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So, you skipped your morning shower in favor of dry shampoo, ran halfway across campus only to be five minutes late to class and now your professor seems to have forgotten how to speak at normal speed. By the end of the class, those “notes” you took look like a language you made up when you were six. When it comes time to prepare for your test, you end up spending more time trying to decipher what you wrote than you do studying. Life in college is already hard enough, so don’t let notes become a bigger issue than they should be. Here are some tips to make note taking a little easier.
Separation is Key While it might be convenient to keep every classes’ notes in one large notebook, it also causes quite a bit of frustration. Finding the one page you need out of a 200-page notebook is equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack. The best way to keep your notes organized is to divide them into separate notebooks. Another way to keep your notes organized is by starting a new page for each lecture. Starting a new page allows for easy references to certain topics without having to search through page after page of notes that run together. All the extra notebooks and skipped pages may be a pain at first, but it will keep you sane when it comes time to study.
Shorthand is Your New Best Friend We’ve all seen the pictures of notes that are written in beautiful handwriting or color coded to perfection, but, let’s be honest, that’s not even remotely realistic. When your professor spews four chapters of information in 30 seconds, it’s hard to get a couple words down, let alone create a masterpiece. Instead of scribbling down a few words, develop a system of shorthand that’s easily understandable and quick to write. Even something as simple as abbreviating or using symbols in the place of words can make note taking so much more efficient. Shorthand will make it easier to focus on what’s actually being said in the lecture rather than worrying about how quickly the information can be copied down.
Laptops = Lifesavers If shorthand just isn’t enough to help you keep up with the pace of the class or if it’s still too messy, laptops are lifesavers. It’s no secret that nearly everyone can type faster than they can write, so using your laptop in class can take a lot of effort out of taking good notes. Notes on a laptop are guaranteed to be legible and are easier to organize and format. Another huge advantage over writing out notes is using a platform like the Cloud or Google Docs, which allows you to access notes on your cell phone, tablet and computer. Taking notes on a laptop can be very helpful, but some professors do not allow laptops to avoid distractions. If you prefer taking notes on a laptop but get distracted easily, turn off wifi capability so you don’t find yourself looking at Facebook or checking up on the latest Kardashian drama on Twitter.
Make a Friend or Two There will be days when you can’t make it to a class, whether it be because you pulled an all-nighter studying for a big test or because your bed gave you permission to skip. Either way, a missed class is never anything to ignore. While it’s best to never miss a class, sometimes it’s not realistic. A great way to catch up on what was missed is by asking a friend for any notes. This prevents any gaps in your notes that can be costly when studying for tests. Also, having a friend or two in each class gives you someone who can help with any misunderstood information. Introduce yourself to a couple of people that sit around you in class during the first week so if you ever need any assistance throughout the semester, you’ll have someone to help you.
Excellent note taking skills take time, but with the right organization and techniques, they become the least of your worries. Now, if only there was a guide to landing a high-paying job right out of college….