How do top students manage it?

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the top students in my class LIVE in the library. they also stay up until 2-3 am studying for multiple nights in a row when there are tests ( so all the time) its insane.
 
Top kids I know, were cranking it out from day one. Some were cranking it out before D1 even started, by getting ahead.
They go to class, most ppl don't. They pay attention in class, most ppl don't. They read the book even if isn't 'necessary', most ppl don't. They try to take interest in learning the material, most ppl just study come test time and view it as a chore (ppl like me lol). They are highly disciplined.

Got a couple of cutthroat gunners as well. They steal stuff, hide stuff, try all sorts of conniving methods. Lots of cheaters as well. These people are near the top but not at the very top. The very top ppl do what I said above.
 
gatsby121 said:
the top students in my class LIVE in the library. they also stay up until 2-3 am studying for multiple nights in a row when there are tests ( so all the time) its insane.
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I just can't live in the library. I study throughout the day and stop at 8:30pm and take one day off a week. Couple that with a balanced diet, 7hrs of sleep a night, and pretty good workout plan makes for a very healthy, information ready brain. Just finished a 4.0 first semester. There is such a thing as over studying. In my opinion the students that stay up super late studying getting little sleep are just hurting themselves.
 
Bernie Sanders said:
Got a couple of cutthroat gunners as well. They steal stuff, hide stuff, try all sorts of conniving methods. Lots of cheaters as well. These people are near the top but not at the very top. The very top ppl do what I said above.
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Wouldn't really call them gunners, mores like a-holes.
 
Graduating this year. Top 5 in my class. #1 and I are very involved in EC's, leadership, social activities, and have vibrant social lives/friend groups. We are very laid back, down to earth people. The other three are very cutthroat, have basically no friends, some abuse adderall, no extracurriculars, always absent at social events, etc.

There's no recipe. Some people are naturally gifted/smarter, some are efficient, some have to sacrifice everything to make the grade. My two cents: don't waste time studying things you already know, be efficient with your time, have a balanced social life, know your limitations, drink plenty of beer. Life shouldn't stop for dental school; that's how you become a workaholic. Not healthy.
 
Haha I see some humble brags here XD Well I haven't figured out the best plan for me yet. This semester, our dean came to speak to us and emphasized the importance of showing up to class (something about respecting the professors or that we're paying too much money to not attend class) ==> long-a** days + long-a** nights of studying + taking care of other stuff (bills, house-chores, groceries, etc.) = less time to sleep/exercise/eat. I don't think I'm high in the ranking of my class but I do know that it really depends on your class whether you have an easier time managing school or harder time. My class is so hard-core plus the gap in grades are just so close to each other (standard deviation is typically less than +/-3) that it makes things extra-stressful.
 
AlbinoPolarBear said:
Feel that the people who are not at the top of the class are the ones more likely to cheat and half ass their way to a dental degree. If you're at the top of the class, who do you cheat from?
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I disagree. People near the top (like outside the top 5, but maybe ranked from like 6-30) are the kids who are cutthroat, manipulative, shaft their other classmates at the drop of a hat and are thieves. Observed them doing it to others and to me, as well. Ones not at the top of the class don't feel the need to do it, because they don't really give a damn about grades
 
Bernie Sanders said:
I disagree. People near the top (like outside the top 5, but maybe ranked from like 6-30) are the kids who are cutthroat, manipulative, shaft their other classmates at the drop of a hat and are thieves. Observed them doing it to others and to me, as well. Ones not at the top of the class don't feel the need to do it, because they don't really give a damn about grades
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So what kind of theft is possible in dental school. (I start next fall)
 
StumpMT said:
I just can't live in the library. I study throughout the day and stop at 8:30pm and take one day off a week. Couple that with a balanced diet, 7hrs of sleep a night, and pretty good workout plan makes for a very healthy, information ready brain. Just finished a 4.0 first semester. There is such a thing as over studying. In my opinion the students that stay up super late studying getting little sleep are just hurting themselves.
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Hey, you posted this before we got our Epi exams back. Way to just ASSUME you got an A in Epi, the most important and difficult class we've taken thus far. Jeez.
 
rendal said:
Hey, you posted this before we got our Epi exams back. Way to just ASSUME you got an A in Epi, the most important and difficult class we've taken thus far. Jeez.
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Lol. Based on that final if someone didn't get an A I'd be concerned. You're right though, Epi/SAPL was the most important....I shouldn't have skipped lecture.
 
