How do you study?

[Boolean]

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I'm not currently having any issues with studying, but I'd really like to hear what some other members of the forums have to say about how they study.

Do you have a particular technique? Why do you feel it is effective?


Personally, I make an outline of whatever chapter / section I'm covering. From there, I'll either make it into a Quizlet or Anki deck (depending on resources at hand and what class it is). Review ad infinitum from there. Quiz and test scores make me feel as if I'm retaining the information, but I can't help but feel I'm not really learning too much of the lower yield stuff, so perhaps this method isn't the best.

Anyways, would love to hear what you all have to say.

Thanks for taking the time to read/respond!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I'm not currently having any issues with studying, but I'd really like to hear what some other members of the forums have to say about how they study.

Do you have a particular technique? Why do you feel it is effective?


Personally, I make an outline of whatever chapter / section I'm covering. From there, I'll either make it into a Quizlet or Anki deck (depending on resources at hand and what class it is). Review ad infinitum from there. Quiz and test scores make me feel as if I'm retaining the information, but I can't help but feel I'm not really learning too much of the lower yield stuff, so perhaps this method isn't the best.

Anyways, would love to hear what you all have to say.

Thanks for taking the time to read/respond!

Read the book and do problems, review notes from class, maybe read book again (faster this time), review problems, review notes, and then pray

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

Read the book and do problems, review notes from class, maybe read book again (faster this time), review problems, review notes, and then pray

As a first year with relatively weak study method, I'm finding that this approach is the best way for me. First pass is a deep read for overview and total comprehension. Subsequent (and much quicker) passes are to pick up and hold onto more and more information and details. Practice questions to speed retrieval.

 

[Boolean]

As a first year with relatively weak study method, I'm finding that this approach is the best way for me. First pass is a deep read for overview and total comprehension. Subsequent (and much quicker) passes are to pick up and hold onto more and more information and details. Practice questions to speed retrieval.

With the practice questions, where are you getting them from? @Lysilegluleu I'm assuming you're an MS1 so you've got various resources that are med school specific, but @TexasSurgeon, I don't know what you are in. I've found undergraduate courses to vary heavily based on your institution, hence my questioning.

Glad to see some methods are fairly similar throughout though!

 

[Keladry]

Read the book and do problems, review notes from class, maybe read book again (faster this time), review problems, review notes, and then pray

Pretty much the same for me, but my "reviewing notes" consists of typing up my handwritten notes, condensing them, looking up stuff I need to clarify, then printing them out and reading them out loud to myself repeatedly. It really helps me to hammer the info into my head in multiple ways. 🙂

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

With the practice questions, where are you getting them from? @Lysilegluleu I'm assuming you're an MS1 so you've got various resources that are med school specific, but @TexasSurgeon, I don't know what you are in. I've found undergraduate courses to vary heavily based on your institution, hence my questioning.

Glad to see some methods are fairly similar throughout though!

Yep. I don't use practice questions in hopes of them mirroring whatever exam questions I might face, but rather to get better at wielding the knowledge. We do have added resources, but I typically use end of chapter, board review, or peer made questions. If you're in any prerequisite courses right now (and have time) MCAT prep books might be a good additional source of questions should you otherwise run out.

 

[medic86]

For me, it depends on the class, and how the professor teaches (some test directly from PowerPoint, others rely on you being in class and paying attention/no PowerPoint).

For the "softer" classes, such as biology, microbiology, etc. I'll take notes on the PowerPoint slides a day or two before an exam (or re-write notes if a particular professor doesn't use PowerPoint) and re-read however much I feel I need to get the grade I want on the exam. I study for understanding, and to perform just good enough to get an A (we use a flat A, B, C, D system - no +s or -s); i.e. I don't focus on minutia. This method works best if you attend every lecture, pay attention, and have some above-average ability to retain information (by no means do I have an eidetic memory, but I am very good at memorizing quickly). For most of the soft classes, I won't read the text book unless I feel I need to.

For the "harder" classes, like gen chem, physics, and organic, I'll take notes on pertinent conceptual information, and spend the rest of the time doing practice problems. This usually involves me starting the problem sets as far as 3-4 days before the exam, and rewriting the notes around that time - for organic, this will involve doings lots of problems in OWL and making flash cards for reactions or mechanisms that I feel I need more practice with. As a side note: I have been failing to practice what I preach in regard to physics this semester, and my grade has been suffering (it also doesn't help that my professor is garbage... but, such is life) - and now I have to catch back up through self-study.

