First "Real" Lecture Impressions

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Awared

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Just had my first "real" lecture for the school year as an MS1.

The majority of the information was review, but wow I've never had a lecturer go through information so quickly. Anyone else surprised? Definitely a case for pre-reading and using media recordings.
 
Just had my first "real" lecture for the school year as an MS1.

The majority of the information was review, but wow I've never had a lecturer go through information so quickly. Anyone else surprised? Definitely a case for pre-reading and using media recordings.

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Seriously though, just keep your nose to the grindstone and figure out what works. It's going to get faster and it won't be review soon.
 
Just had my first "real" lecture for the school year as an MS1.

The majority of the information was review, but wow I've never had a lecturer go through information so quickly. Anyone else surprised? Definitely a case for pre-reading and using media recordings.

They expect you to have come to lecture already knowing whats going to be covered so I'd say a lot of lectures may go right over your head if you don't go prepared. Med school is all about teaching yourself the material. No more spoon feeding unfortunately, it takes some adjusting but soon you'll get the hang of things.
 
I don't really agree with the whole pre-reading thing, but that's a YMMV thing so you'll figure out what works.
Important thing to consider: You don't have to go at their pace, whether that pace be too slow or too fast by your standards. Not sure of the attendance policy, but not going to lecture was the best decision I've ever made. As previously said, teaching yourself is the key and for me, sitting there reading the notes while someone reads them to me and adds in something important 1/30 slides isn't worthwhile to me. This is also YMMV
 
I don't really agree with the whole pre-reading thing, but that's a YMMV thing so you'll figure out what works.
Important thing to consider: You don't have to go at their pace, whether that pace be too slow or too fast by your standards. Not sure of the attendance policy, but not going to lecture was the best decision I've ever made. As previously said, teaching yourself is the key and for me, sitting there reading the notes while someone reads them to me and adds in something important 1/30 slides isn't worthwhile to me. This is also YMMV

I also hate the whole pre-reading thing, and I go at a slower pace than a lot of my classmates.

This comes with consequences though, such as everyone talking about things you know nothing about yet, and feeling behind. Just can't let it get to you though, everyone always seems days ahead of schedule and I'm always days behind but I still pull better scores, so work at your own pace and don't mind the gunners. Took me a while to learn not to compare myself with everyone around me but once I learned I became a much happier student.
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.

I sort of like a slower pace too, but I just don't comprehend how people listen to lectures at 2x-2.5x speed. I can understand the words fine, but if I want to write down anything or do anything besides pay complete attention to the audio, they're 2 topics down the list before I even notice.
 
I don't really agree with the whole pre-reading thing, but that's a YMMV thing so you'll figure out what works.
Important thing to consider: You don't have to go at their pace, whether that pace be too slow or too fast by your standards. Not sure of the attendance policy, but not going to lecture was the best decision I've ever made. As previously said, teaching yourself is the key and for me, sitting there reading the notes while someone reads them to me and adds in something important 1/30 slides isn't worthwhile to me. This is also YMMV
well you either pre-read or you post-read, no way around that.
 
I sort of like a slower pace too, but I just don't comprehend how people listen to lectures at 2x-2.5x speed. I can understand the words fine, but if I want to write down anything or do anything besides pay complete attention to the audio, they're 2 topics down the list before I even notice.

Yeah I usually listened at 1.6, and paused it to take whatever notes I needed.

It usually took me at least 4 hours to go through an entire lecture between watching the actual video, writing stuff down from the handout for the lecture, and writing down extra stuff from the lecture.
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.


Your visual learning style seems to be very similar to mine. I see myself repeatedly coming back to handwriting my master notes when I study, even if I initially begin with writing lecture notes and others on my laptop. I can also picture my own handwriting much more easily than notes on my computer.

I have a question: When you write your master notes, did you print out your (own or given?) lecture notes and then annotate? Or did you write master notes from scratch?
 
I have a question: When you write your master notes, did you print out your (own or given?) lecture notes and then annotate? Or did you write master notes from scratch?

Completely from scratch.
 
When you guys say pre/post reading, do you mean you straight up read from the textbook?
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.
I will try this, it seems to be a great strategy for how I learn.
Thank you for posting.
 
When you guys say pre/post reading, do you mean you straight up read from the textbook?

Our syllabus. We don't have textbooks.

I guess I'm in the pre-reading camp. I hate not knowing what's going on and it throws me off kilter so that I can't fully concentrate the rest of the lecture. Maybe I'm just OCD like that, but if something bugs me, then I'm shot.
 
Our syllabus. We don't have textbooks.

I guess I'm in the pre-reading camp. I hate not knowing what's going on and it throws me off kilter so that I can't fully concentrate the rest of the lecture. Maybe I'm just OCD like that, but if something bugs me, then I'm shot.

Samsies. I have to pre read and familiarize myself with the material. It's all about maximizing the number of exposures.
 
I sort of like a slower pace too, but I just don't comprehend how people listen to lectures at 2x-2.5x speed. I can understand the words fine, but if I want to write down anything or do anything besides pay complete attention to the audio, they're 2 topics down the list before I even notice.

