Getting the most out of every class.
In this video, I'm going to talk about taking notes in lectures. But first, I'll give you a few tips to help make sure that you take the best notes that you possibly can.
Rule number one: show up. This may sound odd, but students miss classes. I certainly did in my first few semesters, and I still regret it. Class lectures are incredibly important—they’re really what you're paying for. Let's do a little math here. Say you have two lectures a week in four different classes. If your tuition is $30,000 a semester, you're paying $267 per lecture. If that doesn't get you to class, I don't know what will.
Besides losing money, missing just one class creates a lot of problems. You can't take notes, and you can't ask questions or hear what others ask. Without notes, you won’t be able to prepare questions for review or self-testing. Most importantly, you'll miss subtle points that you can pick up only in class—hints about what's most important, what might be on the exam, or unique ways of approaching a problem. Class is where professors introduce new ideas and explain things differently than your textbook, sometimes even contradicting it. In some classes, exam questions may come more from lectures than your textbook. Remember the first rule of college: what you skip will be on the exam. Never, ever miss class. If you must skip, find someone who takes really good notes and see if they'll share them with you.
Rule number two: be prepared. Professors love to say there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Not true. A stupid question is one whose answer is in the textbook you should have read before class. Every lecture I had in college required reading beforehand, either from a textbook chapter or a PDF. I talked about this in a previous video, but I'll repeat it here: do not let anyone tell you it's okay not to read before class. If the professor starts covering complicated concepts you've never seen, the chances of understanding them are slim to none, so come prepared.
Rule number three: sit front and center. This rule requires zero effort, but the payoff is huge. It provides more benefit for the effort required than anything else you can do. Sit in the front row of every class, no exceptions. It doesn't matter if there are three empty rows behind you—and there probably will be. Just go to the front. I started doing this after Jim suggested it. At first, I was the only one there, but eventually, my teammates joined me. Sitting front and center helped immensely because it eliminated distractions, both digital and personal. When you're at the front, you're less tempted to look at your phone—it would honestly feel disrespectful. It gives you total focus on the professor and everything you need to see and hear. It's also very easy to ask questions and to be first to approach the professor after class. Lastly, there’s one important benefit you might not even be thinking about: the professor notices you. They know you're prepared and care about the subject. Professors care deeply about their fields and quickly recognize students who genuinely care. Show sincere interest, because professors are gatekeepers to opportunities—research projects, internships, recommendations, and referrals. Make sure they know who you are. It’s zero effort for maximum benefit. Always sit front and center.
Rule number four: eliminate distractions. This is usually where I'd tell you to turn off your phone and close your browsers, but since you'll be in the front row, that’s less likely to be an issue. Just in case, do it anyway. Ensure you’re distraction-free at all times.
Now, on to taking notes. Being front and center with no distractions puts you in a great position to take good notes. Let's ensure you're doing it correctly. If you search for note-taking methods, you'll find many—outline, mind map, free recall, and more. But remember what I said in my video about learning how to learn: start with the end in mind. The reason you're taking notes is because the material will be on your exam. Before choosing any particular method, ask yourself if it helps you prepare for exams. For us, there's only one method that does—the Cornell note-taking system.
In my "learning how to learn" video, I spent a lot of time explaining self-testing and spaced repetition. Notes should be taken in a way that easily allows for practice, and the Cornell method is best for this. Here's how it works: imagine you're taking notes on a typical notebook or tablet page. Draw a line down the page about two-thirds of the way over—and that's it. You're done. Really, it's that simple. The idea is to separate the page into two sections: take notes in the larger area and write test questions later in the smaller section. Yes, it’s really that simple.
If you look online, you'll find some Cornell methods add references at the top—main topic, date, textbook chapters, and page numbers. You can do whatever you want, but honestly, keep it simple. Every note Jim took in college and law school was just a two-column layout, and I adopted the same method. Which side should you draw the line on? Many examples online place it on the left, but if you're right-handed like me, draw the line on the right side. Having blank space on the right means your hand doesn't slide off the edge when you're writing quickly. If you're left-handed, reverse it. Experiment and find what works best for you. Just ensure all notes are taken in the large area, then add test questions later.
Lectures are delivered differently by each professor. Some use slides, handouts, PDFs, or whiteboards. Regardless, structure your notes to easily add test questions for each concept. Writing directly on handouts can be messy and limiting, so try taking notes separately in a notebook, laptop, or tablet, referencing handouts as needed.
What should you take notes on? You have lots of options—paper notebooks, laptops, tablets. Many students still use paper, others prefer laptops for speed. It doesn't matter as long as you leave space for questions. However, we think the future belongs to tablets, like the iPad, because lectures today are dynamic and audiovisual. Tablets offer maximum flexibility to edit, rearrange, add questions, record audio, take photos, and insert links. They're incredibly versatile. You can even type if needed, though digital pencils offer the greatest flexibility. There are many note-taking apps available today, so pick your favorite, ensuring it accommodates the Cornell method.
When it comes to organizing notes, many methods focus on structure but not on preparing for exams. You can use any method you like—mind maps, outlines—just do it within the Cornell framework. Keep all notes on the larger side and add questions later. The internet often presents unrealistic examples of beautifully organized notes. These "pretty notes" might look great on TikTok or Instagram, but from my experience at Harvard and Jim’s extensive academic background, effective note-taking is fast and furious. Just get everything down quickly, abbreviate, and use shorthand. Studies have shown handwritten notes lead to better recall.
Some advice suggests taking notes only on important points, filtering as you go. We partly agree, but it's hard to know what's important in real-time. If in doubt, write it down—you can sort it later. Another common question is whether notes are necessary at all. Some sources claim you don't need them because textbooks or lectures alone suffice. Don't take that risk. Our advice: do everything—read all assignments and take extensive notes in class. Doing things twice ensures better retention. Never assume class and textbook content will match perfectly. If you skip something, expect it on the exam.
Understand everything. Lectures can be complicated and fast-paced. Students often hesitate to ask questions, fearing embarrassment. That's okay, but never leave class without understanding everything. As soon as class ends, approach the professor with your questions—another good reason to sit in the front.
After class, don't rush out. Quickly scan your notes for gaps, unclear shorthand, or missing concepts. Fill these areas immediately, leaving no loose ends. The longer you wait, the more you forget.
Next, write your test questions. Using the Cornell method, you wrote notes on one side; now, write questions on the other. Do it as soon as possible—ideally the same day—while the material is fresh. Ask yourself what material might appear on the exam and create open-ended questions. For definitions and scientific terms, flashcard systems like Anki work well. Math problems should be practiced repeatedly. Consider how professors typically frame exam questions, review past exams, and even ask the professor directly for advice. They might even offer hints.
Some recommend outlining notes later, but in our experience, self-testing is usually a better use of time. If outlining helps organize scattered notes, feel free, but always ask if that time is better spent practicing questions.
Quick summary: show up, be prepared, sit front and center, use the Cornell method, capture everything clearly, review notes immediately, and write test questions promptly. Remember: take action, have fun, and get perfect grades.