I tend to hand write my notes, because for some reason, I don't retain as well through typing/re-reading typed stuff. It's just the way it is for me, lol.

So on that note: does anyone have a suggested method of study for physics, or is rewriting notes and grinding practice problems sufficient?

 

[Keladry]

For me, it depends on the class, and how the professor teaches (some test directly from PowerPoint, others rely on you being in class and paying attention/no PowerPoint).

For the "softer" classes, such as biology, microbiology, etc. I'll take notes on the PowerPoint slides a day or two before an exam (or re-write notes if a particular professor doesn't use PowerPoint) and re-read however much I feel I need to get the grade I want on the exam. I study for understanding, and to perform just good enough to get an A (we use a flat A, B, C, D system - no +s or -s); i.e. I don't focus on minutia. This method works best if you attend every lecture, pay attention, and have some above-average ability to retain information (by no means do I have an eidetic memory, but I am very good at memorizing quickly). For most of the soft classes, I won't read the text book unless I feel I need to.

For the "harder" classes, like gen chem, physics, and organic, I'll take notes on pertinent conceptual information, and spend the rest of the time doing practice problems. This usually involves me starting the problem sets as far as 3-4 days before the exam, and rewriting the notes around that time - for organic, this will involve doings lots of problems in OWL and making flash cards for reactions or mechanisms that I feel I need more practice with. As a side note: I have been failing to practice what I preach in regard to physics this semester, and my grade has been suffering (it also doesn't help that my professor is garbage... but, such is life) - and now I have to catch back up through self-study.

I tend to hand write my notes, because for some reason, I don't retain as well through typing/re-reading typed stuff. It's just the way it is for me, lol.

So on that note: does anyone have a suggested method of study for physics, or is rewriting notes and grinding practice problems sufficient?

Yep, that's how I got through physics - obsessively reading the textbook and doing as many practice problems as I could manage.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

With the practice questions, where are you getting them from? @Lysilegluleu I'm assuming you're an MS1 so you've got various resources that are med school specific, but @TexasSurgeon, I don't know what you are in. I've found undergraduate courses to vary heavily based on your institution, hence my questioning.

Glad to see some methods are fairly similar throughout though!

It's like the questions at the back of the book. Some books are ridiculous and put like 150 questions so there's no way a normal person can do them all in each chapter. You just gotta pick as many as you can. Like maybe odds

 

[Boolean]

It's like the questions at the back of the book. Some books are ridiculous and put like 150 questions so there's no way a normal person can do them all in each chapter. You just gotta pick as many as you can. Like maybe odds

I typically do evens, and if I have trouble with them, I'll do odds (because odds are typically listed in the back of the book). Thanks for the clarification!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Thanks for the clarification. I typically do evens, and if I have trouble with them, I'll do odds (because odds are typically listed in the back of the book). Thanks for the clarification!

Yeah! I mean YMMV based on class. Like for my non sciences classes, I'm usually taking notes in class and then review those and read parts of what the professor assigned. But I never do all the reading for all my classes....ain't nobody got time for that!

 

[Boolean]

Yeah! I mean YMMV based on class. Like for my non sciences classes, I'm usually taking notes in class and then review those and read parts of what the professor assigned. But I never do all the reading for all my classes....ain't nobody got time for that!

I figured at an undergraduate level most of what you're seeing is incredibly low yield. It's a bit unfortunate. Thankfully, a few of my professors have realized this. My biology professor (probably the most brilliant woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting) will literally cut out 70% of the textbook material in her slides. She really loves relaying the importance of what we are learning and why we are learning it (she teaches mostly pre-medical students, as most other students do not take her, as she is rather infamous for having a "difficult" class ((which I feel is just people not being able to adapt to her teaching style))

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I figured at an undergraduate level most of what you're seeing is incredibly low yield. It's a bit unfortunate. Thankfully, a few of my professors have realized this. My biology professor (probably the most brilliant woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting) will literally cut out 70% of the textbook material in her slides. She really loves relaying the importance of what we are learning and why we are learning it (she teaches mostly pre-medical students, as most other students do not take her, as she is rather infamous for having a "difficult" class ((which I feel is just people not being able to adapt to her teaching style))

Yeah I've got a prof like that this semester as well, her test remains yet to be seen though haha

 

[Octet]

Before an exam I like to make a cheat sheet with no intention of using it. The process of writing everything I don't know in as little as possible seems to solidify it in my head. Good luck!

