Read the material first before you begin taking notes. This will give you a good idea on what you will need to take notes on. The information won't seem as brand new to you, so you can read more carefully.
Take the time to use an outline. By going over your notes and then forming them into an outline, it will consolidate the information and organize it in an easy to read format for future use.
Type everything into your laptop in a document file. It allows you to cut and paste the information in a more coherent and organized fashion. To keep organized notes you will need to assign each of your classes their own folder so that you know where to find everything.
Choose a note-taking style that helps you process the information in the most efficient manner. If outlines aren't your thing, choose an informal paragraph style with abbreviations. You can use a circle chart where you put the main point in the center of the page and draw lines attached to smaller spheres with the supporting information. The reason to keep organized notes is to make your learning and studying easier.
Go to pen and paper. If you are old at heart, and can't break away from the mighty pen then go ahead and take all of your notes by hand. You can use a single binder for each subject. If your handwriting leaves much to be desired, you may need to rewrite them after the initial version.