The Best Way to Organize for College Students
Keeping a Neat Notebook Can be the Key to Better Grades
Aug 24, 2009
One of the trickiest parts of any college education is becoming and staying organized. Maintaining effective study habits is extremely important as well, but no matter how hard a student studies, without organization, it will be impossible to earn the best grades. Knowing a few easy tricks on getting organized can help a student pull up his grades and keep the school year going smoothly.
Learn How to Take Good Notes
If a student has useless, messy or illegible notes, all of the organization in the world won’t fix that problem. The first step in getting organized is making sure to take clear, concise and neat notes during lectures. In some cases, it may be helpful to have two notebooks for each class: one to jot down notes during class and one into which those notes can be organized during study hours.
Taking notes in class should be done quickly and simply. If a professor says something more than once, it’s likely to show up on a quiz or exam, so it should be written down and given special attention in studying. Highlighting or underlining major points discussed in lectures will help students focus and remember key facts when studying later.
Keep Track of All Handouts and Syllabi
Professors will hand out a syllabus with homework, project and exam dates on it. Keeping syllabi in a prominent location within the student’s notes will help as a reminder of when certain things are due.
Each class should have its own notebook and folder or binder, depending on how many handouts and writing assignments will be given. Keeping track of important due dates, study tips and major points from class by highlighting them will remind students of what needs most attention and when.
Keeping class papers separate from one another is important. If a student starts out the grading period with only one folder or binder for several classes, by the time finals week rolls around it will be impossible to locate important papers and notes. Using folders, separators and paperclips will help keep students organized.
Put Notes in Their Place
When students start keeping notes, papers and syllabi in organized folders, it is also important to keep those folders in easily accessible and convenient locations, whether that turns out to be in a filing cabinet or neatly stacked next to a desk. Consistency is key in organization. Keeping notes near a study space will help students access class information quickly and easily.
Taking Notes on a Computer
Whether a student takes a laptop to class or transfers notes to a desktop later on, the same organizational principles apply. Each class should have its own folder and location on the computer in which notes, assignments and papers are saved. Having a specific place to save information for each class will help students find information quickly when it comes time to study or write academic papers. Anything saved on a computer should be backed up either on a flash drive or external hard drive so that an unforeseen accident won’t leave students high and dry when they need to study.
Be Consistent in Staying Organized
Once a student has a system of organization, sticking with it is vital. Getting notes, papers and handouts organized can be a challenge, but constantly changing the way things are arranged will only lead to confusion. Working towards organization can be tough and often involves changing things along the way, but once a student has a system that works, sticking with it is what will allow for ease of mind throughout the rest of the year.
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