Sitting in the front of the classroom, near the lecturer, helps you to focus better. Pay attention to the emphasis and tone of the instructor's voice to pick up what is being stressed. It helps to make a mental picture of the events being discussed. As notes are being taken, leave a small margin on the side to use for examples or additional comments. Use abbreviations and symbols to improve your efficiency in the note taking process.
Outlines are another good method for note taking.
In an outline, the main ideas are noted using numerals, while supporting ideas are listed with letters. Procrastination can be a real enemy to college students. Read - When beginning a new chapter of a book or any document, look over the title, headings, charts, maps, and illustrations. This provides an overview of what is covered. Once you finish a section, review what you have read before moving to the next section.