How do you deal with...

[mintendo]

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...study and study, and still only BARELY passing an exam or class?

I know I know, all you need is a P. But at least for me personally, it's really disheartening.

 

[jester384]

rock the boards next year?

 

[Punkn]

...study and study, and still only BARELY passing an exam or class?

I know I know, all you need is a P. But at least for me personally, it's really disheartening.

I can definitely relate...I struggled like this at the beginning of the year. Here's what I did to improve my exam scores:

1) Change my studying techniques. I found that asking questions back in forth with a classmate or two after I'd taken notes and reviewed concepts let me see what I really knew or didn't know.
2) Studied more actively (not just reading slides or a book)...it's easier to feel like you "know" the material because it looks familiar but you may not really understand it yet.
3) Went over exams to see if I was making patterns of mistakes (reading questions too fast or too slow, problems with certain concepts, etc) and make changes to cut down on those types of mistakes on the next exam.
Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[Anka]

(1) I focused on learning the material the first time through; I found that I really never had a chance to go back most of the time, so by just 'getting through the material' the first time through I was hurting myself
(2) Stopped taking notes for later study (i.e., I wrote stuff down to memorize it now, but really wasn't trying to make a coherant note set).
(3) marked stuff in the book I wanted to review right before the test; also, wrote notes in the margins that I wanted to review right before the test.
(4) forced myself to look up from the book every 'chunk' (a page, a few paragraphs, depending on what I was reading) and recite out loud what I had just learned.
(5) rediscovered cramming. When I first got to med school, I studied every day, kept up with the material, then didn't do so well on the exam. Now, I study every day, and then cram the day or two before the exam as well.

As far as dealing with it emotionally, it's hard. You have to move on, though, or you're going to be ineffective because your bummed.

Anka

 

[HarryRosenMD]

Hi...

There are various reasons for performing suboptimally on exams. The main reason, however, is lack of appropriate time management. Medical school is not rocket science... but it is a galaxy of information, which deserves respect. You need to ensure that you are devoting enough time to relaxed, yet focused study. Keep in mind that you are not studying for the class exam. Rather, you are studying in order to:

A. Become a better physician. Something with little correlation to grades. After all... the typical test seeks out information... not necessarily understanding.

B. To kick butt on the USMLE exams... being the great equalizers throughout the world.

With that said... a fair to marginal grade can be extremely disheartening... but cannot stop you from becoming a fantastic clinician.

 

[njbmd]

...study and study, and still only BARELY passing an exam or class?

I know I know, all you need is a P. But at least for me personally, it's really disheartening.

In the short term, either change your attitude (you ARE passing and thus be content with that) or change your study methods (your system isn't working well for you so why keep it?). In the long term, you move into clinicals after two years of pre-clinical coursework where you have different challenges that might be more suitable to your study style.

To dwell (and expend precious time and emotions) on something that is in the past- you cannot undo those past grades- isn't going to change the future for you. To get busy and change what you are doing right now can affect the future for you. In any case, if what you are doing now, isn't working for you, find a way to change it to something that works better. If not, you have to find a way to be content with your "P" performance. Life is too short and times flies too quickly to be "disheartening".

 

[roja]

In my medical school, we called this the B-virgin syndrome. Its not just for those that just get B's though. Its kind of exactly what you are talking about. Most med students have never struggled a ton to do well on a test. And then they are confronted with having to study thier butts off to barely pass.

So, there are a couple of things. Look at the way you are studying. Figure out what is the highest yield way you study and do more of that. (even if it means going to class all the time or not going. whatever works for you is what is what you need to do). Stop trying to cram. You can't learn it all. There is a reason there is that cliche about trying to drink from a fire hydrant.

Get plenty of sleep. You need your sleep for your brain to work.

Remember all those test taking skills you learned in your MCAT prep course? use them.

Try and keep it in perspective. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Your patients won't care that you got a C on your pharm exam because you couldn't remember some nebulous mechanism. They will care that you are a good physician. Hard to remember when you are in the throes of exams but it might help.

make sure you are seeing the sun once a day.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Your patients won't care that you got a C on your pharm exam because you couldn't remember some nebulous mechanism. They will care that you are a good physician.

I love it!

 

[Sartre79]

I love it!

Why does it take Pharmacists 4 years and a Doctorate just to learn how to count out pills?

 

[roja]

a pharmacist NEEDS to understand all that stuff. I just dont.

 

[DocPsychosis]

Why does it take Pharmacists 4 years and a Doctorate just to learn how to count out pills?

Why does it take Docs-in-a-box(es?) 4 years and a doctorate just to prescribe antibiotics to every screaming toddler that gets dragged through his or her doors?

Oops...

 

[OncoCaP]

Why does it take Pharmacists 4 years and a Doctorate just to learn how to count out pills?

Eh, the pharmacist doesn't count the pills. The techs do the pill counting. That's like asking why do doctors go to med school and residency just to learn how to take blood pressures and write prescriptions for augmentin. The Pharmacist gives the patients advice about the meds because many patients don't get much advice about their meds from the doctor, forget what the doctor told them, didn't understand, etc. The patient might ask "Why was I was prescribed Lipitor instead of pravastatin?" "Why am I taking these diabetic medications?" A pharmacist might suggest an alternate strategy to the patient who comes with 10 prescriptions after being discharged from a hospital and just wants to get the hydrocodone filled instead of all those silly diabetes and heart meds. The pharmacist also gives a lot of advice on over-the-counter meds because many patients try to self-medicate before they break down and go to the doctor.

 

[HEADintheCLOUDS]

...study and study, and still only BARELY passing an exam or class?

I know I know, all you need is a P. But at least for me personally, it's really disheartening.

I feel the same way abeiit in the other direction. No matter what grade you get Im sure you will not be happy since everyone wants to do the best they can. For instance I got a 123/125 on my neuro exam, yet still wanted higher even though it is pass/ No pass and really doesnt matter. So keep your head up and keep your eye on the prize and Im sure your scores will improve. Maybe just put one extra day a week to group study , it may help.

 

[OncoCaP]

...study and study, and still only BARELY passing an exam or class?

I know I know, all you need is a P. But at least for me personally, it's really disheartening.

Sounds like you are dealing with it pretty well. It's not designed to be easy. They make it challenging so that you are scared into studying a fair amount. If they made it easy, a lot more med students would do minimal studying.

 

[TerpMD]

I feel the same way abeiit in the other direction.
For instance I got a 123/125 on my neuro exam, yet still wanted higher even though it is pass/ No pass and really doesnt matter..

Why did I need this information? You aren't helping the OP by bragging about your scores. Why do you insist on doing this in all your posts? Please stop. You are smart. We know.


As far as the OP's question, sometimes I think its not about the hours you study but about how you use the time. (Yeah on SDN you'll see people who say they have read all of Robbins but that to me is not a good use of your time) Just keep trying and don't be afraid to try something new. You also might want to think about talking to an academic advisor or something like that if you have one at your school.

 

[Sartre79]

Why does it take Docs-in-a-box(es?) 4 years and a doctorate just to prescribe antibiotics to every screaming toddler that gets dragged through his or her doors?

Oops...

You'd have a point if every single case was a screaming toddler in need of antibiotics.....but I'm guessing a doc is going to see a little bit more than this on a day-to-day basis.