additional work in M1

[lilnoelle]

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It seems like I am doing less work than my classmates. I get emails with charts and lots of additional information about lectures from my classmates and generally don't even look at them. I don't attend lectures and generally just study the power points, keeping the lecture objectives in mind while I study. This generally makes me nervous when I see how much my classmates are doing in comparison to what I am doing, yet my scores on my exams remain in the top 50% of my class. Its quite possible that my classmates doing all of the extra work are in the top 10% of my class, but I also wonder if those that are doing all of the extra work are complicating the issue and doing too much. What do you think? Am I gonna be hurting come USMLE because I'm not doing extra work?

 

[Law2Doc]

It seems like I am doing less work than my classmates. I get emails with charts and lots of additional information about lectures from my classmates and generally don't even look at them. I don't attend lectures and generally just study the power points, keeping the lecture objectives in mind while I study. This generally makes me nervous when I see how much my classmates are doing in comparison to what I am doing, yet my scores on my exams remain in the top 50% of my class. Its quite possible that my classmates doing all of the extra work are in the top 10% of my class, but I also wonder if those that are doing all of the extra work are complicating the issue and doing too much. What do you think? Am I gonna be hurting come USMLE because I'm not doing extra work?

Hard to say. Everyone has to find what works for them. But bear in mind that first year material is useful as a foundation for second year, and both years will be tested on the boards. It is not unheard of for people to learn enough to do well in class but not be in good shape when they start to prepare for the USMLE if the level of detail and focus are different, or if the people only knew it transiently, and not in and out. But you have to decide what makes sense -- no one else can guage whether you are carrying around enough of this stuff in your head to get by.

FWIW, it always pays to ignore what others are doing though. Keep your eyes on your own plate and don't worry what everyone else is eating.

 

[Bertelman]

FWIW, it always pays to ignore what others are doing though. Keep your eyes on your own plate and don't worry what everyone else is eating.

👍 👍 👍 👍

 

[njbmd]

It seems like I am doing less work than my classmates. I get emails with charts and lots of additional information about lectures from my classmates and generally don't even look at them. I don't attend lectures and generally just study the power points, keeping the lecture objectives in mind while I study. This generally makes me nervous when I see how much my classmates are doing in comparison to what I am doing, yet my scores on my exams remain in the top 50% of my class. Its quite possible that my classmates doing all of the extra work are in the top 10% of my class, but I also wonder if those that are doing all of the extra work are complicating the issue and doing too much. What do you think? Am I gonna be hurting come USMLE because I'm not doing extra work?

As long as you are mastering the material for your coursework i.e. passing your classes, you will be fine for USMLE provided your review skills are good. Your system is working so don't worry about fixing something that isn't broken in the first place.

If you want to challenge yourself to make it into the top 10% feel free to do so but don't let worries about USMLE be your impetus for this. If you are happy your performance so far (and what's NOT to be happy about?) then keep up the good work and review solidly when USMLE times comes around.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

It seems like I am doing less work than my classmates. I get emails with charts and lots of additional information about lectures from my classmates and generally don't even look at them. I don't attend lectures and generally just study the power points, keeping the lecture objectives in mind while I study. This generally makes me nervous when I see how much my classmates are doing in comparison to what I am doing, yet my scores on my exams remain in the top 50% of my class. Its quite possible that my classmates doing all of the extra work are in the top 10% of my class, but I also wonder if those that are doing all of the extra work are complicating the issue and doing too much. What do you think? Am I gonna be hurting come USMLE because I'm not doing extra work?

You know, I think there is a strong element of people overcomplicating stuff in medical school. My experiences with school are pretty similar to yours, so you're not alone. One thing I've definitely noted is that the people who work the hardest don't necessarily do the best.

 

[Law2Doc]

One thing I've definitely noted is that the people who work the hardest don't necessarily do the best.

Could be a chicken or egg thing though -- are they working harder and still not doing well or working harder because they aren't doing well.🙂
The key in med school is less about how hard you work but how effective your studying is, the so called studying "smartly". This comes easier for some and is often a function of memorization skills, organization and work ethic. Some people certainly can overcome a lack of quality study skills with quantity though.

