Feeling like I don't remember anything..

[deleted564496]

Hey guys, so this is probably just another MS-1 freak-out that's been answered on these boards several times (although I did search), but I feel like I do not remember anything from the year…

I have been doing pretty well throughout the year and have gotten high pass in all my cores (top 30%), but I just feel like I can't recall anything from throughout the year. We've been having all these meetings lately with people talking about the lack of residency spots and importance of boards and it's kind of freaking me out that I don't remember much… I realize I'm not using this information on a daily basis.. But I do put in 8-12 hours total to school every day and still feel like I'm not remembering anything from previous cores. Should I be doing something different or do most people feel like this?

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[Stellar Clouds]

Don't worry. It's in there somewhere. It's just waiting to be refreshed.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

When you go over previous material, do you begin to recall some of it? I'd be more alarmed if things you previously studied looked completely foreign to you. How are you doing with learning the concepts of the material? Getting the framework down and being able to relate the material you learn with real life does wonders for retention.

 

[chronicidal]

Should I be doing something different or do most people feel like this?

Most people feel like that to some extent. The solution is two-fold. The first is to encode the memories more strongly the first time. Study harder and do better on exams: use mnemonics (especially visual ones, e.g. Picmonic, or your own method of loci), organize knowledge ("understand the concepts" and weave it into your existing knowledge), do more free-recall questions (e.g. flashcards) and more questions in general (e.g. question bank) rather than just reading over notes and books. The second is spaced repetition flashcard reviews, e.g. Anki or Firecracker. There are many threads and how-to's on the latter.

 

[deleted564496]

Thanks for the posts guys...

When you go over previous material, do you begin to recall some of it? I'd be more alarmed if things you previously studied looked completely foreign to you. How are you doing with learning the concepts of the material? Getting the framework down and being able to relate the material you learn with real life does wonders for retention.

I honestly don't go through previous material that often, I think that if I did it would not look unfamiliar to me though… We really don't have a much of a reason to and since we only take one core at a time I really haven't found the time. I feel like I remember the information very well the first time and I truly do think I have "learned" it, not just memorized it for the exam…. but after the exam and upon starting the next unit I feel like it's just completely gone…

Most people feel like that to some extent. The solution is two-fold. The first is to encode the memories more strongly the first time. Study harder and do better on exams: use mnemonics (especially visual ones, e.g. Picmonic, or your own method of loci), organize knowledge ("understand the concepts" and weave it into your existing knowledge), do more free-recall questions (e.g. flashcards) and more questions in general (e.g. question bank) rather than just reading over notes and books. The second is spaced repetition flashcard reviews, e.g. Anki or Firecracker. There are many threads and how-to's on the latter.

I don't think I could do any better than how I'm doing right now without throwing my life away. I'm very happy with where I'm at in my class and I am way above my goal coming into the year.. I do a lot of spaced repetition and I go through all of my material several times before the test. As mentioned above I feel like I am learning the material for the test, but I just feel (I guess I don't even really know) that I don't remember much from throughout the rest of the year.. I don't know, I'm sure there's really not a whole lot to really do about it… Guess we'll see how the cumulative final goes (luckily it's not for a grade).

 

[MerickManual]

Hey guys, so this is probably just another MS-1 freak-out that's been answered on these boards several times (although I did search), but I feel like I do not remember anything from the year…

I have been doing pretty well throughout the year and have gotten high pass in all my cores (top 30%), but I just feel like I can't recall anything from throughout the year. We've been having all these meetings lately with people talking about the lack of residency spots and importance of boards and it's kind of freaking me out that I don't remember much… I realize I'm not using this information on a daily basis.. But I do put in 8-12 hours total to school every day and still feel like I'm not remembering anything from previous cores. Should I be doing something different or do most people feel like this?

I'm a month out from graduation and I feel like I can't remember anything....

 

[Arkangeloid]

I'm a month out from graduation and I feel like I can't remember anything....

It's 2 days before an exam and I feel like I can't remember anything.

 

[DrEnderW]

As was mentioned above, try a free trial of Firecracker and see if you like it. It's great for seeing old material again and again.

 

[chronicidal]

I don't think I could do any better than how I'm doing right now without throwing my life away. I'm very happy with where I'm at in my class and I am way above my goal coming into the year.. I do a lot of spaced repetition and I go through all of my material several times before the test. As mentioned above I feel like I am learning the material for the test, but I just feel (I guess I don't even really know) that I don't remember much from throughout the rest of the year.. I don't know, I'm sure there's really not a whole lot to really do about it… Guess we'll see how the cumulative final goes (luckily it's not for a grade).

