As you grow up and take more advanced classes, there comes a point where attendance at class becomes optional. For example, it is rare for anyone to record attendance at university classes. You paid for the class, you’re considered an adult, and it’s up to you whether you show up or not. It’s really tempting to skip some classes. You were up too late the night before, you find the lectures boring, you think you can just read the textbook, you have to work on an assignment that’s due tomorrow, you have to get groceries and do laundry, and the list goes on. Go to class! Try to stay awake! Pay attention! In most cases, if it’s important enough to be on the exam, it’s important enough to emphasize in class. You’ll save time by attending class and learning what the teacher thinks is important. If you pay attention, you can often get a relatively good idea what topics are most likely to be on the exams, and get hints about what is expected on assignments or projects. Taking your own notes is also much more helpful than studying from your friend’s notes later on. The process of taking notes helps with learning and memorizing. You’ll remember details that weren’t written down and things will make much more sense when you study from them later. Professors also tend to notice who is attending class, paying attention, and participating. If a time comes when you need extra help or have special circumstances to address, they are more likely to be accommodating if they know you’ve been working hard all term.
How has your note-taking changed since you’ve been at school?
105 comments
Comment by sbt720 on February 19, 2013 at 9:57 am
good
Comment by ipt722 on February 19, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Taking notes makes me pay attention more as well. I don’t fall asleep.
Comment by ast723 on February 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I think its right. Its shud be upto us whether to attend or not as n adult.
Comment by ast724 on February 19, 2013 at 5:40 pm
It’s become more organized.
Comment by ast725 on February 19, 2013 at 8:27 pm
I’m all for attending class, note taking makes a difference come exam time.
Comment by sbt726 on February 20, 2013 at 12:08 am
I shall be attending the class.
Comment by ast727 on February 20, 2013 at 12:25 am
I like this very much
Comment by sbt727 on February 20, 2013 at 12:34 am
OK I am posting my comment as requested
Comment by ast728 on February 20, 2013 at 12:56 am
I never took notes, so don’t ask me.
Comment by ipt727 on February 20, 2013 at 12:56 am
I have learned to be more brief.
Comment by ast729 on February 20, 2013 at 4:12 am
Attending classes is important
Comment by ipt730 on February 20, 2013 at 7:21 am
Attending classes is very important .
And in some university 85% , 80% must for attending exam
Comment by ast732 on February 20, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Going to class is always the safest bet
Comment by sbt732 on February 20, 2013 at 1:20 pm
I always copied my notes twice so I could make extra clarifications. it helped me remember and kept everything very neat and organized.
Comment by sbt733 on February 20, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I use notes more as a mental roadmap than as a means for just documenting the lecture. Good notes augment my memory, instead of just jotting down facts.
Comment by sbt734 on February 20, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Print the power points or prof’s notes, read the assignment and then take notes on stuff I don’t understand.
Comment by ipt736 on February 21, 2013 at 1:54 am
By not attending class, your greatly lowering your success
Comment by sbt736 on February 21, 2013 at 3:14 am
Good article..Now i have to rethink before taking my notes.. 😛
Comment by ast738 on February 21, 2013 at 5:46 am
My note-taking was non-existent in high school. We never really had lectures where we had to just take our own notes. It’s something I learned really fast in university.
Comment by sbt738 on February 21, 2013 at 6:04 am
good article
Comment by ast739 on February 21, 2013 at 6:15 am
Class room program is playing a very vital role in early age so attending class is very important.
Comment by sbt739 on February 21, 2013 at 6:54 am
sbt739
Comment by sbt740 on February 21, 2013 at 9:50 am
we should regularly attend class. be attentive and note down the notes regularly.
Comment by ast741 on February 21, 2013 at 11:53 am
very good article,everyone should attend class regularly
Comment by ast709 on February 21, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Attending the class and taking notes is the habit of a successful persons,So it is necessary for every student to attend the class and taking notes…..
Comment by ast742 on February 21, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Stay diligent and never give up.
Comment by ast737 on February 22, 2013 at 8:01 am
attending class is very important to a student
Comment by rtp100 on July 28, 2013 at 9:32 am
As an undergrad, I definitely skipped classes now and then. Probably more than I should have. Now, as a master’s student, attending my classes feels essential. It’s extremely important for me to be there and hear the discussions the class is having. Otherwise I would quickly fall out of the loop and really struggle to keep up with my program.
Comment by rtp102 on July 30, 2013 at 8:00 am
I took notes thoroughly, but I made sure to highlight the key points.
Comment by rtp104 on July 30, 2013 at 8:36 am
i record the lecture sometimes
Comment by rtp105 on July 30, 2013 at 9:54 am
i skipped class today 🙁 feels bad….
Comment by rtp103 on July 30, 2013 at 10:40 am
Try to regard attending class as a way to improve your “listening and hearing” skills.
Comment by rtp106 on July 30, 2013 at 11:45 am
pay close attention ONLY to the important things the prof says, that is, the things he/she says frequently
Comment by rtp107 on July 30, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Now I write everything down!
Comment by rtp108 on August 1, 2013 at 6:17 pm
really important
Comment by rtp109 on August 2, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Attending class is indeed very helpful. Not only it helps you practise time management as an adult, you also benefit from physically being there.
My note-taking depends on the class that I am attending. Because I am a slow writer, I like printing notes/slideshows if professors have them available and then adding my own notes in the margins. If those aren’t available, I bring in my laptop and type away.
Comment by ctp101 on August 4, 2013 at 7:32 am
very true, i write notes lesser compared to before, i think maybe its because of the course itself that doesn’t need much note taking
Comment by ctp103 on August 4, 2013 at 8:56 am
I not only take notes of what the professor’s write, but also what they say during class.
Comment by ctp100 on August 4, 2013 at 1:29 pm
I have missed some of the class in universities and started to have a friend to get a copy of the notes. This is very rare when I was at high school!
Comment by rtp110 on August 4, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Its no longer as easy as high school
Comment by ctp102 on August 8, 2013 at 2:02 pm
I’ve learned to use short forms to write faster
Comment by ctp104 on August 18, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Being in class is very important. But it is also important to have good note-taking habits. I don’t bring my laptop anymore because it distracts me.
Comment by ctp107 on August 19, 2013 at 11:30 am
i have become accustomed to using different kinds of shorthand words, as well as using signs to indicate what parts of the notes are the most important
Comment by rtp111 on August 21, 2013 at 7:38 am
My notes has become more colorful and shorter in length.
Comment by ctp109 on August 21, 2013 at 9:55 am
I use more abbreviations and instead of reciting a Professor’s example, I try to make an example of my own.
Comment by ctp110 on August 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm
My note taking is done the day(s) before an exam and from the textbook.
Comment by ctp105 on August 22, 2013 at 12:53 am
Note taking and attending class is vital in my opinion.
Of course, there is the occasional first or second year class that one might run into where they have no idea what they learned in it, no comment for such stuff.
Comment by ctp108 on August 23, 2013 at 9:57 pm
I have had to have note takers, and to catch up on my coarse.
Comment by gt105 on November 18, 2013 at 1:38 pm
I make abbreviations and try to come up with examples of my own.
Comment by gp109 on November 18, 2013 at 3:45 pm
No one goes to class anymore. Start living life and stop watching Netflix while you’re in class!!
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