How do I become the Silent Curve Destroyer?

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
S

ss123

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
116
Reaction score
0
Members don't see this ad.
I feel clumsy and inefficient. I make a big deal out of studying for just basic biology and chemistry. I carry around a whole ton of books and highlighters and pens and pencils like I'm some kind of superhero at studying. I've got this huge schedule and plan out stupid crap like I'm the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

But then I meet guys who take several upper-level chemistry classes a semester, make a 4.0, and don't say a word about it. I meet guys in the back of the lecture hall who don't write down squat and make perfect scores on the exams. Meanwhile, I'm in the front row trying to copy down every word I hear in 7 different colors, like some silly 8th grade nerd. I meet guys in the library who only carry around a 20 cent notebook and a #2 pencil, but can legitimately focus on their biochem textbooks for several hours straight.

How do I get into this ice-cold mentality of efficiency and concentration?
 
limitless-2011-450x300.jpg
 
My only advice is to focus on big picture stuff in class and then study details out of class.

I've met a lot of people like you, who go in to class and write down every word they hear. By the time lecture is over they have written down ileocecal valve 15 times in 9 different colors. Unfortunately, they are so busy scribbling, they still can't figure out why a heart valve is being taught in the GI block of physiology.

After class people like me, the cool kids who sit in the back of lecture who just listen and concentrate, borrow your crazy notes. Then, with our grand perspective we gain from listening and absorbing, we get good grades on the exam. :laugh:
 
Study smart, not hard. My trick is to always look for the connections and pattern in things. When I look at stuff that way, there is much less to remember/master because EVERYTHING follows some sort of pattern. (Of course there are the occasional exceptions, but that is a small number by comparison.)
 
Notice inflections in the speakers voice. If they tend to raise their voice or repeat phrases, it's probably important.

If you're taking notes off of a powerpoint and it is posted online, don't copy the powerpoint. copy things the teacher says that the speaker repeats or mentions that aren't on the powerpoint.

When studying, take a concept, and apply it to a new situation and see what changes as a result.

Study in advance. Some people cram, some people dont. I'm a crammer, and ive noticed that I've gotten better grades when I study in advance. I just don't do it often. Keep up with the material while you're learning it. After a lecture, glance over your notes in your spare time.
 
ahha3289 said:
also, AvidAvatar is pretty dead on saying that you should be resourceful (charming) and get notes from other people. it's a second perspective and less work for you! if people start to see how well you're doing, they'll quickly offer up their notes to get some insight from you....
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I operated. Both parties get a lot out of the relationship. I never even took notes senior year. 🙂
 
Don't highlight everything. That's ridiculous. Pick out the HIGHLIGHTS. I never highlighted anything I already knew or could easily figure out on my own.

Two pen colors is really all you probably need. One color for highlighting. Anything more than that, and you're thinking about your scheme more than you're thinking about what you're doing.

Don't spend more time preparing to study than you do studying. Some people learn while re-writing their notes, so that's useful for them, but don't just do it because you think you should.

Limit the amount of study materials you're using. Pick something and stick with it.

I used to do my M3 studying in the student union at my undergrad (different schools, same city), and I did feel like a stone cold killer at that point. I'd look at the undergrads with twelve notebooks, several meals, and five friends, as they "studied intensely." I'd pull out one or two books, one single highlighter, put in my earbuds and focus.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll definitely try to simplify what I use to study, and I'll try to focus on key points during lectures. Ultimately, I should be doing the work and thinking--I can't really expect to regurgitate lectures on exams. I'll start studying before and after every lecture.

TheProwler said:
Don't spend more time preparing to study than you do studying.
Click to expand...

Awesome advice. Thanks.
 
ss123 said:
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll definitely try to simplify what I use to study, and I'll try to focus on key points during lectures. Ultimately, I should be doing the work and thinking--I can't really expect to regurgitate lectures on exams. I'll start studying before and after every lecture.
Click to expand...
People always say you should read the material before the lecture. I never did (unless it was a lit class or something), and it never held me back. It was easier to go to lecture, figure out what angle they expected you to learn, and go from there.
 
Read before class. If My professor gives us his notes online, I ain't writing squat unless he emphasizes it.
 
I agree with everything that's been said. What really works for me is the intense listening in every lecture. I sit in the front of every class, ask questions, but my notes are a mess (I usually don't even look at them while studying - the process of writing a few words down is enough to make it stick). What I do, however, is listen to everything that is said and make connections while sitting in lecture. Without writing anything down, I just go over the concepts in my head, and think about lectures and material while walking to from class to class, cooking, showering, etc.