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

Before an exam I like to make a cheat sheet with no intention of using it. The process of writing everything I don't know in as little as possible seems to solidify it in my head. Good luck!

I know plenty of people who do this with excellent success in medical school. There is a difference though. They write their "cheat sheets" over and over until there is very little they don't remember. I suppose the need for repetition is an effect of volume. Recommended if you can tolerate writing voluminous amounts or can retain via typing it.

 

[PurpleLove]

Yeah! I mean YMMV based on class. Like for my non sciences classes, I'm usually taking notes in class and then review those and read parts of what the professor assigned. But I never do all the reading for all my classes....ain't nobody got time for that!

Wow.

 

[PurpleLove]

Before an exam I like to make a cheat sheet with no intention of using it. The process of writing everything I don't know in as little as possible seems to solidify it in my head. Good luck!

Admit it, you use it. 😉

 

[The Buff OP]

I'm not currently having any issues with studying, but I'd really like to hear what some other members of the forums have to say about how they study.

Do you have a particular technique? Why do you feel it is effective?


Personally, I make an outline of whatever chapter / section I'm covering. From there, I'll either make it into a Quizlet or Anki deck (depending on resources at hand and what class it is). Review ad infinitum from there. Quiz and test scores make me feel as if I'm retaining the information, but I can't help but feel I'm not really learning too much of the lower yield stuff, so perhaps this method isn't the best.

Anyways, would love to hear what you all have to say.

Thanks for taking the time to read/respond!

Have you tried to see what type of learner are you? Go see a school counselor. I did this one test with her and my results came out that I am a auditory learner. In addition, she told me I need to carry a stress ball with me to lectures because I get figgity and squeezing the ball would relieve my stress.

Psshh what I need is one of these

 

[Boolean]

Have you tried to see what type of learner are you? Go see a school counselor. I did this one test with her and my results came out that I am a auditory learner. In addition, she told me I need to carry a stress ball with me to lectures because I get figgity and squeezing the ball would relieve my stress.

Psshh what I need is one of these

I didn't think of this at all... Great idea! I'll do this sometime this week!

 

[Boolean]

Say I have 30 lectures to study for a final, I'll solidly memorize #1-5, and then #6-10, etc. After I memorize each chunk, I memorize a broad outline of what topic and subtopics were covered in each chunk.

By the end, because I remembered the outline I can recite the outline and fill in all the information in between (basically recite the whole course). I find that the outline method allows you to organize everything in your head so that you have very fast recall on the exam. I may be an outlier, but I hardly do any practice until the day before the final. I use them as a test of my application skills.

If you have everything organized, on the exam you'll see it's about a certain topic and you'll go
- Okay so that's in this lecture -> this subtopic -> this slide

Edit: Oh and for the "outline" I fill out random details that I tend to forget so that I can just review that sheet when it comes closer to the exam. This is pretty useful when you have a million proteins, codes and subunits to memorize for molecular bio or the thousand different CYPS for pharmacology.

Edit: This is for life sci courses... for physical sciences I just read over the notes, make sure I understand and do a few problems before the exam (takes much less time for me to study... wrong field? haha)

Very interesting. Have you considered taking this chunking concept and applying it on a lesser scale for your physical science notes? Might help 🙂

 

[mehc012]

Anki. I try to come up with my own questions which require applying/remembering basic concepts in order to answer. The trick is to find a question which is quick to answer, but which can also trip you up if you don't pay attention.
For concept-based courses such as Physics or chem, I work 1/4 of the book problems first (half of the ones with answers in the back!) then go back and make flashcards as I read - the problems help me guide my cards, because I will be sure to put in a card for each topic, no matter how easy to memorize, which tripped me up, and they help me make cards which LINK subjects.
For Bio courses or sheer memorization, my 'concept consolidation' time comes from making a card template in Anki - coming up with which pieces of information are universal/identifying for everything in that class is surprisingly helpful on this. I can't stand grammatically incorrect cards, either, so I have to kind of be aware of any exceptions ahead of time in order to make my template universally applicable. I then crank through tables or diagrams in the text in ~10min, making dozens of cards via templates.

TBH, making the cards is the majority of my studying. I only really review them for long term retention after the test (except for the Bio ones noted above...those I will cram through 2-3x before the test).

