How to Take Notes in College

Unfortunately, college classes are made up mostly of lecture courses. Not only will they come across as incredibly boring, but the teachers often talk so fast that it can seem impossible to keep up with them in your notes. But these notes are what the entire class is based around. Here are some simple tricks you can use to take good notes in class without falling behind.

Instructions

1. Develop active listening skills. When the teacher is talking, listen to what he says and then write down what the main idea was. Don't write word for word. Pick out the main idea and some supporting details and write them in your notes. You'll be more likely to remember them later.

2. Use shorthand to make note-taking faster. Whether you're writing down what the professor says or he puts the notes on the board, writing word for word will cause you to run out of time. Develop a system for abbreviating words, such as "4" instead of "for," "2" instead of "too," and "w/" for "with" or "w/o" for "without." If he reviews something from the book, write down the page number in your notes and go back and add those notes from your textbook later on.

3. Spend a few minutes typing or rewriting your notes after class. You are more likely to remember notes that you read after class, and it will also help you fill in any missing information.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a laptop if it's too hard for you to keep up with the teacher when writing by hand.

• Sit in the front of the class so you'll be less likely to get distracted during the lecture.

Resources

• Shorthand Symbols