Anki Strategy and Questions

[diazonium]

Hi everyone!

Incoming MS1 with some questions about using Anki. I've read up a lot on the various strategies and implementing premade decks. I am planning on using the AnKing Overhaul deck as well as making my own cards throughout the year.

My plan is to suspend all AnKing cards and unsuspend them when I get to the relevant modules (my school implements a systems-based approach). I'm going to move the unsuspended AnKing cards to a "Current" deck, while creating a separate "Current class" deck for my own cards. As I complete a module, I plan to move those current cards into a single "Combined Review" deck (Shamim's strategy). In the "Combined Review" deck, I plan on using the strategy from another member on this forum of creating a filtered deck to truly randomize the review cards that I get (instead of a subdeck-by-subdeck run through). Is this strategy something that would work well? Another question is when I create a combined review deck, wouldn't all the cards that I move in become immediately due (don't know specifics but that could be 1000s of cards?). Should I limit the reviews in this sense, or do all the cards that are moved to the review deck?

Thank you all in advance!

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[locklearjojo]

I plan on using this exact system when I start classes next week! For your last point, I think the reviews will slowly add up, depending on how you mark them. So if you mark them as "good" or "easy" they won't show up until maybe weeks later. From my understanding, this of course will get longer and longer as the year moves on because more blocks are being reviewed.

 

[diazonium]

My only point about the review deck is if the scheduling of the cards remains the same as you move cards into a new deck? Cause if it wouldn't, the cards would all be due the instant you move them into the review deck, right?

 

[Thesimplelifeofamyloid]

I honestly wouldn't plan anything until we find out the results of the P/F S1 meeting.

 

[Ho0v-man]

My only point about the review deck is if the scheduling of the cards remains the same as you move cards into a new deck? Cause if it wouldn't, the cards would all be due the instant you move them into the review deck, right?

It keeps the same scheduling when you move cards into a review deck. If you export a deck to share it with someone, you have the option to keep or reset the scheduling.

 

[deleted600623]

I honestly wouldn't plan anything until we find out the results of the P/F S1 meeting.

Which will be when? End of July?

 

[kinginthenorth123]

Which will be when? End of July?

Home | United States Medical Licensing Examination

www.usmle.org

Says there that they will make a final resolution in July/August, and present it sometime in Fall 2019.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about keeping up with a Step deck to start out. Make your own cards, absorb the material, and do well in class until you know whether or not your year will have a graded Step 1. If it will be graded for you guys, it's not going to take you long to catch up with the zanki/lightyear cards you missed during that time. I did that for biochem - made my own class notes, did well on the tests, then did all the zanki cards I had missed. Only took a few days since I had learned the material well to start out.

If Step 1 becomes P/F, every other metric is going to matter way more, including class rank and preclinical grades. Things like AOA will become even more coveted. It would really be a bummer if you did less well in your first two blocks studying for a step that won't even be graded.

 

[Thesimplelifeofamyloid]

Home | United States Medical Licensing Examination

www.usmle.org

Says there that they will make a final resolution in July/August, and present it sometime in Fall 2019.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about keeping up with a Step deck to start out. Make your own cards, absorb the material, and do well in class until you know whether or not your year will have a graded Step 1. If it will be graded for you guys, it's not going to take you long to catch up with the zanki/lightyear cards you missed during that time. I did that for biochem - made my own class notes, did well on the tests, then did all the zanki cards I had missed. Only took a few days since I had learned the material well to start out.

If Step 1 becomes P/F, every other metric is going to matter way more, including class rank and preclinical grades. Things like AOA will become even more coveted. It would really be a bummer if you did less well in your first two blocks studying for a step that won't even be graded.

Or at the very least, you can correlate those cards to your own material if it speeds things up. I just wouldn't go ham and all in at this point

 

[locklearjojo]

My only point about the review deck is if the scheduling of the cards remains the same as you move cards into a new deck? Cause if it wouldn't, the cards would all be due the instant you move them into the review deck, right?

When you move it, I don't think it'll be due immediately just because it's in a new deck.

