For second year, the school I attend has an organ systems curriculum. Basically 2 weeks of class time is devoted to learning all the path, pathophys, and pharm for a given unit (ex. 2 weeks for everything Renal, 2 weeks for everything GI, etc.) Over the past 3 months or so, I have realized that my method of studying is just not working. At the rate I'm going now, I can't even get through all the lectures for a given unit in that 2 week period of time. I don't know if it's because I am not studying enough or not studying correctly, but my guess is that it's probably some combination of the two. I am really worried that I won't passes my classes this year (I am borderline failing and even when my exam scores are above failing, I feel it's just based on luck because I am honestly blindly guessing for a lot of the questions.) I have been trying to use Goljan as a guide of what I should know and Robbins to fill in the blanks for the past couple of weeks instead of my schools lecture notes and I seem to be understanding the material a bit better, but I still cannot manage to get through everything and I don't have anytime to even look at practice questions. In college, I wrote things down repeatedly and that was my main method of studying, but I don't think this will work for MS2 because this method is time intensive... Can anyone who is a second year and doing well give me insight into what kind of schedule they follow and how they manage to get through all the material in the allotted time? I am really in dire straits at this point and would really appreciate any candid advice that anyone can offer. Thanks in advance,
2 Weeks for everything sounds rough, Im not sure how they even fit everything you need in. We do systems based, a few of the systems have been that short, but more on the side of three weeks.
My advice is firstly find out what kind of learner you are; visual or auditory. I myself am a visual learner but reading all the books is too time consuming. We have recorded lectures. So what I will do is watch the lecture (at double speed) and just watch it and pay attention, no notes or anything. Then the next day(the closer the better but at minimum the next day) I watch it again and take notes on the lecture. Now there is one class where the professor basically just goes over the book, for that class I read the book and dont watch the lecture, unless I have time.
For our tests, knowing the big picture isnt enough, theres alotta minutia on them. The clinical lecturers love their classifications and guidelines etc. so dont blow them off, but usually copying every detail on them is a waste as well. I understand the whole get the big picture idea, but aside from renal and some phys, alot of it is just memorizing tons of information and you wouldnt understand much of the minutia without grasping the basics anyway.
After doing all this, if theres time I go back over the notes I took. As many times as I can. Also i try to fit in some practice tests, or exams from previous years-always try to do this. If youre still having a tough time getting through the material, I hate to say it, but then you may need to just start skipping over some lectures and focusing more on knowing the ones youve gone over well. For instance take the hit on some of the microbio questions that would require you to spend hours on the lecture to get all the minutia while you can spend 30 minutes studying a lecture where the questions are more straightforward (I know this sounds horrible but if losing that knowledge vs failing out of school are the options its clear which to choose).
Board review stuff is good as well, but depending on your tests, it may only be good enough to be a supplement, or provide you with some great diagrams or pictures. For my last test, the board review book explained a pathway much better than the professor, but the professor included an important detail that the board review book didnt explain at all in the pathway. In your case Id say stick with lecture/syllabus stuff first then move out to board review if you have time/if the former isnt working.
Also have some confidence in yourself. The chances of dumb luck getting you a passing grade are low. YOU earned those points. You can stop worrying about failing because you know youre having a problem and youre trying to fix it. Dont be afraid to fail another test or two while your finding the study method that works for you.
