When you are taking a rigorous class in college, class notes are extremely important. The notes you take will be your only record of what the prof actually said that day. I understand that some profs make notes and presentations available before class, but you still need to write furiously to get all those little side comments and any other extra things down. Sometimes those little extra thoughts you write down and investigate after class turn out to be your ticket to being one of the few people who get the “Where the hell did he get that question?” parts of the test correct.
Write as fast as you can and learn to use abbreviations and symbols as appropriate for your major. Certainly up-arrows for “increases” and down-arrows for “decreases” were the first couple I picked up immediately in freshman science classes, along with ∃ for “there exists…” Notice abbreviations your prof uses and learn them. They will probably serve you well through the years in your field.
Photo Credit: Marco Arment