Help for Second Year

[Nflow]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Okay, I just started second year, and I already feel burn't out, I know some of that is because I did research throughout my six weeks summer break 🙄 My problem is staying awake and focusing, I am having a hard time remembering things I already studied, I have studied the same lecture 3 times, and I am still not confident with the material. Okay enough background, my question is how do you study for 2nd year, remember all the stuff you need for your exams and boards? Basically I am asking for techniques, review materials, books, sites, ANYTHING that helped.

Thanks y'all

 

[lola]

maybe you are already doing this, but what helped me was going to the library for 4-6 hrs at a time and really focusing on the material without any distractions. i often would take my own notes on things (in brief bullet-point format) while i was reading books or core notes and then drill those things into my head a few times before the exam to make sure i always remembered the most important things and didn't get too bogged down in the details without taking the bigger picture away.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Okay, I just started second year, and I already feel burn't out, I know some of that is because I did research throughout my six weeks summer break 🙄 My problem is staying awake and focusing, I am having a hard time remembering things I already studied, I have studied the same lecture 3 times, and I am still not confident with the material. Okay enough background, my question is how do you study for 2nd year, remember all the stuff you need for your exams and boards? Basically I am asking for techniques, review materials, books, sites, ANYTHING that helped.

Thanks y'all

Relax. Nobody's "confident" during pulmonary...it's the hardest module you'll have all year. Just think--after your final, second year will go much more smoothly.

About techniques: I'm in absolutely no position to give advice on how to do well during 2nd year, but if I had to do it all again, I would briefly pre-read the notes before going to lecture. If I haven't pre-read the notes before class, I'd probably stay home, pre-read, then watch the lecture online with enounce. I'd also make sure I study the day's material on the same day; I noticed during boards time that I'd forget any material that I didn't bother to reinforce on the same day.

Of course, this is all stuff that I would do differently. You really should just do whatever worked best for you during your first year. Just whatever you do, make sure you're not playing catchup. If you fall a few days behind, temporarily abandon the old material so you can keep up with the new stuff.

Hope that helps...

 

[Arsenic]

Relax. Nobody's "confident" during pulmonary...it's the hardest module you'll have all year. Just think--after your final, second year will go much more smoothly.

About techniques: I'm in absolutely no position to give advice on how to do well during 2nd year, but if I had to do it all again, I would briefly pre-read the notes before going to lecture. If I haven't pre-read the notes before class, I'd probably stay home, pre-read, then watch the lecture online with enounce. I'd also make sure I study the day's material on the same day; I noticed during boards time that I'd forget any material that I didn't bother to reinforce on the same day.

Of course, this is all stuff that I would do differently. You really should just do whatever worked best for you during your first year. Just whatever you do, make sure you're not playing catchup. If you fall a few days behind, temporarily abandon the old material so you can keep up with the new stuff.

Hope that helps...

thats good to hear, yeah... i never expected the lungs to be so freaking complicated

it'll be over in a week and a half though and then on to renal

 

[Nflow]

bump

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
First of all, you can't remember everything so don't beat yourself up trying to do this.

Second: Second-year has some good reviews of first-year material built in. Path is good histo review; Pharm is good neuro and physio review etc.

Third: You cannot review what you have not learned in the first place. Concentrate on your present classes and leave the reviewing for the end of second year. You will have plenty of time and will be sick or reviewing by the time you need to take USMLE Step I

Fourth: Find some ways of maximizing your concentration. I found that my attention span was about 50 minutes. I took a kitchen timer and set it for 50 minutes. When that time was up, I took a 10-minute break. On my break, I walked around, drank some water, put in some laundry etc. When I got back to my studies, I was refreshed and ready to focus again. If something was bothering me, I would write it down and think about it on my break or while I was exercising.

Fifth: Do something aerobic at least 30 minutes three to four times each week. Walk steps, power walk in the evening after class, go to the gym and hit the treadmill, swim or do the elliptical trainer. Do something physical and do it regularly. The discipline really helps you focus on your studies. You can even make study tapes and listen to them while you work out or just take that time and let your mind wander.