When studying, I just do practice problems that are assigned. Never used more than one color - I have had the same mechanical pencil for two years now.

Spend less time thinking about your note-taking schemes. Rather, intensely concentrate (no laptop in class helps) during lectures, and follow up by thinking over the ideas while walking to lunch/your next class. Looking over the powerpoints and readings before lecture helps as well.
 
Some little things:

My aunt taught me a little trick-use all 5 senses when studying. The weirdest one that she swears by-When you're learning, practicing, AND regurgitating a new concept, tap your chin, the side of your face, your thigh, whatever you feel like.

Also, use the same routine to take a test as you do when studying or sitting in lecture. If you chew gum and drink coffee in class, have gum and coffee while studying. Obviously that one is a bit harder, as there are some habits you can't use during test-taking such as eating/drinking.

I like to pretend I'm teaching the material out loud to someone else. If you have a friend that will listen, use them. Heck, I've even sat my cat or my old stuffed animals in front of a dry erase board to practice derivatives!
 
balletomane said:
Some little things:

My aunt taught me a little trick-use all 5 senses when studying. The weirdest one that she swears by-When you're learning, practicing, AND regurgitating a new concept, tap your chin, the side of your face, your thigh, whatever you feel like.

Also, use the same routine to take a test as you do when studying or sitting in lecture. If you chew gum and drink coffee in class, have gum and coffee while studying. Obviously that one is a bit harder, as there are some habits you can't use during test-taking such as eating/drinking.

I like to pretend I'm teaching the material out loud to someone else. If you have a friend that will listen, use them. Heck, I've even sat my cat or my old stuffed animals in front of a dry erase board to practice derivatives!
Click to expand...

Excellent advice!
 
TheProwler said:
People always say you should read the material before the lecture. I never did (unless it was a lit class or something), and it never held me back. It was easier to go to lecture, figure out what angle they expected you to learn, and go from there.
Click to expand...

I would like to reemphasize the bolded. College is not about how well you can learn all of the information. You need to learn how to play the game. Figure out:
a) what the prof wants you to know
b) how (s)he is going to test it

Here's how I operated during my undergrad years:
- read textbook (don't skim), try to figure out what might be 'testable material'
- attend lecture (I didn't take notes), just listen and think
- rinse and repeat
- if you can get your hands on some old exams or practice questions (legitimately), make use of them
 
balletomane said:
My aunt taught me a little trick-use all 5 senses when studying. The weirdest one that she swears by-When you're learning, practicing, AND regurgitating a new concept, tap your chin, the side of your face, your thigh, whatever you feel like.
Click to expand...

Wow! I am pleased to see that no one has taken advantage of this statement, yet.:meanie:
 
Easy dude.

Study harder then anyone else in the class, then tell everyone you studied for only 30 minutes.
 
All my notebooks were 99 cents 😕

Seriously though, highlighting doesn't do anything for me, taking notes on a laptop don't do anything.

Print out the powerpoint slides, and just read and write. Having all those extra things can only be distracting.
 
- Read the chapter to get an overall gestalt about what the **** is going on.
- Listen with the intent to understand questions that got raised while reading, not just to capture everything.
- Read in detail, and pay special attention to the graphs/tables/images (These take a lot of time to make. I don't make one when writing a paper unless it is a key concept. You can bet these guys follow the same logic).
- Pick a study tool: flash-cards, study-guide, folded lists, concept maps. whatever. it may not be the same one for each class, but pick just ONE. More will not help you. You want your brain to be able to see that one study guide/flash card in your mind's eye, and more will **** that **** up.
- Review your study tool repeatedly
- Test
- Win
- Drink until you forget everything you just learned to make room for new stuff.

To maximize silence and deadliness, I recommend studying on rooftops, wearing strictly Ninja grade ninja clothing, and substituting your 500 pens for 1 sword - preferably with a clicky top.
 
Forget about the multi-color pencils. I rarely even read my notes. The two major things that taking notes does for me are that it makes me focus continuously on what the instructor is saying. The effort to figure out how to outline what he's saying helps a lot with understanding him and figuring out what's important in the lecture. The mechanical act of writing it also helps with remembering.

Of course, that's what I do, YMMV.
 
What has helped me in undergrad., was copying down whatever was being written on the board. When the professor took a second to breath, I would write something on the side of what I have been copying in order to help remind myself what it meant, when I came back to my notes later in the semester. By the time of the first exam, I would have about 20+ pages of notes. Over the weekend, I would spend my time condensing those 20+ pages to about 2-5 pages, all in my own words and from there, I would use my newly rewritten notes as a study guide. Good Luck!
 