That's where the benefit of pre-reading comes in. Also you're supposed to train yourself up to a faster speed. 2x speed is gibberish if you're not already used to 1.5x. Also depends on the lecturer, as some obviously talk faster than others. We had a lecturer in MS1 who needed a 2x speed just to sound normal.

And you pause it if you need to write down more than a couple words.
 
I find that for someone talking at normal speed 1.7x is the sweet spot. For a slow talker, I can get up to 2.0x
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.
How slow did you read? I know someone who did what you did for Robbins - got a 270.

Something about actually writing it out really makes the information concrete - I think it's bc it's a much more active process. Too bad it takes much longer. Highlighting text feels good and like you know it for the moment, but I always felt like the information drifted out of my head right after that. Pointless when you have to look at the info again with highlights already on it, so u can't highlight again (not without obscuring the words)
 
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I sort of like a slower pace too, but I just don't comprehend how people listen to lectures at 2x-2.5x speed. I can understand the words fine, but if I want to write down anything or do anything besides pay complete attention to the audio, they're 2 topics down the list before I even notice.
Bc of spacing when a lecture talks -- the pauses and umms and how slow the lecturer talks. If you've already taken notes in lecture, then it's even faster bc you're just filling in gaps.
 
I, too, was a bit on the slower side. I tend to be a slow-ish reader, and when you couple that with my need to hand write all my notes, it adds up.

I basically would take the lecture notes we were given (which were often amazingly detailed), my own notes from the recorded lecture, and any other ancillary sources and hand write my "master notes" for that lecture/lesson/whatever. I killed many trees and had binders upon binders of handwritten notes, but once I finished taking my notes, that was my master study resource. I never really had to go back to the powerpoints/handouts/whatever (except for an occasional diagram, or unless we're talking about Anatomy). I pretty much rewrote everything by hand, which I realize is way too time consuming for most.

I was in it for the long game, though. I didn't blow through the lectures at the pace of many of my classmates, and although I stayed on top of things (I made sure I hand wrote my notes for that day's lectures before I went to bed, even if it meant being up late), in the time it took me to do this many classmates had already gone through the lectures 2+ times. But the weekends were the time for reviewing my own notes from the previous week(s). I think I tend to be a very visual person/learner (which helps in Derm now), and more often than not when recalling a detail or concept in an exam, I could picture my own handwriting on notebook paper outlining/detailing whatever fact was in question.

Early on, it'd be a little disconcerting to hear other students talk about things I could only vaguely recall having seen on one pass; however, by the time the exam rolled around, I had mastered both the big picture and the minute details.

This all worked well for me and really helped me achieve long term retention, and it made Step I studying seem much better than it could have been. I realize that my methods are probably overkill for many, but it got me everything I wanted/needed, so I guess I won't complain.

How did you deal with classes like histo where you would need to identify the different types of cells? Would you have a copy of those cells in your notes or would you have to refer to your handouts for those pictures? Thanks.
 
Wait, people go to lectures? I thought they were just like closed studio sessions.

But seriously, I don't like the idea of pre-reading. I feel like most people just use it as an excuse to half-assedly skim the material and never learn it since they feel they aren't 'responsible' for it yet. If you're going to pre-read, go through that **** line by line and try to really learn it. Otherwise, it's a waste of time.

I also think most people who have finished MS1 agree that the first month or two is really softballed at you. Our first module was like 3 classes covering material mostly covered by undergrad. It feels intense and crazy at the time, but looking back on it, I think 'damn, they were babying us.'
 
How did you deal with classes like histo where you would need to identify the different types of cells? Would you have a copy of those cells in your notes or would you have to refer to your handouts for those pictures? Thanks.

You download Anki, go to websites like Blue Histology and copy those pictures into anki cards then quiz yourself. Better yet if your school has a histology atlas online like ours does then copy the stuff into flash cards directly from there. Mindless classes like histology and anatomy are all about mindless memorization. There is very little thinking involved in them which is why they were pure torture for me.
 
Anyone have any tips on how to incorporate Anki?

Lecture so far seems completely useless. The information is thrown at you at 10x speed of undergrad and i hardly have any time to even write down what they're saying. Im going to watch the lecture recordings instead and make anki cards.
 
Anyone have any tips on how to incorporate Anki?

Lecture so far seems completely useless. The information is thrown at you at 10x speed of undergrad and i hardly have any time to even write down what they're saying. Im going to watch the lecture recordings instead and make anki cards.

Make very short cards with factoids that you need to memorize. Don't be an idiot and make cards with a whole essay on the front and back. You can use anki to get you through the mindless memorization coursework, its not as good for physiology or biochemistry or whatever classes you have to reason your way through. Sure some things you can memorize (i.e. pathways) and can use anki for that. You go to google, find the drawn out pathway and paste it into your anki card. Then on front of the card go into MS paint and selectively delete stuff on the pathway you want to memorize. I.e.:

Front of card
Vixws.jpg


Back of card
ZfW5n.jpg




For histology:

Front of card
wr3mM.jpg


Back of card
Red arrow = Plasma cells
Yellow arrow = Simple columnar epithelium


You could also do CLOZE deletion, which is kind of easier IMO for things like the histo card example I just made. In that case you would paste the picture but then on the same side of the card you would cloze delete {{Plasma cells}} and {{Simple columnar epithelium}}. Just makes going through them quicker IMO.
 
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