is this the best, fastest note taking method?

Handwritten note-taking can be both fast and usable long after class ends, but only if notes are built around selective capture—not transcription. The core shift is away from writing everything a professor says and toward aggressively condensing ideas into short, simple sentences, using abbreviations, and translating the lecturer’s wording into a personal format. Grid or dotted paper is treated as the practical foundation for speed and organization, while the “fastest” workflow comes from minimizing tool-switching: a black pen for writing, then a single highlighter pass during review to emphasize keywords.

The method also depends on what happens after the lecture. Notes should include enough references—quotes, page numbers, and other identifiers—so the material can be revisited later without hunting through sources. Titles and topics are positioned as the backbone of quick study: they can be turned into a self-made study guide that helps someone see what’s already covered at a glance. Still, the approach warns against rewriting notes purely for aesthetics; re-copying word-for-word wastes time. The better use of “rewriting” is purposeful consolidation—adding missing concepts, references, or clarifying details while keeping the focus on understanding.

A major takeaway is that the classic Cornell method doesn’t fit every subject or every student’s pace. The two-column structure can become a “headache” during note capture because it forces constant decisions about what belongs where, and it can limit margin additions. Instead, the notes favor an outline style with indentation and bullet points, which preserves flexibility for different classes. Even when an adapted Cornell layout is used, the summary box is often removed because some course material doesn’t compress well into that format. In its place, the left side holds titles plus extra quick notes—such as professor recommendations, articles to read, or reminders—while the remaining column functions as an automatic study guide.

Color and layout are treated as tools, not rules. For law school, color coding is described as highly practical because lectures often follow a predictable pattern: exposition, examples, then references to statutes or articles. In that setting, titles, examples, references, and definitions can be separated by different pen colors and highlighted selectively. But in other courses, forcing color can slow down note-taking or create confusion when code or concepts are hard to apply on the spot. For diagrams, the transcript moves away from sticky notes—first using them for easy removal and re-drawing, then rejecting them due to physical messiness like ripping, snatching, and wrinkling.

Speed improvements also come from handwriting mechanics. Cursive is recommended as a way to reduce pen lifts, with the caveat that “casual cursive” may be faster than strict formal cursive. The writer also claims personal speed gains from writing slanted to the right. Finally, an external handwriting course is promoted as a way to improve legibility and speed through structured strategies.

Overall, the “best fastest note-taking method” is less about a single template and more about a disciplined workflow: capture selectively, reference precisely, structure for later review, and optimize the physical act of writing so studying doesn’t depend on perfect transcription.