Implementing many of these tips soon. Thanks. :ninja:
 
ss123 said:
I feel clumsy and inefficient. I make a big deal out of studying for just basic biology and chemistry. I carry around a whole ton of books and highlighters and pens and pencils like I'm some kind of superhero at studying. I've got this huge schedule and plan out stupid crap like I'm the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

But then I meet guys who take several upper-level chemistry classes a semester, make a 4.0, and don't say a word about it. I meet guys in the back of the lecture hall who don't write down squat and make perfect scores on the exams. Meanwhile, I'm in the front row trying to copy down every word I hear in 7 different colors, like some silly 8th grade nerd. I meet guys in the library who only carry around a 20 cent notebook and a #2 pencil, but can legitimately focus on their biochem textbooks for several hours straight.

How do I get into this ice-cold mentality of efficiency and concentration?
Click to expand...

Adderall
 
ss123 said:
I feel clumsy and inefficient. I make a big deal out of studying for just basic biology and chemistry. I carry around a whole ton of books and highlighters and pens and pencils like I'm some kind of superhero at studying. I've got this huge schedule and plan out stupid crap like I'm the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

But then I meet guys who take several upper-level chemistry classes a semester, make a 4.0, and don't say a word about it. I meet guys in the back of the lecture hall who don't write down squat and make perfect scores on the exams. Meanwhile, I'm in the front row trying to copy down every word I hear in 7 different colors, like some silly 8th grade nerd. I meet guys in the library who only carry around a 20 cent notebook and a #2 pencil, but can legitimately focus on their biochem textbooks for several hours straight.

How do I get into this ice-cold mentality of efficiency and concentration?
Click to expand...

If you're doing poorly it's worth reevaluating your studying. But if you want the image of a smart guy who doesn't work hard his grades, that seems like a waste of effort. Do your best. I study my ass off and I'm willing to admit when I put obscene amounts of time into a single test. An A is an A. I'd rather be willing to work hard than be naturally extremely intelligent.
 
tmh said:
If you're doing poorly it's worth reevaluating your studying. But if you want the image of a smart guy who doesn't work hard his grades, that seems like a waste of effort. Do your best. I study my ass off and I'm willing to admit when I put obscene amounts of time into a single test. An A is an A. I'd rather be willing to work hard than be naturally extremely intelligent.
Click to expand...

You would rather put in obscene amounts of homework time as oppose to being naturally extremely intelligent? inconceivable!
 
tmh said:
If you're doing poorly it's worth reevaluating your studying. But if you want the image of a smart guy who doesn't work hard his grades, that seems like a waste of effort. Do your best. I study my ass off and I'm willing to admit when I put obscene amounts of time into a single test. An A is an A. I'd rather be willing to work hard than be naturally extremely intelligent.
Click to expand...

I still have all A's in my classes. Maybe this is a question of changing up my image, or going that extra step to getting the highest A's--because I know there are guys around who are above my level. I'm just trying to figure out what those guys do.
 
tmh said:
If you're doing poorly it's worth reevaluating your studying. But if you want the image of a smart guy who doesn't work hard his grades, that seems like a waste of effort. Do your best. I study my ass off and I'm willing to admit when I put obscene amounts of time into a single test. An A is an A. I'd rather be willing to work hard than be naturally extremely intelligent.
Click to expand...

Spoken like somebody who's not naturally extremely intelligent 😛
 
figure out the basic big picture in class and learn details after class or become aux naturale superjenuis like me :banana:
 
give up your social life and spent around 5-8 hours in the library a day, treat undergrad like med school 🙂
 
What I'm learning: Act as cool or as silly as you want, but there's no substitute to actual hard work.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
Read before class. If My professor gives us his notes online, I ain't writing squat unless he emphasizes it.
Click to expand...
I used to do this.

But this semester I changed up my studying habits: even if the Professor puts slides up, I will not print them. Instead, I copy down the "important" stuff and supplement with whatever they were talking about.

Why? 'cause this way I'm not just mindlessly writing down what they say (tend to zone out without realizing, and writing down whenever I hear some key word, inflection, etc.). Another plus is that this way I am thinking about the material at least 3 times before the exam: during class, when I try to figure out how to organize slides and the lecture on my paper; when I read the textbook, which is when I compare notes to text; and when I review before the exam.

Worked out so far. Nothing less than a 90 so far. Although I have my doubts.
 
I wouldn't not take notes at all, especially if you're already used to doing it, but you should be listening more than writing. Also, previewing material gives you an edge if you're not doing so great already, but I personally wouldn't spend the extra time reading anything that might be unnecessary, unless it's a class in which you're genuinely interested. Instead, take that time AFTER class to go over your sparse notes and fill them in with details you remember from lecture!

