sweetmisty,
Can i ask what you though process is when you are taking notes in class and how you do your HW?
In high school, 2 years ago, i myself had a similar problem. i studied a lot and the results were less than expected and in my first year in college it was a similar situation. And it turned out HOW i studied and what i did in class had a lot to do with it. A semester later, right now, i have worked on HOW i do it enough be the first one to finish the test or understanding concepts in very little time. Check these out
How to become a straight A student
Amazon.com: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less: Cal Newport: Books
and
Scott Young's book
Learn More, Study Less
Scott H Young » Get More
These two books really helped me understand what i actually do when i study and how to improve it. I suggest you check it before you spend your money on something more expensive.