My roommate was #2 in our class. There is really no secret for his success. He is an extremely smart guy, who did well on all the exams from just reading the material once or from just listening to what the professor said during lectures. Having him as a roommate had benefited me a lot. He’s very nice and helpful. I studied many times harder than my roommate but I was nowhere near the top of our class. No matter what I did, I would never be as good as my roommate and other top students in my class. Fortunately, I went to a P/F dental school, where the class rank wasn’t important in helping the students to specialize. Our school, however, does rank the top students like my roommate (base on the number of honor passes the students have). That’s how my roommate got accepted our own school’s OS program. I had to go to the dental school in another state for my ortho residency. We both have private practices. I regularly refer my patients to his practice because most of my patients say he’s a good surgeon and a nice human being.
 
charlestweed said:
I studied many times harder than my roommate but I was nowhere near the top of our class. No matter what I did, I would never be as good as my roommate and other top students in my class.
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This is disappointing to hear.
 
DMD_2016 said:
Graduating this year. Top 5 in my class. #1 and I are very involved in EC's, leadership, social activities, and have vibrant social lives/friend groups. We are very laid back, down to earth people. The other three are very cutthroat, have basically no friends, some abuse adderall, no extracurriculars, always absent at social events, etc.

There's no recipe. Some people are naturally gifted/smarter, some are efficient, some have to sacrifice everything to make the grade. My two cents: don't waste time studying things you already know, be efficient with your time, have a balanced social life, know your limitations, drink plenty of beer. Life shouldn't stop for dental school; that's how you become a workaholic. Not healthy.
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SEE BOLDED! Thou must know thyself, lol. I was that kid that had to spend extra time in lab after hours to feel comfortable for practicals. I've also never felt comfortable walking into an exam without reviewing the material at least twice, but hey, that's what worked for me. I had friends who never stayed after class to practice in lab, and literally reviewed the material the night before, and still beasted in D-school. I learned early on to never compare myself to anyone else or their study habits. I simply did what I had to do, to get the results I wanted.
 
swindoll said:
Just curious, are any of you guys at the top of your class? How do you manage? What is your secret? 😀
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Keep in mind that you'll be competing against the best of the best. You might have been a hot shot in undergrad, but it won't be the same in dental school. You'll be competing against people with PhDs, Master degrees, and extensive clinical experience (hygienists, lab techs, etc.)
 
Attending a P/F school without an official ranking doesn't hurt. :whistle:
 
Time management and hard work. I developed a different way of studying from most of my classmates because I know that is what works for me. Those at the top are mostly those who want it the most, and aren't making excuses but are just working hard. I dont think I"m smarter than any of my classmates but by staying organized, studying hard (in depths), and by using my system of note taking and reviewing notes I feel like I was able to seperate myself in a really competitive class at one of the top dental schools. PM me if you want to know more specifics about how I would study, I think if most people did this their GPA would go up to the 3.8-4.o range. 🙂
 
StumpMT said:
I just can't live in the library. I study throughout the day and stop at 8:30pm and take one day off a week. Couple that with a balanced diet, 7hrs of sleep a night, and pretty good workout plan makes for a very healthy, information ready brain. Just finished a 4.0 first semester. There is such a thing as over studying. In my opinion the students that stay up super late studying getting little sleep are just hurting themselves.
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IM WITH STUMP MT! Hope all is well man! I did not have a 4.0 by any means but did fairly well in my first semester. I would agree with everything you have said though!
 
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