Don't ask others for notes! I think someone said to do this? You won't understand a thing and the person you ask notes from will probably bitch about you to the rest of the class. I've had SO many non-premed science major friends bitch about 'that one stupid premed girl' who always borrows her notes. They'll be nice to you the first time, but after that, it's all fake. And if you were in class AND ask people for notes... I can just imagine the bitchfest. DON'T DO IT.
 
Has anyone ever watched lectures from iTunes U if the professor is bad enough? Just curious
 
^ I use Khan Academy as needed. iTunes U never occured to me...
 
I think you are putting more effort into the process of preparing to study rather than actually buckling down and studying. This year I never use my laptop for schoolwork anymore, everything is pen and paper because I find that if I write everything it helps to stick in my head. Also I review my notes briefly [almost] every night before bed, just so something new might stick, and it's worked so far this semester. Also I go and study every day of the week for several hours, that way I can slowly learn the material since I am a slow learner yet still keep up with the classes I'm taking. Best of luck, hopefully you figure out what works for you before its too late!
 
Alright, the key to being a silent curve destroyer is to stay off the grid.

1)Never go to class. If people know who you are in class they'll think you care about that class. You don't.

2)Study at times no one else is studying, in places that no one else studies. Abandoned literature classroom at 2am? Perfect. Law school library during your scheduled orgo class? Even better.

3)Don't study before a test. Go to your test room and bring nothing but a pencil or pen. Be fully prepared before you even wake up in the morning. Listen to your ipod or talk to your friends/on the phone. Do you even have a test today? Are you in this class? Who knows.

4) Don't talk about school. "School's boring. You go to school all week. Talk about something else." F*** school.

5) Sleep in. Take naps. These are not bad things. People think they're a waste of time, but not you. They are productive because they give you more energy to study when you wake up. When people ask you what you did? "Slept in, went to the gym, etc." Or "Woke up early cuz of [some BS that takes 10 minutes but you make sound like 3 hours, and you actually study afterwards] then went and worked out and took a nap"

6) When people ask you to study in groups; don't. Other people slow you down. Say things like "I might meet up with you after I go XXX" or "Nah, I want to see YYY" or "I can't I still need to study for ZZZ."

In conclusion, the key to being a silent destroyer is simple. Be efficient. You only realistically need to devote 3-4 hours a day to UG to succeed. Not 3-4 hours a day walking to class, sitting in class listening to a prof teach you stuff you could teach yourself in 20 minutes, then eating with friends, walking home, etc. Just do what you need to do every day on your own time and you'll be fine. Don't bring your laptop to study, don't bring your phone or iPod. Just put in a solid 3-4 hours and you'll be good to do whatever you want for the remaining 21 hours of the day.
 
mitchlucker said:
Alright, the key to being a silent curve destroyer is to stay off the grid.

1)Never go to class. If people know who you are in class they'll think you care about that class. You don't.

2)Study at times no one else is studying, in places that no one else studies. Abandoned literature classroom at 2am? Perfect. Law school library during your scheduled orgo class? Even better.

3)Don't study before a test. Go to your test room and bring nothing but a pencil or pen. Be fully prepared before you even wake up in the morning. Listen to your ipod or talk to your friends/on the phone. Do you even have a test today? Are you in this class? Who knows.

4) Don't talk about school. "School's boring. You go to school all week. Talk about something else." F*** school.

5) Sleep in. Take naps. These are not bad things. People think they're a waste of time, but not you. They are productive because they give you more energy to study when you wake up. When people ask you what you did? "Slept in, went to the gym, etc." Or "Woke up early cuz of [some BS that takes 10 minutes but you make sound like 3 hours, and you actually study afterwards] then went and worked out and took a nap"

6) When people ask you to study in groups; don't. Other people slow you down. Say things like "I might meet up with you after I go XXX" or "Nah, I want to see YYY" or "I can't I still need to study for ZZZ."

In conclusion, the key to being a silent destroyer is simple. Be efficient. You only realistically need to devote 3-4 hours a day to UG to succeed. Not 3-4 hours a day walking to class, sitting in class listening to a prof teach you stuff you could teach yourself in 20 minutes, then eating with friends, walking home, etc. Just do what you need to do every day on your own time and you'll be fine. Don't bring your laptop to study, don't bring your phone or iPod. Just put in a solid 3-4 hours and you'll be good to do whatever you want for the remaining 21 hours of the day.
Click to expand...

