<p>I'll be starting college in the fall and I am a chronically disorganized person...I can never seem to keep everything in its place, so I usually just end up with a giant stack of papers in my bag!</p>
<p>How did you organize yourself when you went to college, and how did it differ by class? For example, did you use a notebook and folder for sociology but a binder for cell bio, just a notebook for your spanish class, or a giant binder for everything? I'd really like to know! </p>
<p>You'll have to tailor your ogranization to your style and classes, but here's a starting point so you at least don't have a bag of papers.</p>
<p>Either get a spiral notebook for each class with pockets for handouts, or a big binder with a divider for each class, or a binder for each class set (mwf or tr), or a small binder for each class.</p>
<p>Personally I have a binder for each set of classes, as I'll either have 2 or 3 on a given day. I like to use looseleaf paper as I can change the order, or just take a page out if I need it. Also, I hate trying to write in a notebook. At least in my courses (engineering) I don't get too many handouts. If anything, some profs use tons of powerpoint so I'll print out the slides, holepunch them, and write any additional notes on the side.</p>
<p>The giant binder is a pro if you spend a ton of time on campus (commute, or have holes in your schedule) and want to have all your stuff with you to work on stuff.</p>
<p>I use a spiral notebook for each class. I stick the syllabus in the pocket. Any other papers, I stick between the front cover and the front pocket, but usually there are not very many (if any at all) of those.</p>
<p>I use the same spiral notebook for all my classes - just one of those 10 cent ones. That way all my notes are together, and I won't accidentally bring the wrong notebook to class. And then I have 1-4 folders where I put all the loose papers or homework assignments. This semester, I'll also have to have a binder for stagecraft, for a notebook check at the end of the year. But I don't plan on actually bringing it to class because my bag is already really heavy. My best friend, though, is my planner. I use it all the time to keep track of everything. I also write reminders on post-its and stick them around my computer. And every Friday, I write a list of all the homework assignments I have to do that weekend.</p>
<p>I am also disorganized, and my first semester I was definitely all over the place and I lost stuff all the time. This semester I developed an awesome system that has really helped me keep organized, which is making me do better in my classes and save tons of time.</p>
<p>I have a 1-inch binder for each of my five classes, all in different colors so they are easily identifiable. They also have labels on the spines that say the name of the class. I keep about 50 sheets of notebook paper in them for note-taking. I have 2 or 3 dividers in them depending on the class that have pockets so I can stick papers in quickly but they are still in their category. I hole punch them later and put them in their section. For most classes, its "Book Notes", "Lecture Notes, "Papers"...along those lines. I put the labels on the dividers as the class went along and I figured out what would be appropriate. Using a binder is awesome because you can rearrange, add or take out things as needed, which you can't do with a notebook.</p>
<p>The absolute best feature to my setup is that I have a zipper pouch in the front of each binder that I keep a pen, highlighter, mechanical pencil and Post-it notes in. That way I don't have to worry about having writing utensils because I know I always have what I will need. I write what I have to do for that class (write a paper, read such and such pages, etc.) on a Post-it and write in big letters the due date (THURSAY, FRIDAY, etc.) and I put it on the front of the binder so I can look at all my binders and see what I have to do. I don't write stuff that's due in three weeks - I just write what I have to accomplish before the next class. </p>
<p>This method has been awesome for me! I definitely recommend it.</p>
<p>I use legal pads and the inside covers of books. No notebooks here. If I have a folder it's usually for important documents (like if I want to prevent a term paper from wrinkling). I also use pencils only to take notes--I hate writing in pen because I make a lot of mistakes, plus the feel of a pencil against a recycled legal pad (gotta use recycled, I like the feel better) is satisfying to me.</p>
<p>I can get a big pack of legal pads (8 fifty sheet recycled pads) and a pack of ten pencils for about eight bucks. I know a lot of people who spend that much on one binder.</p>