How do you study?

[kristinairene]

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How do you study for your exam? Not just MCAT, but to any other exams as well? Unfortunately, I have a hard time studying and I don't know where and how to start it sometimes. I appreciate any study guide tips and stuff. There are times when the professor just hand out the exam reviewer and it doesn't even make sense because the format looks weird and UNORGANIZED in my part. I dont know about the others though. Anyway, I appreciate any help! Please do message me relating about this question if you have anything that will help me. Thanks! 🙂

 

[Isoprop]

I read the material, highlight points that I think are key or high yield, and annotate in the margins. Then I repeat that over and over again.

 

[Stumpyman]

I take extensive notes at the beginning of the semester (first two months), then I mildly study (like finals week right now; I need a 70 on most finals to get an A).

 

[Osakhomen]

The best studying habit I have found (I only used it for Organic Chem because I couldn't cram) is reviewing over notes after every lecture, make sure you don't have any questions, if you do, ask the professor the next lecture or look it up in the book/online. On the weekends go over all the notes again (usually doesn't take long because you already know them), and do word problems if necessary or try to recall important note details from memory.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I take extensive notes at the beginning of the semester (first two months), then I mildly study (like finals week right now; I need a 70 on most finals to get an A).

I'ma do that next semester. I'm taking 16 credits plus research for credit. I need all the time I can get.

 

[kpcrew]

The best studying habit I have found (I only used it for Organic Chem because I couldn't cram) is reviewing over notes after every lecture, make sure you don't have any questions, if you do, ask the professor the next lecture or look it up in the book/online. On the weekends go over all the notes again (usually doesn't take long because you already know them), and do word problems if necessary or try to recall important note details from memory.

This for sure. If you can't remember what you read 5 minutes ago, chances are that you won't be able to remember it for the exam either.

 

[Neurosis]

Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards. I repeat until I got it down.

 

[Neurosis]

This for sure. If you can't remember what you read 5 minutes ago, chances are that you won't be able to remember it for the exam either.

Oi, I've got a terrible short term memory, usually though I retain information for the exam, I guess I'm just the exception to the rule though.

 

[StoicJosher]

None of the traditional tools helps me - flashcards, mnemonics etc

The way I study is that I read what I have in notes (powerpoint slides, friends' notes) and relate it to the big picture. Usually, that involves reading a slide, or a paragraph of notes and then going back in memory and putting it in perspective with everything else I learned. Every new thing I learn, I relate it to the bigger picture and make a complete story.

Eg: citric acid cycle - I learn one step, relate it to the big picture and see if I can recall the entire cycle till the step I learned and if I can do that, I move on to the next step. Rinse and repeat. I can never remember anything random and obscure that doesn't feed into the big picture in some way or the other.

 

[Isoprop]

I can never remember anything random and obscure that doesn't feed into the big picture in some way or the other.

Wow, good luck in med school. I can totally sympathize, but there's going to be a lot of random trivia that you have to just rote memorize and putting things into the big picture probably won't help. Like knowing which amino acid is mutated in a specific genetic disease or the eponym of anatomical structure that nobody but old surgeons know.

 

[blehm98]

take notes and just read them a few times. Sometimes i supplement them with book material if it seems relevant. For processes (biochem, genetics, etc) I just draw out the entire thing, and stare at it. If i have time before the exam, then i draw out the processes again from memory just to make sure it's all there. And don't skimp on these notes, make them fully detailed, if something isn't important it's fairly likely you won't remember it anyway. If there are a lot of little things you don't remember that are similar (say enzymes or enzyme classes in TCA cycle) then they are important to remember as well. For chem, physics, and math i just do practice problems

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

On Orgo, I relied heavily on practice problems. I would go to any of the University of California, or Columbias websites in which they have a bunch of exceedingly hard questions in their professors department websites and do them.

 

[aranza]

For classes that require tons of memory I like to create stories (eg. for the circulatory system I pretend to be a a red blood cell and describe my whole journey)
For heavy multiple choice classes I dont take notes from the reading instead I create multiple choice questions (which act like notes) and everytime some of them appear on the test

 

[Bartemius]

First I use my brain to study, and then for the test I use my brain also.

For serious: go through the slides and lecture notes 2-3x (3-4x if it's a final), then usually take a couple practice tests/problem sets (if available) the night before

 

[Stumpyman]

to the concept.

I always like to establish a cushion at the beginning of the semester. Downside is that I have little motivation to actually study at this point.

👍


Truth; I think our method would work best if we were on the quarter system.

 

[Chamahk]

With the exceptions of tips along the lines of:
- Go to class all the time
- Take good notes
- etc.,

it'll be best for the individual to figure out their own method / technique of study.

Lastly, the best thing you can do is to be VERSATILE with HOW you study. different classes might require different strategies / techniques so it will be in your best interest to be able to adjust.