Last: Take at least one day next weekend and do not study. Up your study during the week so that you can take the time without feeling guilty. Take that day and do something fun and not related to medicine. Go to the movies, drive out of town to some tourist attraction, go for a long hike in the woods etc. In short, take a 24-hour vacation to make up for the one that you did not get during the summer.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of second year. The coursework is more intense and there is more of it. Do realize that lots of this work is going to be building on the foundation that you set last year so do not worry that you are forgetting last year's materials.

Even those of us who made a conscious effort to "data dump" at the end of first year found that we remember far more that we think.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[Nflow]

Thank you for taking time to write the post. Awesome! I will definitely incorporate some of your suggestions!

Hi there,
First of all, you can't remember everything so don't beat yourself up trying to do this.

Second: Second-year has some good reviews of first-year material built in. Path is good histo review; Pharm is good neuro and physio review etc.

Third: You cannot review what you have not learned in the first place. Concentrate on your present classes and leave the reviewing for the end of second year. You will have plenty of time and will be sick or reviewing by the time you need to take USMLE Step I

Fourth: Find some ways of maximizing your concentration. I found that my attention span was about 50 minutes. I took a kitchen timer and set it for 50 minutes. When that time was up, I took a 10-minute break. On my break, I walked around, drank some water, put in some laundry etc. When I got back to my studies, I was refreshed and ready to focus again. If something was bothering me, I would write it down and think about it on my break or while I was exercising.

Fifth: Do something aerobic at least 30 minutes three to four times each week. Walk steps, power walk in the evening after class, go to the gym and hit the treadmill, swim or do the elliptical trainer. Do something physical and do it regularly. The discipline really helps you focus on your studies. You can even make study tapes and listen to them while you work out or just take that time and let your mind wander.

Last: Take at least one day next weekend and do not study. Up your study during the week so that you can take the time without feeling guilty. Take that day and do something fun and not related to medicine. Go to the movies, drive out of town to some tourist attraction, go for a long hike in the woods etc. In short, take a 24-hour vacation to make up for the one that you did not get during the summer.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of second year. The coursework is more intense and there is more of it. Do realize that lots of this work is going to be building on the foundation that you set last year so do not worry that you are forgetting last year's materials.

Even those of us who made a conscious effort to "data dump" at the end of first year found that we remember far more that we think.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[Nflow]

bump

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

hey, you're normal.

so, repeat repeat repeat and repeat again.

oh yeah, don't go to class unless you really don't understand your class handout. That gives you an extra 5 hours a day to repeat repeat repeat.

BUT, don't reread stuff you already know for the sake of time.

Mark all hard-to-memorize material and just review that everyday or every other day. Or even write the hard-to-memorize material on a separate sheet of paper.

they say you only remember 10% of what you read. 20% of what you read and write. 40% of what you read, write, and vocalize. and like 60+% of what you read,write,vocalize, and teach.
So that said, I guess you could record yourself, and just listen to yourself......

 

[Nflow]

hey, you're normal.

so, repeat repeat repeat and repeat again.

oh yeah, don't go to class unless you really don't understand your class handout. That gives you an extra 5 hours a day to repeat repeat repeat.

BUT, don't reread stuff you already know for the sake of time.

Mark all hard-to-memorize material and just review that everyday or every other day. Or even write the hard-to-memorize material on a separate sheet of paper.

they say you only remember 10% of what you read. 20% of what you read and write. 40% of what you read, write, and vocalize. and like 60+% of what you read,write,vocalize, and teach.
So that said, I guess you could record yourself, and just listen to yourself......

🙂

 

[Arsenic]

🙂

hmm.... someone should be studying for pulmonary right now 🙄 😛

 

[dcpark74]

Pick up a first aid and start annotating it with some of your class notes. It will focus your studies on the more important areas. Once you know the main areas in First Aid go back to your class notes and review other stuff they may have emphasized...if you have time.

Coffee! definitely a great stimulant that maintains one's focus.

Good luck!