A howto for becoming a "silent curve destroyer." Thanks for the advice. I feel like I shouldn't skip going to class, though. Also, (smart) study buddies can remind you that you've overlooked stuff, or give you different perspectives on things. But you're right, the study group thing should be done sparingly, and with the right people.

I get out of class at 3, so theoretically I should be able to put in at least 5-6 hours of studying a day. How do you go from "I could have done 6, but only did 3 and goofed off for the other 3" to "I did 6"? I guess it comes down to discipline.
 
ss123 said:
A howto for becoming a "silent curve destroyer." Thanks for the advice. I feel like I shouldn't skip going to class, though. Also, (smart) study buddies can remind you that you've overlooked stuff, or give you different perspectives on things. But you're right, the study group thing should be done sparingly, and with the right people.

I get out of class at 3, so theoretically I should be able to put in at least 5-6 hours of studying a day. How do you go from "I could have done 6, but only did 3 and goofed off for the other 3" to "I did 6"? I guess it comes down to discipline.
Click to expand...

Your response makes me wonder if you caught the humor/sarcasm in that post. 😉

My reading, anyway, would be that he was, in essence, making fun of your request.

In reality, most of that post is made up of awful advice. People who "destroy the curve silently" do so naturally. They typically don't mean to. They just do it. It's the nature of the beast. If I take a class, I generally just do well. The fact that I get a 98% on a test with a class average of <60% isn't because I studied for hours and hours (I didn't); it's because I just happened to understand the material very well (i.e., it just sort of "clicked" for me) and I'm a solid test taker (i.e., I am really good at critically thinking my way around questions I don't "know" the answer to).

In reality, to set your classes' curves without studying as much as most of the other students do, you should develop excellent integration of your knowledge base. That is, you need to develop the ability to synthesize new information. Learn to connect your areas of knowledge across domains. Be able to relate Physiology to Physics and Chemistry effortlessly. Also be able to effortlessly relate each of those subjects to Music, Psychology, History, and Anthropology. An integrated knowledge base allows you to answer questions for which you do not have the book answer. In essence, it greatly increases your chances of "guessing" correctly. It is what the SN2ed is really pushing for through one of his main exercises in the MCAT forum. Once you have mastered integration of your knowledge base, academically outperforming most people becomes incredibly easy.
 
1. Adderall works wonders.

2. Most people actually study a lot. The people you are referring to who appear to not study...they do study. As for people who talk about how much they 'didn't study for that test on Monday', these people are losers who lie because they think it makes them look cool. Deep down they know they are losers.

Some people put in more time than others but believe me you will be putting in the time just like everyone else if you want a 3.7 GPA or higher. There is a correlation between the number of hours students spend each week studying and GPA. Read the textbook for understanding (at least once), do the work that is assigned to you, pay attention in class, do practice problems (if applicable), study your notes. Sleep well, eat well, exercise. I think 3-4 hours a day of total studying is sufficient. It was for me anyway.
 
There is no secret trick to get a 4.0...You will have to work hard and that should be the basis no matter "how" you study.

That being said, I do agree with "work smart" mantra. More specifically, I'd say "work smart AND hard."

Here are things I followed through that enabled me to get As from most of my classes..

1. Get a calendar and make schedule on important test dates when the school starts (look at syllabus for midterms/final dates). I personally used iCal and it makes me proud when I look back at my schedule several years back. 🙂

2. DO NOT EVER EVER PROCRASTINATE, especially on hardcore science classes such as orgo, physics, and upper-level bio

2a. Always prepare at least a week in advance for midterms and finals. For finals I always started at least two weeks before.

3. GO TO THE LECTURE, EVERYDAY. You think it's waste of time because they are all "in the book." That is true, but guess what? Try covering those 1000pg science book a week before midterm/final...you have no shot and are doomed for failure. Going to lecture is ACTUALLY saving you time by allowing you to have a sense of roughly what topic professor will put on a exam. This will save you time and allow you to focus on topics that will TESTED on.

4. Last but not least...you can't do anything unless you actually follow through...follow the above and actually study hard when you have you. You can hit a bar or do whatever you want once you finish the task at hand.

Good luck. 😀
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
How do I classify my volunteering?
Replies
10
Views
765
LunaOri
LunaOri
princeofmediocrity
How do I avoid yield protection? (527 / 4.0)
Replies
7
Views
1K
Goro
Goro
F
Does the type of research I do matter?
Replies
10
Views
675
2026PreMed
2026PreMed
A
How do I handle non-responsive letter writers?
Replies
22
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
olofmeister
How do I prepare for reapplication?
Replies
16
Views
2K
J_doc1
J_doc1
Top