Having advised students for 15 years at a US med school, I couldn't help noticing the previous posts and trying to offer some suggestions....
I agree that focusing on understanding concepts rather than trying to memorize a ton of detailed facts is best. Also, if you are still taking systemic Path, use those course topics to reach back to the Anatomy and Physiology relevant to each systemic topic (renal, pulmonary, endocrine, etc.) to get a head start on reviewing. Then, during Pharm, make a major effort to review the physiology relevant to various drug groups so you understand how the drugs act on partivcular receptors and why individual drugs produce the side effects they do. Then, if you get a spring break, use it to fill weakest areas, or if you don't have any super weak areas, use it to review Behavioral Science. This will position you to have the final 4-5 weeks to really focus in on 1. weak spots, and 2. strengthening your test skills by using a question pool. When you use an online pool, it is extremely important to use it well. That means testing on all subjects you have already reviewed, mixing the items in each test block and taking the blocks under timed mode. After testing, really look at what items you missed, in order to identify the topics that you still can't apply to solving questions. Those topics should form your study agenda. Go back to clarify them, then do another cycle of testing and analysis. This cycling between self-testing and focusing in on what you are blowing items on is the key to getting maximum payoff for the time you have to put into USMLE prep. And best of luck to all of you. It's definitely do-able!
Thanks much, Judy! Your advice makes a lot of sense and seems like a good way to focus study time where it is most needed. I appreciate hearing from someone with your experience.Having advised students for 15 years at a US med school, I couldn't help noticing the previous posts and trying to offer some suggestions....
I agree that focusing on understanding concepts rather than trying to memorize a ton of detailed facts is best. Also, if you are still taking systemic Path, use those course topics to reach back to the Anatomy and Physiology relevant to each systemic topic (renal, pulmonary, endocrine, etc.) to get a head start on reviewing. Then, during Pharm, make a major effort to review the physiology relevant to various drug groups so you understand how the drugs act on partivcular receptors and why individual drugs produce the side effects they do. Then, if you get a spring break, use it to fill weakest areas, or if you don't have any super weak areas, use it to review Behavioral Science. This will position you to have the final 4-5 weeks to really focus in on 1. weak spots, and 2. strengthening your test skills by using a question pool. When you use an online pool, it is extremely important to use it well. That means testing on all subjects you have already reviewed, mixing the items in each test block and taking the blocks under timed mode. After testing, really look at what items you missed, in order to identify the topics that you still can't apply to solving questions. Those topics should form your study agenda. Go back to clarify them, then do another cycle of testing and analysis. This cycling between self-testing and focusing in on what you are blowing items on is the key to getting maximum payoff for the time you have to put into USMLE prep. And best of luck to all of you. It's definitely do-able!
Having advised students for 15 years at a US med school, I couldn't help noticing the previous posts and trying to offer some suggestions....
I agree that focusing on understanding concepts rather than trying to memorize a ton of detailed facts is best. Also, if you are still taking systemic Path, use those course topics to reach back to the Anatomy and Physiology relevant to each systemic topic (renal, pulmonary, endocrine, etc.) to get a head start on reviewing. Then, during Pharm, make a major effort to review the physiology relevant to various drug groups so you understand how the drugs act on partivcular receptors and why individual drugs produce the side effects they do. Then, if you get a spring break, use it to fill weakest areas, or if you don't have any super weak areas, use it to review Behavioral Science. This will position you to have the final 4-5 weeks to really focus in on 1. weak spots, and 2. strengthening your test skills by using a question pool. When you use an online pool, it is extremely important to use it well. That means testing on all subjects you have already reviewed, mixing the items in each test block and taking the blocks under timed mode. After testing, really look at what items you missed, in order to identify the topics that you still can't apply to solving questions. Those topics should form your study agenda. Go back to clarify them, then do another cycle of testing and analysis. This cycling between self-testing and focusing in on what you are blowing items on is the key to getting maximum payoff for the time you have to put into USMLE prep. And best of luck to all of you. It's definitely do-able!
Thanks for your time.