Additional practice problems if I feel the need/time/inclination.

 

[The Buff OP]

I didn't think of this at all... Great idea! I'll do this sometime this week!

Yeah, too bad for me I still need to read the book. LOL 🙄

 

[Boolean]

Anki. I try to come up with my own questions which require applying/remembering basic concepts in order to answer. The trick is to find a question which is quick to answer, but which can also trip you up if you don't pay attention.
For concept-based courses such as Physics or chem, I work 1/4 of the book problems first (half of the ones with answers in the back!) then go back and make flashcards as I read - the problems help me guide my cards, because I will be sure to put in a card for each topic, no matter how easy to memorize, which tripped me up, and they help me make cards which LINK subjects.
For Bio courses or sheer memorization, my 'concept consolidation' time comes from making a card template in Anki - coming up with which pieces of information are universal/identifying for everything in that class is surprisingly helpful on this. I can't stand grammatically incorrect cards, either, so I have to kind of be aware of any exceptions ahead of time in order to make my template universally applicable. I then crank through tables or diagrams in the text in ~10min, making dozens of cards via templates.

TBH, making the cards is the majority of my studying. I only really review them for long term retention after the test (except for the Bio ones noted above...those I will cram through 2-3x before the test).

Additional practice problems if I feel the need/time/inclination.

Doing something similar to this right now. Are you just using Anki on the computer or do you have the mobile app as well?

 

[tmn5291]

For physical science courses, I usually study for exams at least a 1 week before the exams. I start by going over the lectures and jotting down main concepts. I then work on the examples given during lectures to make sure I understand what I am doing. Afterwards, I redo homework problems to master the material. Once I feel that I understand the concept, I work on the odd challenge problems from the end of the chapter.

For life science classes, it varies. I have to adapt to the course/professor's demands. Sometimes the exams are entirely based off the textbook and other times, the exams are off the lectures.

 

[mehc012]

Doing something similar to this right now. Are you just using Anki on the computer or do you have the mobile app as well?

Computer and mobile. But honestly, I prefer to work mostly on the computer except for my long-term review cards.

 

[BamaNicole]

I read the material we're covering in lecture before lecture and take notes. Then I attend lecture and add to my notes. I then review my notes from the week at the end of the week.

For O Chem and Physics, I would read before lecture but instead of taking notes I would do practice problems. I'd then look over them after lecture.

 

[Boolean]

I read the material we're covering in lecture before lecture and take notes. Then I attend lecture and add to my notes. I then review my notes from the week at the end of the week.

For O Chem and Physics, I would read before lecture but instead of taking notes I would do practice problems. I'd then look over them after lecture.

For clarification, you would do practice problems in lecture? Or….? I don't know if I read you properly on this one, sorry!

 

[BamaNicole]

For clarification, you would do practice problems in lecture? Or….? I don't know if I read you properly on this one, sorry!

oh sorry! I would do them before lecture to test to see if I was understanding what I was reading. I'd do mostly the in the chapter problems then do the end of the chapter problems once we finished it.

 

[Boolean]

oh sorry! I would do them before lecture to test to see if I was understanding what I was reading. I'd do mostly the in the chapter problems then do the end of the chapter problems once we finished it.

Makes sense, thanks for clarifying!

 

[chickenpox]

Very interesting. Have you considered taking this chunking concept and applying it on a lesser scale for your physical science notes? Might help 🙂

Oh by the wrong field comment I meant maybe I should be in physical sciences instead of life sci because it takes me much less time to prepare for physics/chem haha

 

[ComebackOfTheYear]

What is Anki? How do I use it?

 

[mehc012]

What is Anki? How do I use it?

http://ankisrs.net
http://ankisrs.net/docs/manual.html

It's a spaced repetition flashcard program which rocks my socks.
It helped me go from 'well, I am pretty smart so if I just panic-cram I can do well on exams but I will forget everything within 6mo' to 'My panic-cramming now leaves me with a tool which allows me to recall even the tiniest details 1yr later better than I did immediately after that night of studying'.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

I make an outline of the covered material and some practice questions, I go over it and I should be good at that point

 

[Bradley Daniel]

As a first year with relatively weak study method, I'm finding that this approach is the best way for me. First pass is a deep read for overview and total comprehension. Subsequent (and much quicker) passes are to pick up and hold onto more and more information and details. Practice questions to speed retrieval.

i have founded it on wiki....