Note Taking for College: Mind Mapping

At some point, every college student will have to take notes. However, how one goes about that process of note taking can be a critical part of what determines one's academic success. Developing this skill should be at the top of the to-do list for everyone that pays for a university education.

The traditional way of note taking is the linear fashion. Linear note taking is basically comprised of listing things on a page as a professor says them or as a student encounters them in a textbook. This can be effective, but, more often than not, this can also be very ineffective. Usually, this is one of the most violently boring methods of taking notes.

That's why I'm here to tell you about mind mapping. No, this isn't some kooky, New Agey method that some group of people is hustling to make a quick buck. This is a superior form of note taking that will allow you to organize information in a fun, exciting, and very useful manner. All you need is a piece of paper, writing utensils (pencils, crayons, or sharpies will do), and your imagination.

First, write down a word that represents the central concept of whatever you're studying in the center of the page. You can decorate it or write it in cool lettering to make it memorable. From there, gradually branch out with lines and more words when you encounter new terms and concepts that you need to learn. Be creative and make it fun. Experiment to figure out the best way for you to organize the information; this creative and visual form of organization won't just help you better understand the relationships between the different concepts about which you're learning, but it will also make the material easier to remember.

Some people say that there are rules when it comes to mind mapping, but those people are lying. There are no rules. You should make up the rules as you go along and figure out on your own the best way for you to carry out the process. This is because nobody ever ends up doing this the same way as someone else. You can look around Google and other places at how other people do mind mapping to get ideas, but don't ever feel obligated to follow someone else's example.

You'll appreciate this method when you come back later to study. It is a very personal process that takes time to develop, but is very much worth it in the end. Instead of looking at pages of notes where you listed random things, you'll have structured branches of knowledge. Also, mind mapping is simply so much more fun than linear note taking. Trust me, your grades will appreciate it, and you'll thank me on your next test.