Your first week of college is generally the easiest week. Yes, adjusting to college is overwhelming, but other than knowing what books to buy and how to handle the classroom environment, a new skill set you’ll need is effective note-taking. Follow these five tips for techniques proven to make you feel more confident in classes.

• Binders are one of the best ways to keep organized. Loose leaf paper can easily be added if you missed a class or choose to rewrite your notes Also, decorating the outer cover will make your school supplies classy and stylish!

• Panicking is a common reaction when the professor starts to lecture. You may start spending too much time focusing on one thought. Instead, try to listen effectively, write down the main points and make the words your own. Also, write quickly, but legibly. A study at the University of Maryland proved note-taking to be detrimental if it means the student stops actively listening to the lecture.

• During the lecture, a great format to try is the Cornell Note-taking System. It is the perfect way to jot down notes during class and study them later through a “reflect and review” process.

• After class, be sure to go back and reread the material. Highlighters help a lot in both textbooks and note-taking. Color coding your notes may make them easier to study and remember.

• Lastly, clean up! Rewrite any notes to enforce the lesson, make them neat and guarantee you understand all of the concepts.  Have any questions about the material? It’s a great idea to compose a list of questions based on your notes and readings for a professor to clarify. Expand on the quick notes and you’re bound to get an A!