 

[deleted600623]

Home | United States Medical Licensing Examination

www.usmle.org

Says there that they will make a final resolution in July/August, and present it sometime in Fall 2019.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about keeping up with a Step deck to start out. Make your own cards, absorb the material, and do well in class until you know whether or not your year will have a graded Step 1. If it will be graded for you guys, it's not going to take you long to catch up with the zanki/lightyear cards you missed during that time. I did that for biochem - made my own class notes, did well on the tests, then did all the zanki cards I had missed. Only took a few days since I had learned the material well to start out.

If Step 1 becomes P/F, every other metric is going to matter way more, including class rank and preclinical grades. Things like AOA will become even more coveted. It would really be a bummer if you did less well in your first two blocks studying for a step that won't even be graded.

Well that’s kinda the problem. I’ll be at a top 15 school this fall but the curriculum is P/F. I’m not complaining at all, I just don’t know how much my preclinical years will matter because idk how my school determines AOA or if they do it at all. If it does go P/F I guess I’ll just get in on some more research ?

 

[7331poas]

Well that’s kinda the problem. I’ll be at a top 15 school this fall but the curriculum is P/F. I’m not complaining at all, I just don’t know how much my preclinical years will matter because idk how my school determines AOA or if they do it at all. If it does go P/F I guess I’ll just get in on some more research ?

If you are at a top 15 program you have nothing to worry about, programs will give you the benefit of the doubt.

 

[kinginthenorth123]

Well that’s kinda the problem. I’ll be at a top 15 school this fall but the curriculum is P/F. I’m not complaining at all, I just don’t know how much my preclinical years will matter because idk how my school determines AOA or if they do it at all. If it does go P/F I guess I’ll just get in on some more research ?

Above poster is right - at a top school regardless of the change you're gonna be fine. If anything P/F Step 1 will probably make your life a little easier.

AOA requirements vary by chapter - but the national organization requires students be in the top 1/4 of their class at least to be eligible. Some schools also then factor in leadership/service.

My point is don't worry too much about which deck you will use and how right now - even if you focus solely on class material for the first few blocks you will be able to catch up quickly.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Any of these decks will help with your coursework so I don’t see the point of ignoring them just because of a potential (unlikely) change to P/F Step 1.

That being said, I didn’t start Zanki until second semester and still finished it so to each their own.

 

[ginsengreset]

As I complete a module, I plan to move those current cards into a single "Combined Review" deck (Shamim's strategy). In the "Combined Review" deck, I plan on using the strategy from another member on this forum of creating a filtered deck to truly randomize the review cards that I get (instead of a subdeck-by-subdeck run through).

When you move them into the Combined Review deck, shouldn't they become randomized because they're now with that deck (and therefore have lost their original subdeck membership)?

 

[swissnational]

Hi everyone!

Incoming MS1 with some questions about using Anki. I've read up a lot on the various strategies and implementing premade decks. I am planning on using the AnKing Overhaul deck as well as making my own cards throughout the year.

My plan is to suspend all AnKing cards and unsuspend them when I get to the relevant modules (my school implements a systems-based approach). I'm going to move the unsuspended AnKing cards to a "Current" deck, while creating a separate "Current class" deck for my own cards. As I complete a module, I plan to move those current cards into a single "Combined Review" deck (Shamim's strategy). In the "Combined Review" deck, I plan on using the strategy from another member on this forum of creating a filtered deck to truly randomize the review cards that I get (instead of a subdeck-by-subdeck run through). Is this strategy something that would work well? Another question is when I create a combined review deck, wouldn't all the cards that I move in become immediately due (don't know specifics but that could be 1000s of cards?). Should I limit the reviews in this sense, or do all the cards that are moved to the review deck?

Thank you all in advance!

I plan on doing the exact thing you’re doing (Class, Current, Combined a Review, Anking Overhaul). To answer both of your questions there are a set of addons that will solve all of your questions. Go to the Anking YouTube and watch the videos about the Load Balancer and the Hoochie Family addons. The load Balance will make sure that you have an even number of reviews everyday that make sure it doesn’t go into the thousands, while the Hoochie Family (Mama, Papa, Baby) will randomize all of your cards across the subdecks in the “Combined Review” deck.

 

[DrDwayneJohnson]

When you move them into the Combined Review deck, shouldn't they become randomized because they're now with that deck (and therefore have lost their original subdeck membership)?

I followed the advice of making a class, current, + review decks and honestly I'd say just keep the cards in their original decks. It's easier to find things that way and the review deck doesn't really randomize things. At this point, I'll have 40-60 subject x review, then 40-60 subject y, etc.

