You concentrate better in a lecture hall, listening to the professor in person, surrounded by your solemn peers, then you do trying to read notes or the textbook in your dorm room with the TV blaring. In short: it’s a quicker way to learn material well.

The problem is I don’t know how to take notes and the QEC format is hard to do. Also, I don’t know how to review these notes since I don’t have a QEC format.

I didn’t understand your other questions, but we can focus on this one. Let me ask *you* two questions.

(1) What type of information/knowledge will you be required to recall to do well on the exams?

(2) What format for storing this information would most simplify note-taking?

Once you answer these two questions, the solution of how best to take notes for a specific class becomes clearer.

I have a couple of questions for you. First, I know that your minor at Darmouth was art history, and according to your book How to win at college, I took an introductory class in art history. The problem is I don’t know how to take notes and the QEC format is hard to do. Also, I don’t know how to review these notes since I don’t have a QEC format. Concerning the issue of coming to class, I had this crazy idea to sit in classes that I am not enrolled in, with a subject matter that bores me to death, and do my readings. Since the subject matter bores me to death, I don’t feel tempted to listen to what the professor has to say. My problem is, when I work at the library, I end up reading a book ( I am a compulsive reader). My other solution is to go study into deserted halls, or libraries specialized in subjects that I am not likely to read (chemistry).

Do I still have to attend these classes? It’s really grinding listening to a professor teaching something I have known for years and even capable to teach probably.

Use your time in the classroom to review material — it’s like a super-effective study hall.

Besides, of course I crave for taking a pretest and therefore drop such courses. However, as some such courses are core, I do not have the advantage to make the choice.

I agree that attendance is important, but sometimes you just have to take the day off.

Assuming you don’t want your grade to decrease, my experience is that every hour of missed lecture translates to 2 – 4 hours of solo review down the line. Notice what Mike said in his comment (#13): “The one day I missed class (car, not bear trap) still remains my weakest material, despite (re)reading the book, getting the notes, and asking questions.”

In other words, skipping class because you are tired one day is, in effect, screwing over your future self!

And another note from the other side of the lectern: review what the professor says about attendance in the syllabus.

…

Adding to this post, the textbooks, although comprehensive, don’t always teach the skills necessary to get the A. One of my teachers once said “I could give you this book, and theoretically, you would all come out with As, but that isn’t the case is it?”.

…

If you don’t show up in class, you can’t really take advantage of office hours. It will be obvious to the professor that you aren’t in lecture

…all excellent additions to the list of why you should attend class. Thank you all!

I’m just finishing up a fairly technical summer course (so its fast paced) and the teacher was a mediocre grad student. Despite having to spend considerable time and energy clarifying poor instruction after every class, I found it much more economical then doing the work myself. The one day I missed class (car, not bear trap) still remains my weakest material, despite (re)reading the book, getting the notes, and asking questions. Physically not experiencing this knowledge in a first hand manner was much more costly then clarifying his lecture, in straight hour terms.

But I’m not sure even if each hour of work was equivelent – 6hrs to 9hrs doesn’t really describe the amount of vagueness I have about the material, despite being able to recall it through rote. My economic self wants to measure this and chart it.

Even if getting to know your professors didn’t practically guaratee higher grades (though it does), you’re really not getting your money’s worth out of college unless you get some direct interactions with your professors.