Notetaking Hacks: Supercharge Your College Experience with These Notetaking Tips

Taking good notes in college isn’t as simple as it was in high school, and there’s a much higher expectation of individual initiative and discipline. Read on to learn the top notetaking tips to use in college. College is full of new experiences and challenges.

Use Space Meaningfully

Whether you’re taking notes digitally or not, write large main points and leave margin space for “rabbit trails” or asides that seem important

• You can also highlight key terms to draw attention back to them
• This works just as well as if you took notes digitally

Minimize Distractions

Every momentary glance over to social media is a second (or 30) that you aren’t actually listening

• If you’re taking notes on a device, turn off notifications from all but the most essential apps
• You can’t afford the distractions if you want to take good notes

Develop a System

Set up a notetaking space for the coming week so that when you get to class, you are ready to take notes.

• Don’t wait until the lecture starts to get your orienting information (date, class, topic, etc.) down.

Number Your Pages

It’s important to number your pages.

Cite Sources

Cite sources only when a paper or research project is in view

• You never know when you might need to go deeper into the source material
• Know which sources your professor has already tacitly recommended
• Don’t be afraid to cite sources that the lecturer cites

Use Abbreviations

They save time and can even work as memory aids

Review your notes regularly

Not just before exams

Decide on the Best Strategy (Paper or Digital)

Taking effective notes in college well requires a strategy.

• The two best ways to take notes are on paper with pencil or pens and digital
• Select the system that works best for you, your approach to learning, and the classes that you’re taking this semester

Write Neatly

Ensure you can read what you’re writing easily

• Write as neatly as you can so you don’t have to spend a bunch of time decoding yourself later
• If you can’t write neatly enough to easily read later, consider switching to another notetaking method

Sit at the Front of the Class

Best place to stay attentive

• You might feel exposed or that your instructor will tell you if you are not paying attention, but this can also help you take better notes
• Choose the front of the class for the most immersive experience

Write Down Questions

Keep your brain in gear by writing down questions as you think of them.

• This will keep you engaged while taking notes and provide a resource for following up in class or outside of class with your professor if you want clarification on a point you missed.

Consider Notetaking Apps

If you’re taking notes digitally, be sure you’re using a quality notetaking tool.

Focus on Main Points

Note the topic of the lecture, then form the points into outlines.

Think While You Write

Keep your brain engaged and think while you write.

Get Organized

Set up a system before you begin writing

• Microsoft OneNote is an excellent app that most college students have access to
• It allows you to organize your notes into virtual notebooks and tabs
• If you’re handwriting your notes, consider having notebooks for each class or a three-ring binder with tabs for each course

Keep Your Notes Short

It’s better to keep your notes to a short summary, focusing on what seems to be the most important.

• You also don’t need to write down stuff you already know. Focus on the information that’s new. Get that down, and don’t sweat the rest.

Use Visual Elements

Snapping photos can enhance your notes

• If you’re using a notetaking app, you can drop photos of slides directly into your notes.
• Make sure to do so the same day, though, so you don’t have to figure out which photo goes with which section.

Highlight Key Points

These may not be the main outline points, but they are clear from the presentation that they are important.

• Underline or highlight key points like these in a specific color to differentiate them from other subpoints or notes. For example, if you’re using yellow for important terms, perhaps use blue for these critical points.

Handwrite, Then Type Later

Build some time into your routine each evening to convert your handwritten notes into organized, typed notes.

• The process of re-typing is your first level of review, and you’ll naturally start to categorize and synthesize the information during this process, giving you a searchable database.

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