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I am a first year and this is my second day using it out of my free trial. Ive just found two mistakes (information) in renal physiology, and reported them. I'll post back to evaluate how fast/well they respond.
This program has been out for some time right? For the money that they're charging and the number of students using this, I would have assumed that they worked out the major stuff.
Has any one stuck with them for the long run? Im nervous..
I am a first year and this is my second day using it out of my free trial. Ive just found two mistakes (information) in renal physiology, and reported them. I'll post back to evaluate how fast/well they respond.
This program has been out for some time right? For the money that they're charging and the number of students using this, I would have assumed that they worked out the major stuff.
Has any one stuck with them for the long run? Im nervous..
Namely: some members of our team have suggested that we not require you to look at the entire flashcard containing the concept that you had difficulty on but, instead, simply ask if you want to see a different question on the same concept. When you view the answer, you can -- of course -- then view the concept in the context of the entire flashcard, you notes, images, etc.
I got the free trial, thanks!
Here is the free trial... sorry I posted the wrong link before
http://www.gunnertraining.com/free_trial/1786056
submit feedback with any issues. thats what ive been doingWhat gives? Are people submitting feedback when they find errors, or are they annotating their cards?
I found two more in cardio physiology ! Dont get me wrong, this program has potential, and I was/am very close to taking the plunge. It's based on the same algorithm as Anki decks, which matches my mode of study.
Would my progress be wiped clean once my trial is up? Can I wait a few months for information to be checked over before signing up? Im on the fence, and would love to see if any 2nd or 3rd years have any input.
Also a plug for the program: I was in a problem-solving group session and a question came up that I had memorized verbatim from GT and I vomited out the answer without even thinking. People were like WTF? This happened again when we had to come up with criteria for a syndrome. So, it does work, but it is also turning me into a douche.
Just wanted to say that I have had one of my revision submissions go through (they had the innervation of a muscle wrong), and GT got back to me within a reasonable amount of time.
Pound for pound, there is no more errata in GT than there is in FA.
But...I do have a question. How are people trudging through the minutiae of subjects like immuno via GT? I mean, do you think memorizing every single function of every cytokine is worth it? The material is in first aid, but damn. I am learning the material, no doubt, but I have to wonder if this approach will help me with the questions with a heavy clinical slant.
Also a plug for the program: I was in a problem-solving group session and a question came up that I had memorized verbatim from GT and I vomited out the answer without even thinking. People were like WTF? This happened again when we had to come up with criteria for a syndrome. So, it does work, but it is also turning me into a douche.
If you think about it, when ppl are "reading" FA, they're probably only retaining like 60% of the material... or less.
Even on the 3rd read or something, most ppl are probably like "yeah, eosinophils, I KNOW what they do, DUH... har har har". *Flips page*
But then a Q shows up in step that asks you the specific granules it has or some such. And the person's like wtf, I've "never seen this" before... even tho' it's right there in FA.
I'm totally getting that feeling as I'm going through GT. The open-ended Qs really show me how much I know or don't know. Sometimes knowing a "picky" detail cold turns a big, complicated clinical Q into a real simple Q.
Btw, what was the small group Q?? haha.. I've definitely had that experience. I'll know stuff like the triad for this or that syndrome cold... and pretty much no one else in the room had that "lightbulb" moment, so they're struggling through some long-winded clinical scenario.
GT & Goljan are GOLD, man.
BTW, I am a first-year (almost done) which contributes to my douchiness.
When in first year did you start using it? I am first year and I just started using GT at the end of first semester and I wish i found this earlier so I could have been banking cards as I went along. I'm going to use my short break after finals to bank as many cards as possible before 2nd semester starts
My goal is to get 50% mastery over the summer break, but we know how that goes. I actually think banking cards over the break is a swell idea, especially if you are compiling old material and reviewing. It's a little gunnerish, but whatever,"I do what I want".
I also started using it about 6 months into first year. Honestly, I think that was for the best. The first 6 months of med school was enough by itself, but now things are much more manageable (no more gross anatomy) and I have time for outside study.
It is tough to make progress very quickly. I think I have only mastered ~ 11%, but I don't grade myself over a 4 unless I really know my stuff. I try to squeeze in an hour a night, but sometimes I have to put it aside for exams. I literally type out most of my answers,, and if I am not close enough, I grade myself low.
My goal is to get 50% mastery over the summer break, but we know how that goes. I actually think banking cards over the break is a swell idea, especially if you are compiling old material and reviewing. It's a little gunnerish, but whatever,"I do what I want".
wow. i am a 2nd year and 7 weeks away from step 1.. only like 11.6% mastery and 60% of cards banked. i wish i did this a LOT MORE during first year.. sigh. oh wellHa! I do the same thing. Actually, now I'm only doing the "lite" mode (and still get over 100 Qs/day), since classwork is wrapping up & it's very busy time of year.