 

[lilnoelle]

One example I'm thinking of is a recent one. We were told in a lecture to make a chart with info on the different CD ligands and receptors. So I figured that I'd memorize the 10 - 20 that have been presented in lecture. A classmate sent out a chart with all of them. Its something like 4 pages worth. Thats an example that is a bit excessive, but there have been lots of things like that. Another example is we were told to memorize a list of cancer drugs. I memorized the ones given in lecture (something like 15-20) and only memorized the information given in lecture. Someone sent out an email with the same drugs, but had looked up a lot of extra information about them and put it in chart form. Now I totally agree that if an individual can memorize a lot of extra material and retain it, they'll be more knowledgeable than I, but if an individual crowds their minds with excessive stuff, I think they'll be more likely to forget it right after the test.

 

[Law2Doc]

Now I totally agree that if an individual can memorize a lot of extra material and retain it, they'll be more knowledgeable than I, but if an individual crowds their minds with excessive stuff, I think they'll be more likely to forget it right after the test.

Yes and no. Nobody will totally remember all that stuff. But when they try to relearn it for the boards, hopefully it will be more of a refresher to them, rather than trying to capture new knowledge. For you it may be learning new info.
In general, if you are told you need to know something, the profs probably think it is something likely to show up on some test, even if not theirs.

 

[Dookter]

Here is how I look at it: I will not go out of my way to learn anything extra unless I have fully mastered the material in front of me that I know I am supposed to know for the exam. That usually occupies all my time.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Yes I see stuff like this all over the place. To me, it looks a lot like shortcuts people are using to try to memorize lists, master the material for the exam, and then forget about it in a drunken stupor three hours after the test. What's more, it often becomes clear that students don't truly understand the material when they make up the short-cut guides because too much of it doesn't make sense.

Just today, somebody was telling me that our new prof was going over our syllabus material that would and wouldn't be on the exam. Well maybe I paid my tuition and want to learn it regardless of whether it is on the test or not. By going beyond the requisite level of comprehension, I believe that it will enhance my overall understanding come test time. I don't think that I'm going to be penalized for learning too much.

Anatomy necessitates considerable rote memory, but the other classes are more easily mastered by focusing on the bigger picture.

One thing I've definitely noted is that the people who work the hardest don't necessarily do the best.

Very true. I study less than 20% of some of my classmates who are behind me grade-wise.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

👍 👍 👍 👍

Love your avatar, Bertelman.

 

[45408]

Don't worry about other people. I was worried during my first block about how some people spent tons of time in anatomy lab, but it never seemed to help me. It's what works for them, so they do it. I did fine from using my Netter and studying in lab occasionally (although I was there for 90% of the dissections).

 

[QuinnB]

We had the same deal in my class during the MS 1 and 2 years. Sometimes you would look at these sheets and just think, what the f***. It actually got worse during boards when everyone started sending their study sheet for this or that or whatever...it really got to be counterproductive. Just study your stuff, pick up some boards books along the way and read them and you'll be fine.

 

[Bertelman]

Love your avatar, Bertelman.

Took me awhile to find what I was looking for. I love that guy. And Milkman Dan, too.

 

[indo]

You should be happy that students are actually trying to help other students by email that information out. Would that have happened in undergrad?

Another good time to stick to your guns is when you're waiting around before an exam and everyone is reciting the crap they've jammed into their heads. That just makes me more anxious and usually the stuff being recited isn't 100% correct.

 

[45408]

usually the stuff being recited isn't 100% correct.

I know. someone will sometimes start off explaining something, and even if they're mostly right, they'll explain it in the most bizarre possible way, so I just tune them out. Other times, they're totally wrong.

 

[Law2Doc]

I know. someone will sometimes start off explaining something, and even if they're mostly right, they'll explain it in the most bizarre possible way, so I just tune them out. Other times, they're totally wrong.

Sometimes perhaps they are being wrong intentionally? The pre-exam minutes are when the gunners come out and play.

 

[Tristy]

Sometimes perhaps they are being wrong intentionally? The pre-exam minutes are when the gunners come out and play.

So are gunners "socio/psychopaths" or SOB's vulgaris?