<p>What actual supplies should I get for classes, in high school I mostly used binders, notebooks and folders, but in college I feel as though there aren't as many handouts or lose papers, what would be recommended? Notebooks, folders, or binders?</p>
<p>That's correct in my experience, there aren't as many handouts or loose papers. My vote goes to binders with at least two folder pockets (pocketed dividers work great for extra room). These links should help.</p>
<p>It depends on the course, and more importantly it depends on the professor. For one class, I actually had an entire 2" binder of handouts/printouts. </p>
<p>I usually used a 1" binder for each class because I could always punch holes into handouts (if there were any) and put them in.</p>
<p>I use notebooks for each class with pockets, so the handouts and my notes stay in the same place.</p>
<p>A "neither" organization system always worked well for me in high school, at least--I like spiral legal pads, which seem to do a better job for me of holding any papers than notebooks but are less cumbersome than binders to carry.</p>
<p>I eventually picked up the habit of using a legal pad and a folder that I carried around with me, and then once a particular page wasn't relevant to what I was doing at that moment, I switched it to a different folder that I kept in my room. That worked for me. It was a lightweight low-volume approach, and it meant that I could always have work for at least one class with me in case my plans changed and I suddenly had "nothing" to do for a period of time.</p>
<p>No method works for everybody, so just pick one that you like and let it evolve as needed.</p>
<p>I usually buy a 5 subject notebook for all the classes and individual notebooks when I need more room for math and science classes.</p>
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I use notebooks for each class with pockets, so the handouts and my notes stay in the same place.
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I usually buy a 5 subject notebook for all the classes and individual notebooks when I need more room for math and science classes.
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</p>
<p>This is basically what I do, except I use 3-subject and 1-subject notebooks (5 are too big).</p>
<p>I still like using binders. A lot of my professors have powerpoint slides that you can print out and follow along with (I print 2 slides per page, but I put a blank slide at the bottom so I can take notes on them). As far as classes that don't have printouts, I have considered using a spiral notebook, but I can't stand the spiral part. I also refuse to use a multi-subject one for different classes because I kinda write big and it sucks when you get to the back of that section. So I just use notebook paper. Then I also don't have to worry about the fringe thingys if I have to rip a page out. It's just so easy for me to grab a single binder for a class and not have to worry about if I have my spiral notebook, folder, binder, pen, and pencil.</p>
<p>"I have considered using a spiral notebook, but I can't stand the spiral part."</p>
<p>I don't like them either, so I usually get the spiral notebooks that have the covers over the spiral part. They're a little pricey, but I only get two 3-subject ones, and maybe one 1-subject, and I'm good.</p>
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I still like using binders. A lot of my professors have powerpoint slides that you can print out and follow along with (I print 2 slides per page, but I put a blank slide at the bottom so I can take notes on them). As far as classes that don't have printouts, I have considered using a spiral notebook, but I can't stand the spiral part. I also refuse to use a multi-subject one for different classes because I kinda write big and it sucks when you get to the back of that section. So I just use notebook paper. Then I also don't have to worry about the fringe thingys if I have to rip a page out. It's just so easy for me to grab a single binder for a class and not have to worry about if I have my spiral notebook, folder, binder, pen, and pencil.
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I am the EXACT same way.</p>
<p>LOL. You can't stand the spiral part? Why? Why don't you use a journal then? </p>
<p>I use my laptop for my philosophy classes and take notes on google docs. </p>
<p>For my math and engineering classes, I keep a binder for them where I put tests, homework, etc. I have a binder for each class. I have a spiral for each.</p>
<p>TRIAL AND ERROR
- one big binder for everything - EERRGGHH!
- printing powerpoints to follow in class - DING DING but annoying unless the prof does it for you
- one spiral for the whole day, then rewrite notes when I get home - EEERRGGHH!
- one small spiral for each class then rewrite in a bigger spiral when I get home - EEERRRGGHHH!
- colour code classes - DING DING, I guess
- having a filing system that you can even just put the whole binder in the file - DING DING, get those small file cabinenet/box things</p>
<p>@ PSU MAN12</p>
<p>Make sure you get an academic planner! That really helped me prioritize and schedule my classes, jobs, assignments and appointments. You will need it. </p>
<p>I recommend the 3-subject notebooks with folder pockets.</p>
<p>Tenis, the 3 subject notebook with folder pockets totally did NOT work for me.</p>
<p>Yes, get a good planner. Get a planner that you like. I have one that I just bought with tabs for each month so the calendar is right there and there is lots of space on the next pages to write stuff. Also, its very slim. This is PERFECT for me but someone else might say "This doesn't have enough stuff in it!"</p>
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LOL. You can't stand the spiral part? Why? Why don't you use a journal then?
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I don't like it because 1) it doesn't lie completely flat 2) sometimes the spiral thing bends or something and then it's hard to turn pages 3) it is messy to tear pages out 4) sometimes the pages are a different size than normal paper and it sticks out of my binder (yes, I'm OCD about everything being uniform and the holes lining up) 5) because handouts get crinkled if you stuff them in there 6) I'm clumsy and if I have papers in a notebook and I drop it, they will fall out 7) If I put those papers in something else, it's just one more thing to forget or loose 8) I just don't like them. Same reasons go for using a journal. I prefer my loose leaf paper method.</p>
<p>I decided to go with spiral notebooks and folders, and dont worry I have a handy dandy calendar. Thanks for all the great insight.</p>
<p>Notebooks are for the note-oriented. (Folders are a good supplement to notebooks so you can stick your papers somewhere besides the tiny pockets). Binders are for those who hole punch every handout.</p>
<p>Personally, I was planning on getting about 4 1 in binders one for each of my classes. Then, I was also going to get 4 spirals and place the spirals inside the binders. That way, if I had handouts I could still put them in the binder but i could also take notes in the notebook. Im not really keen on using regular notebook paper for notes, because personally im always misplacing single sheets of paper. But I can keep track of a notebook! Finally, i was planning on retyping my notes on Microsoft OneNote maybe twice a week, just so i keep up and update any info.</p>
<p>I usually use folders and notebooks but I ususlly don’t use all the pages and they go to waste. So what I do is that I tear out the pages I used and reuse the note book and when I use the rest of the pages I get a new notebook. I sometimes do the same with compostion books. But this year I’m getting sick of tearing out pages so I’m thinking of switching to binder[s] and using loose leaf paper. But I still haven’t decided.</p>
<p>It depends on the class and teacher. Both my comp professors used a textbook’s worth of paper in handouts, so I needed to keep all my papers organized in separate binders. </p>
<p>I had a binder for each class (plus an extra for labs). I used a folder and tabs in each binder to organize my papers. I designated a special place in each binder for homework and assignments, so I wouldn’t loose them. I also kept some loose leaf college rule paper in the back to write notes on (but I normally use evernote on my ipad).</p>
<p>***One huge tip: Bring a three hole punch (you can find them at walmart for $5) with you at all times. You can hole punch all your handouts and keep them in your binder.</p>