With midterms in full affect and finals just around the corner, it’s important to have clear, concise notes to look back on when studying. Although there isn’t a definite guideline to taking proper notes, there are plenty of tips out there that can help you organize what you’ve learned in the classroom in a more effective way. Here are five of the most helpful note taking tips for all college students.
1. Go to class prepared.
The first step to great note taking is coming in to class ready to learn with a positive attitude. It is important to have either a notebook or binder with sections divided for each different class so your notes aren’t all over the place. It’s always good to come to class with extra writing utensils and highlighters! Highlighters are great for emphasizing the really important terms and will help make those key words stand out when it comes time to study later.
2. Be clear and organized.
There’s nothing worse than missing a class, having to get the lecture notes from a friend, and then needing a map to figure out what goes where. The most important thing to know about note taking is that whatever you understand in the moment, you’re going to have to then look back at and still be able to comprehend in the future. Be sure to write clearly when taking notes and work using a system. Try skipping a line after every new topic and using bullet points to follow to best keep information in order. You can even use post-its to flag down important information to look back on!
3. Write down what matters.
When in class, it’s easy to get caught up in the little things. We’ve all been at that point where we think we have to write down all that our professor’s tell us because we think everything, down to what they ate for lunch, will be on the final or midterm. Keep your ears open for key terms that they point out and really engage in the class. Most often, everything that’s either written on the board or shown in a presentation is fair game for a test. If you write down the big concepts with key examples, you won’t need to dwell over the little things.
4. Ask.
Students always get nervous at the end of class when the professor says, “Does anyone have any questions?” You should never be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something the first time it is presented to you. The best students are the ones that stay after class and ask for more examples in order to grasp the concepts better. Just by taking a little extra time listening to your professor explain things again, you’ll have more elaborate notes and be better off when it comes time to study.
5. Review and compare.
Last, but definitively not least, it’s important to always review your notes after you’ve taken then and compare with a friend. In the moment, when we’re trying to listen to the class lecture and record information the same time, it’s natural to miss a thing or two. By reviewing your notes right after class, the information is still fresh in your mind and it will be easier to fill in those gaps. It’s also a great thing to compare notes with a friend because they might have something that you missed or vice versa.
Her Campus Hofstra hopes that you take these tips and apply them to your everyday note taking ventures. Remembers, preparation and organization are key to being proactive inside and outside of the classroom!