You set a goal, and you achieved your goal. That's terrific. Now you want more (or at least feel a vague sense of discomfort with one aspect of your current situation), but you have not yet set a new goal. You don't think it's possible. I want to tell you that it is possible. Be assured that there is a lot to do about it, and tools to help you, without "throwing your life away" only if you have sufficient motivation and the right attitude.

Starting off with: If you say you "do a lot a spaced repetition" but you don't remember it after the test, then you're not doing spaced repetition correctly. You have to keep it up after the test. It really doesn't take that much extra time on a regular basis when the inter-review intervals increase exponentially.

 

[evilbooyaa]

It'll come back to you when you go back to reviewing it for Step 1/finals.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

Seriously the only thing you need to remember from Ms1 is what the function of the thymus is, if you can remember that then ms2 is a breeze.

 

[alicealicealice]

I think it's normal. You will see important topics over again in different ways. I too used anki and did not want to take the time to review prior test material bc I felt like it took away from me mastering new material. It does come back you will see important things again and I wouldn't worry about trying to anki memorize all of m1. Master as best toucan first time around, maybe do usmlerx and FA and pathoma as you get into m2 and they will help drill you in the parts of m1 that matter. It's possible to do well by focusing on class work then working hard during dedicated. Just my opinion.

 

[dr zaius]

I felt this way during medical school. When you're an MS2 and you find yourself talking to an MS1 you will realize how much you have learned. I still feel that way at times as an MS4, but then I start a rotation with an MS3 and my confidence builds back. If you're doing well on exams now then I wouldn't worry. You'll revisit a lot of it when it's step I time, and the important concepts will be beaten into you along the way.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Seriously the only thing you need to remember from Ms1 is what the function of the thymus is, if you can remember that then ms2 is a breeze.

I'm sorry, but what is a "thymus"? Does it make thyme or something.

 

[DrEnderW]

I'm sorry, but what is a "thymus"? Does it make thyme or something.

Close!

It does make thymine - an essential basic amino acid. Deficiency causes pernicious anemia and it's secretion is increased by somatostatin. It's on Plate 148 if you have Netters.

 

[loltopsy]

I'm a first year, and I also already feel like I remember nothing. Well, I remember Patau syndrome just because those pictures from lecture have been permanently scarred into my psyche.

 

[Psai]

join the team guys

 

[deleted564496]

Thanks for the responses guys, this makes me feel better.. Alright I have a question about firecracker… like seriously what is it? I tried out the 1 mo. free trial way back when in anatomy, but I felt like there were hardly any cards.. is that the point? or was I just missing something.

 

[chronicidal]

Thanks for the responses guys, this makes me feel better.. Alright I have a question about firecracker… like seriously what is it? I tried out the 1 mo. free trial way back when in anatomy, but I felt like there were hardly any cards.. is that the point? or was I just missing something.

Stop trolling. There are like 20,000 cards.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Now that organ modules have started, I've started using Firecracker and Firstaid so I can actually learn this ****, uh, I mean RELEARN it.

Ah who am I kidding, I barely learned some of this crap, especially Anatomy and Micro. Oh well, yolo swag namsayin?

 

[deleted564496]

Stop trolling. There are like 20,000 cards.

I'm seriously not… I either must have a) completely missed them or b) didn't spend nearly enough time on there to find what I was looking for..

Edit: granted, this was just for anatomy and only one test in particular (I think it was thorax and abdomen)… I'm not saying there wasn't more TOTAL cards, but only seemed like there were like 20 if I remember correctly on thorax and abdomen for anatomy.

 

[lovemango]

I'm seriously not… I either must have a) completely missed them or b) didn't spend nearly enough time on there to find what I was looking for..

Edit: granted, this was just for anatomy and only one test in particular (I think it was thorax and abdomen)… I'm not saying there wasn't more TOTAL cards, but only seemed like there were like 20 if I remember correctly on thorax and abdomen for anatomy.

There are usually multiple questions associated with each topic, though. 20 topics does not equal 20 questions.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

Don't think to long and to hard. You will be fine

 

[Anastomoses]

Don't think to long and to hard. You will be fine

too, to, two.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

too, to, two.

Your thinking to much.

 

[DermViser]

Thanks for the responses guys, this makes me feel better.. Alright I have a question about firecracker… like seriously what is it? I tried out the 1 mo. free trial way back when in anatomy, but I felt like there were hardly any cards.. is that the point? or was I just missing something.

You were definitely missing something. By missing something, I mean you don't know how to use it. Go to the Quick Start section.