MD Doing better next semester

[Hopefully_a_successful_MD]

Hey all,

I’m currently an M1 at my state school. My school uses GPA, so it’s obvious as to how well you’re doing. Currently, I’m sitting at just above 3.0 and have made at least a B in every block. However, after perusing a few threads on how much time people are spending each day studying (on average,) I came to the conclusion that my methods are not sustainable in the long-run.

Throughout the semester, I was spending 8-10 hours a day on weekdays and >10 hours on weekends just studying. It was miserable. My hard work kind of showed, but I feel like, if I’m spending >60 hours a week just studying (not including watching lectures and other mandatory things peppered throughout the week,) I’d be closer to a 4.0.

I would love to get insight into how I can perform better next semester. FWIW, we took foundational classes last semester which was about 90% conceptual. I tried anki and it did what it was supposed to do - putting the leaves on the tree, so to speak. Yet my studying for foundational anatomy, Biochem, pharm, and so on was very inefficient. Next semester, I’ll be taking Pharmacology, immuno, microbio, and other things that are more memorization-heavy (compared to fall semester at least.)

I currently have AnKing v8 and I’ve changed the settings according to AnKing. It’s something I want to incorporate since it helped me so much in the past. But since we use NBME-style tests, it isn’t just “what enzyme is responsible for ______.” I’d love to know how I can study effectively.

FYI: I have visited my schools educational specialists. They’ve given me good resources, but not so much with helping me plan my days/weeks and how to do more with studying in less time.

I appreciate this sub’s help; it got me into medical school in the first place.

Edit: I currently have BnB, Sketchy, and USMLE Rx (all provided by the school, for free.) I used Pixorize for Biochemistry material, which also helped me a ton.

I also am not aiming for anything competitive nor surgical (at the moment.) I’m thinking perhaps DR or IM, depending on if I want to have patient interaction as a huge focus in my career

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[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

BnB, Sketchy, and USMLE Rx

These and anki are basically all I used for most of preclinicals. Watching videos is one of the most inefficient and passive things you can do, so limit that as much as possible (watch what you need to and on higher speeds). Questions and anki are your active learning and will be where you put in the real work.

 

[Redpancreas]

Hey all,

I’m currently an M1 at my state school. My school uses GPA, so it’s obvious as to how well you’re doing. Currently, I’m sitting at just above 3.0 and have made at least a B in every block. However, after perusing a few threads on how much time people are spending each day studying (on average,) I came to the conclusion that my methods are not sustainable in the long-run.

Throughout the semester, I was spending 8-10 hours a day on weekdays and >10 hours on weekends just studying. It was miserable. My hard work kind of showed, but I feel like, if I’m spending >60 hours a week just studying (not including watching lectures and other mandatory things peppered throughout the week,) I’d be closer to a 4.0.

I would love to get insight into how I can perform better next semester. FWIW, we took foundational classes last semester which was about 90% conceptual. I tried anki and it did what it was supposed to do - putting the leaves on the tree, so to speak. Yet my studying for foundational anatomy, Biochem, pharm, and so on was very inefficient. Next semester, I’ll be taking Pharmacology, immuno, microbio, and other things that are more memorization-heavy (compared to fall semester at least.)

I currently have AnKing v8 and I’ve changed the settings according to AnKing. It’s something I want to incorporate since it helped me so much in the past. But since we use NBME-style tests, it isn’t just “what enzyme is responsible for ______.” I’d love to know how I can study effectively.

FYI: I have visited my schools educational specialists. They’ve given me good resources, but not so much with helping me plan my days/weeks and how to do more with studying in less time.

I appreciate this sub’s help; it got me into medical school in the first place.

Edit: I currently have BnB, Sketchy, and USMLE Rx (all provided by the school, for free.) I used Pixorize for Biochemistry material, which also helped me a ton.

I also am not aiming for anything competitive nor surgical (at the moment.) I’m thinking perhaps DR or IM, depending on if I want to have patient interaction as a huge focus in my career

Interesting how you guys have a GPA. Couple suggestions:

1.) Break your study periods up. I wasn't that intelligent and had to study long hours. I used to walk to the water fountain to refill my bottle, play a quick game of table tennis, etc.
2.) With NBME-emphasis, you need to just do NBME questions. Think of how clinical scenarios can test basic science questions. That's one of the most important things Dr. Sattar from Pathoma taught me.
3.) DR allows for interaction with a lot of physicians which can be pretty fun too so don't feel IM's the only way to get human interaction.

One exercise I recommend for you that will get you from M1-> Attending is the following. It's a bit unorthodox but it's pretty cool IMO. Envision a clinical vignette. The first step is to understand the backbone.

Age Gender Chief Complaint for X days with ABC characterization, Denies DEF complaints, takes GHI meds, medical history of JKL, (maybe family hx too), Vitals are MNOP, Exam is QRS, what is the (diagnosis-Step 1), (test to diagnose -Step 2), (best test to diagnose in this nuanced case-Step 3).

Always go in that order and look for information whether you're an M1 reading a vignette, a pre-clinical student presenting, a resident trying to make a diagnosis, or an attending listening to a case. Nail that framework in your head. Expect to hear the relevant components. It will make you very attuned to medical reasoning and will streamline your thought process.