you go. Jot down key vocabulary, important facts, and formulas. And remember if you are confused it is okay to ask questions. It is better to ask while the material is fresh in your mind.
As soon as you can after class, review your notes and fill in any blanks. Underline or highlight any information that stands out as more important. After you have reviewed all your notes from class, write down any questions your teacher might ask on a test. You could even write a summary of the notes to help you digest what you have learned and improve your memory of the notes in the long term for exams down the road.
By exercising good note taking skills you will find that you have created your own personalized study guide. Review your notes the day you take them, and all your notes once a week or so, and you will hardly need to study when exams come around because you will have been doing the work all along. Taking good notes requires practice in order to figure out what methods work best for you, and the more you work on it, the more prepared you will be.