Maybe I'm grading myself a lil' harshly, but mastery level is definitely very slow in creeping up. Pathophys organ systems is mostly banked, but the basic sciences still have a lot to go!
Oh well... right now, I'll be happy just to get GT 100% banked before too much dedicated study time has passed. Still have a bit more class time to wade through, however... so not yet fully panicked. lol
To answer your Q, I do plan on continuing GT up until the test. I don't think I'll reach mastery of the material... I mean, I'd like to see their data on how many users actually bank 100% of the cards and hit 100% mastery (without "cheating" and rating themselves 5 even when they can't truly regurg the material).
Whoever actually is capable of that will have mastered a TON of information! I mean... geez.
Will most likely get a UWorld subscription in next couple of days. Will try to get 100% of a section at least banked in GT before attempting the UWorld Q set on the subject. Also, will definitely do all the Qs in the GT "Q bank"... it's heartening that I do pretty well on the multiple choice Qs even if I haven't truly mastered all the flashcards.
Anyway... you're a superstar. I'm sooo jealous. Wish I had known about GT back in 1st year. Good luck, but try and enjoy your summer as well.
I actually think banking cards over the break is a swell idea, especially if you are compiling old material and reviewing. It's a little gunnerish, but whatever,"I do what I want".
Ha! I do the same thing. Actually, now I'm only doing the "lite" mode (and still get over 100 Qs/day), since classwork is wrapping up & it's very busy time of year.
Maybe I'm grading myself a lil' harshly, but mastery level is definitely very slow in creeping up. Pathophys organ systems is mostly banked, but the basic sciences still have a lot to go!
Oh well... right now, I'll be happy just to get GT 100% banked before too much dedicated study time has passed. Still have a bit more class time to wade through, however... so not yet fully panicked. lol
To answer your Q, I do plan on continuing GT up until the test. I don't think I'll reach mastery of the material... I mean, I'd like to see their data on how many users actually bank 100% of the cards and hit 100% mastery (without "cheating" and rating themselves 5 even when they can't truly regurg the material).
Whoever actually is capable of that will have mastered a TON of information! I mean... geez.
Will most likely get a UWorld subscription in next couple of days. Will try to get 100% of a section at least banked in GT before attempting the UWorld Q set on the subject. Also, will definitely do all the Qs in the GT "Q bank"... it's heartening that I do pretty well on the multiple choice Qs even if I haven't truly mastered all the flashcards.
Anyway... you're a superstar. I'm sooo jealous. Wish I had known about GT back in 1st year. Good luck, but try and enjoy your summer as well.
How would one recommend using GT along with first year material?
Would it be more beneficial to say use it with subjects you've already completed--i.e we finished gross and biochem in the fall so I'd spend my time on GT going through cards and qs from those sections...
OR is it better to use GT along with the current course your taking. So, as we cover say renal in physiology, one would review the cards and "bank" the questions in renal as I study for my renal tests?
I used the free trial a little bit in December and really couldn't come up with a way to implement this stuff into my studying for 1st year.
Any suggestions? Also, for those of you using it 1st year, how many hours a day are you spending?
Thanks.
How would one recommend using GT along with first year material?
Would it be more beneficial to say use it with subjects you've already completed--i.e we finished gross and biochem in the fall so I'd spend my time on GT going through cards and qs from those sections...
OR is it better to use GT along with the current course your taking. So, as we cover say renal in physiology, one would review the cards and "bank" the questions in renal as I study for my renal tests?
I used the free trial a little bit in December and really couldn't come up with a way to implement this stuff into my studying for 1st year.
Any suggestions? Also, for those of you using it 1st year, how many hours a day are you spending?
Thanks.
Hey guys, I was just wondering what those of you with gunnertraining experience think of my flashcard method...
I stumbled upon spaced learning flashcard programs a little before med school started and half way into fall came up with the bright idea of putting the parts of First Aid we learn in class into the program (I'm using mneumosyne.) I'm VERY thorough with the First Aid info, and if we cover a topic I put in both what we learned in class AND the details in First Aid that we didn't learn. I've been really pleased by how much I can retain and have had moments similar to what was described in earlier posts (Such as spouting things from memory in small group- though I'm trying to play it cool now after the stunned stares!!)
A little while ago I found out about gunnertraining. Basically I'm guessing that the program is pretty much the same as what I'm doing already, there's just the pro of not having to make the cards and the con of having to pay. I'll probably do the free trial over the summer to see how I like it, but I wanted to know you're opinion. Would Gunnertraining be good since it's a program many people use (so more mistakes will be caught, I don't have the fear of losing data- though I try to back up my cards often, etc.) I guess there's also the worry that I'll have less time 2nd year so making the cards would be harder... but I think I'm learning while making them? I just am not sure what's best
Oh, and I'm putting a few other things into my program like some basic spanish and key things from class that I have problems remembering... so I guess it's useful for that too.
I ran across a question in GT micro that has me vexed. If anybody knows their micro well enough to explain this to me I would be grateful.
