Taking notes in class isn’t just good common study sense. It also demonstrates that you’re bringing some effort of your own to this exchange. It shows that you’re paying attention and that you care about what your teacher has to say. That’s a powerful message to send, one that you might not want to reserve just for class time.
When you visit your teacher after class to ask for help, take notes on what you discuss. Show that you’re doing your part to make the most of this extra time your teacher is giving you.
If you meet with your counselor to talk about colleges that are a good fit for you, don’t just sit there and nod your head. Write the names of the colleges down. Ask a few questions and take notes on the answers.
Private counselors can do this, too. When we meet with a new family who’s considering joining our program, we ask them if it would be OK if we took some notes during the discussion. And we always take notes when we meet with our enrolled families, not just because we need to remember the information, but because we want the families to know that we care about what they’re saying.
When you take notes during an interaction with someone, you’re sending a powerful message. Don’t do it on a date—that would just be creepy. But in class, a meeting with your teacher or counselor, even a job interview, send a good message by taking a few notes.