A BIG QUESTION...

[gujay11]

So far med school's been alright. I"ve been passing all my courses (with dificulty), but feel that studying has been a series of binging and purging sessions <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" /> . I don't know if others feel the same way, but i am NOT retaining the bulk of the info. and details that i read about in the classes.

If others do no feel the same way, am i studying the wrong way? I kinda felt the same way about my classes in undergrad, but not to the degree that i feel now, i guess because there is so much more detail now. If this is the only way my brain works, I am questioning whether medicine is a good career for me.

If you do feel the same way, then whats the point of learning this stuff in the first place...maybe just to make understanding some of it easier when coming across it during your rotations??? Don't know, but any input would be great. Thanks <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

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[iowaboy]

Hey there,
Don't worry too much..i think you're right on track. I completely feel what you are going through. Even though I did fine in first year classes, I just felt like i was filling up my brain before a test, and popping the drain-stopper and letting it all pour out afterwards!!
I think you're doing just fine. I haven't gotten to rotations yet, but I am now TA'ing gross anatomy this semester and I must say..I completely amazed myself at how MUCH information I remember!!
So don't dispair, I think you made the wise choice about entering into the medical field and I think eventually you WILL learn what you need to know to enter what ever type of medicine you are going to pursue.
Keep the faith my friend...

 

[LR6SO4]

2nd year here..I feel the EXACT same way you do man. I can't remember what I studied last nite. Step I is going to be rough. It just cracks me up when professors ask weird questions in class and people actually remember them, like this week in neuro they asked "what part of the brain controls vomitting?" One very motivated student in my class answered correctly (area postrema). This was just a small tidbit fact that we supposedly learned first year and has no relevance that I have seen yet. Wow, we'll be alright though.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

I remember feeling like none of the stuff I was learning was going into my long term memory. Much of it wasn't. As a MS-IV, I can tell you that you will go over the relevent information many times. First, you will study for the Step I boards. This will refresh a lot of your memory. Then, when you start rotations, you will find that much of the obscure details will not be necessary. You will relearn the clinically relevent stuff during your clinical years and they DO stick. My advice during these years is to see as many patients as possible and read about them. I have found while taking practice tests for the USMLE Step 2, I can think back and remember patients in a certain situation and figure out the answer, even if I don't have it memorized.

 

[Pegasus]

Oh man, do I feel your pain. We have about 150 students in our class, and sometimes I feel like I am the only one who 'binges and purges', but then I realize that I am not the only one. Almost everone I talk to feels the same way.

I dont remember crap from the 1st year and Im scarred to death of Step I!! But, I do know that it is easier to learn the 2nd time around, but still that memorization from micro and pharm...geez.. I feel like the other poster, I dont remember what I studied last week. It is like I looked at it for the 1st time!!

Just remember, there are some that can retain a huge amount of information, but for most of us, if we dont use it, we really do use it..Medicine really is our 2nd language!

Also, my roomie is a 3rd year, and she says that it all comes together 3rd year.

 

[TXRI]

I felt the same way, but somehow I magically passed step 1 and 2 and did well on all my rotations. I don't know why, but I suppose you know more than you think you do.