Basically the question asks: "...which of the following is not considered to have antigenic variation?"
A. Staphylococcus
B. Salmonella
C. Influenza
D. Borrelia
E. N. gonorrhea
The answer is A.
So, is changing penicillin-binding proteins (a la' Staph) not considered antigenic variation? When I google "antigenic variation + Staph" I get a bunch of articles, so now I am really unsure of this question.
I think I am misunderstanding the definition of antigenic variation.
Sorry that this is off-topic, but I really don't want to start another thread.
2am so forgive the ramble but...
The question is getting at the fact that the others all have well known mechanisms of antigenic variation (which I'm taking to mean changes in antigen presentation not based on random accumulation of mutations), though it isn't entirely accurate for influenza (antigenic shifts could be considered antigen variation, but I don't think that drifts would be).
I don't remember the mechanisms off the top of my head, but salmonella borrellia and gonorrhea all basically have several different sets of surface proteins and only express one at a time and have mechanisms to switch them. Example. You get infected with Borelia recurentes (recurring fever), your immune system mostly clears it, then it changes surface antigens and it takes your immune system about a week to catch up, so you get this pattern or weekly spiking fevers.
Staph don't change penicillin binding proteins. Some staph have evolved to continuously express different penicillin binding proteins, but they aren't actively switching mid infection like the other pathogens listed.
Again, maybe somebody can correct me, but I don't know of influenza having a similar mechanism.
How would one recommend using GT along with first year material?
Would it be more beneficial to say use it with subjects you've already completed--i.e we finished gross and biochem in the fall so I'd spend my time on GT going through cards and qs from those sections...
OR is it better to use GT along with the current course your taking. So, as we cover say renal in physiology, one would review the cards and "bank" the questions in renal as I study for my renal tests?
I used the free trial a little bit in December and really couldn't come up with a way to implement this stuff into my studying for 1st year.
Any suggestions? Also, for those of you using it 1st year, how many hours a day are you spending?
Thanks.
Sorry to post here but the mods for GT read this as much or more than emails...anyway I think the STL system needs to be updated. From what I'm seeing, the algorithm uses your 'score' for a specific card for a subject and then calculates how long that card can be viewed again. One problem with this, which is a rather big problem, is this: let's say you're viewing a card you knew very very well...5 months ago. Well you probably racked up a really strong average, probably between 4-5 over a number of views. So if you forget something, and answer at say a 1-2...that 1 or 2 doesn't impact the average enough to change the study of the card, it's still viewed as 'mastered' and the next time you see the card is 10-12 days (from what I've seen). This doesn't make sense to me...if you don't know the card, it should come up 1-3 days after, regardless of your average score. The programing for this wouldn't be too intense, just add some if statement along the lines of if already at +4 average, "mastery achieved", and answer "1-2" then reset the mastery or something like that. Otherwise, the cards either get regarded as 'mastered' or you have to manually update your study schedule (which is annoying and defeats the purpose of purchasing a program that's supposed to do that for you). Just a suggestion and I hope the guys read this for the next crop of people to use their program.
i have just started my dedicated board study time and i am abandoning GT.. sad to do so bt i just dont have enough time. i wish i started it sooner.. so to everyone out there considering GT, if you use it please start before january of 2nd year... i probably could have gotten so much more out of it if i started it when i bought it and did half-ass it.. i bought it in dec of MS1.
Sorry to post here but the mods for GT read this as much or more than emails...anyway I think the STL system needs to be updated. From what I'm seeing, the algorithm uses your 'score' for a specific card for a subject and then calculates how long that card can be viewed again. One problem with this, which is a rather big problem, is this: let's say you're viewing a card you knew very very well...5 months ago. Well you probably racked up a really strong average, probably between 4-5 over a number of views. So if you forget something, and answer at say a 1-2...that 1 or 2 doesn't impact the average enough to change the study of the card, it's still viewed as 'mastered' and the next time you see the card is 10-12 days (from what I've seen). This doesn't make sense to me...if you don't know the card, it should come up 1-3 days after, regardless of your average score. The programing for this wouldn't be too intense, just add some if statement along the lines of if already at +4 average, "mastery achieved", and answer "1-2" then reset the mastery or something like that. Otherwise, the cards either get regarded as 'mastered' or you have to manually update your study schedule (which is annoying and defeats the purpose of purchasing a program that's supposed to do that for you). Just a suggestion and I hope the guys read this for the next crop of people to use their program.
Has anyone been able to use GT yesterday or today? The URL brings up a webpage saying it can't find the server. I know GT has gone down in the past but its usually for like a few hours. Its been over a day now.
No I've been using it all day today with no problems...no problems in the last month or so and I've been using it daily.
just signed up for a free trial with GT...does anyone know how exactly GT has 6000+ questions? I counted only ~ 2600 in the "exam simulation" thanks
i was wondering if there the team is working on creating an app for adroid and iphone. just wondering