Also I don't agree with completely ditching the 'Step 1' decks because they helped me a LOT throughout M1. Sure there's some random details tailored for Step, but those minute details have helped me conceptualize the bigger picture.

 

[4thtimeretaker]

Any of these decks will help with your coursework so I don’t see the point of ignoring them just because of a potential (unlikely) change to P/F Step 1.

That being said, I didn’t start Zanki until second semester and still finished it so to each their own.

What were your Anki settings, and how long did you spend on it daily? How long did you spend on studying for school?

 

[Ho0v-man]

What were your Anki settings, and how long did you spend on it daily? How long did you spend on studying for school?

Graduating interval one day
Easy interval 2 days
Starting ease 200%
Bury related cards until the next day
Leech action tag only
Steps in minutes 10

I never used the load balancer bc I found out about it late and didn’t want to mess with a good thing. Sounds awesome though. Check into it. These settings are just what I found on reddit and I don’t fully understand the starting ease thing.

First of all you really need to break up reviews. Don’t try to just pound out 600 cards in one sitting.

For a lot of preclinical I had <500 reviews from previous blocks/semesters (Usually closer to 300)per day and doing those took maybe an hour or two.

During a block, I’d typically do 100 new cards/day of the new block until it was finished. This probably took an additional two hours until I got used to the material. Afterwards it took about 40 minutes or so. Then I’d just review those cards until the test. Once I ran out of those cards I’d do the same with the associated pharm. I usually ended up with at least a week of no new cards before the test. This super sucks in the beginning of a block bc your friends are kind of chillin’. Not too much material yet for them. But you’re memorizing board review material AND keeping up with lecture so you’re getting owned. The trade off is that you’ll have those cards memorized pretty well in the days leading up to your exam. While others are just trying to survive the onslaught of last minute lectures over brand new material, you’re breezing through that stuff bc it’s mostly review for you.

Short answer is for your initial question is 2-4 hours on anki/day depending on where I’m at in the block.

However, once I started adding in biochem my reviews started pushing 800-1000/day pretty quick and stayed there for months. Then once I hit neuro...everything went to hell. These two decks are monsters and I’d recommend trying to conquer them in different semesters if at all possible. In the ~2 months leading up to step1 I was spending 6+ hrs/day on Zanki and doing 1200-1400 cards/day. This was on top of uworld, boards and beyond, etc. it was pretty crazy. But I was also doing my own decks over stuff from BnB and uworld that wasn’t in Zanki and probably didn’t show up on step 1 anyway but hey neurotic anxiety is cool lol.

As far as class material, I’d pause and take notes at double speed so each lecture would still take about an hour. Then I’d spend 5-10 minutes looking over the notes I just took. Then review those lectures on the weekend. It would be ideal to finish those lectures on Friday, review them all for the week on Saturday, and then just have an anki day on Sunday. That maybe worked out on the first week of a block. Then everything just snowballs reviewing lectures from previous weeks and not getting through lectures from the week and doing your first pass of them on the weekend. I usually got behind on lectures bc I’d watch all of that systems pathoma before I watched any path lectures and all of that systems sketchy pharm before any pharm lectures.

Try your best to do 3 passes of the lectures with your third pass of everything in the week leading up to the exam. I only did two passes of the lectures that were given the week of the exam.

I could have done better in class if I hadn’t given so much time to zanki, but I would have done worse on step 1.

 

[Ho0v-man]

If my above post seems ridiculous, that’s bc it absolutely is. It’s stupid how much is expected of us in the first two years. Honestly though, I’m 4 months past step 1 and still basically coasting on that knowledge. Most of third year thus far has been applying the knowledge of the first two and memorizing criteria. Third year would be very overwhelming without the craziness I endured to do well on step 1.

Best of luck and if I can do anything to help let me know!

 

[FindersFee5]

When you move them into the Combined Review deck, shouldn't they become randomized because they're now with that deck (and therefore have lost their original subdeck membership)?

It depends how you move them. If you move all the cards by tag into the deck, then yes, it will shuffle them. If you just move the original deck into a sundeck of the new master review deck (an easier strategy), then you end up without shuffled cards. That's why you add the shuffled filtered deck as well.