Just: UNDERSTAND and MEMORIZE that's what learning and studying is. To understand (to point where you could teach it) and to memorize (to be able to re-call it). hate it when a kid got an A in a class last semester and then when you ask 'em for help they go, "O bla bla bla? I know this. But I forgot how to do it though 🙄

 

[UpQuark]

Hmmm. You guys make me feel pretty lazy.

For classes that require memorization such as most bio, history, and other elective classes, I typically study the day before the exam. I have a decent long term memory so I can easily general concepts lectures and while taking notes. The whole day before the exam is typically spent memorizing the finer details and tying them in with the general topics.

Chem, physics, math classes - practice problem after practice problem. Study typically three days before an exam. Use first day to go over concepts, second day to do practice problems, third day to study in a group. Keep up with assignments and pay tie in crap from lab.

IDK, but my method doesn't seem to be the most efficient, but hey, it works.

(Oh and I absolutely can't stand flashcards...)

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

For classes that require tons of memory I like to create stories (eg. for the circulatory system I pretend to be a a red blood cell and describe my whole journey)
For heavy multiple choice classes I dont take notes from the reading instead I create multiple choice questions (which act like notes) and everytime some of them appear on the test

This is what I do to orgo!
Nu attack addition blah blah epoxide sythesis powerup

 

[numberwunn]

For classes that require tons of memory I like to create stories (eg. for the circulatory system I pretend to be a a red blood cell and describe my whole journey)

This is a powerful way to study. If you focus on rehashing material over and over again it may just go in one ear and out the other. Try to be ACTIVE in your learning. Synthesize it in new ways. The red blood cell thing is great. I try to draw things out myself - even though I am no artist, it helps to draw out the structures even if they are little more than stick figures. Concept maps or flow charts are also great. This will stick far better than continuously re-reading notes.

For smaller minutia I go to flashcards. Particularly when I make them myself.

And then - practice problems! Do them by the hundreds, and not just the night before. There are tons of great qbanks online. My MCAT went from a 30 to a 38 when I changed my focus from "studying the notes" to doing practice problems.

A note to the wise - the way that you studied in college will probably not work in med school. Find the smart kids and see what they're doing. Continuously try new methods. Ask the M2s.

 

[aranza]

This is a powerful way to study. If you focus on rehashing material over and over again it may just go in one ear and out the other. Try to be ACTIVE in your learning. Synthesize it in new ways. The red blood cell thing is great. I try to draw things out myself - even though I am no artist, it helps to draw out the structures even if they are little more than stick figures. Concept maps or flow charts are also great. This will stick far better than continuously re-reading notes.

For smaller minutia I go to flashcards. Particularly when I make them myself.

And then - practice problems! Do them by the hundreds, and not just the night before. There are tons of great qbanks online. My MCAT went from a 30 to a 38 when I changed my focus from "studying the notes" to doing practice problems.

A note to the wise - the way that you studied in college will probably not work in med school. Find the smart kids and see what they're doing. Continuously try new methods. Ask the M2s.

I got many tips from my training as a facilitated study group leader at my uni and one of them was exactly what you said draw them out. In one of our exercises he gave us a random poem and told us to memorize it in 15 mins using neumonics/pictures/rhymes/numbers ect. we drew the whole poem out and recited it fluently...congrats on the MCAT score!

 

[orthomyxo]

I take extensive notes at the beginning of the semester (first two months), then I mildly study (like finals week right now; I need a 70 on most finals to get an A).

Listen to this man. This is key.

You want to absolutely demolish everything at the beginning of the semester, so you don't really need to do anything towards the end. Or at least so you don't have to freak out over finals.

I'd also like to echo that going to class and taking notes aren't necessarily essential. Go to class for the first week or two. If it's not doing anything for you, it's just a waste of time. The notes thing varies from person to person. Protip: if you spend more time writing notes/study guides than actually studying, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Mr Hippopotamus]

Don't just read and reread. Instead, read a page, then see if you can summarize what you just read. Then do it again, and summarize both pages. Repeat until you can talk your way through the entire packet/chapter/textbook/course.

 

[akszp4]

To understand (to point where you could teach it) and to memorize (to be able to re-call it). hate it when a kid got an A in a class last semester and then when you ask 'em for help they go, "O bla bla bla? I know this. But I forgot how to do it though 🙄

Haha... that's me. But I'm extra annoying and don't say that I forgot or let the person ask someone else, I have to re-learn it and teach it to the person asking me or I'll spend all week thinking about it.

 

[Quaero]

How do you study for your exam? Not just MCAT, but to any other exams as well? Unfortunately, I have a hard time studying and I don't know where and how to start it sometimes. I appreciate any study guide tips and stuff. There are times when the professor just hand out the exam reviewer and it doesn't even make sense because the format looks weird and UNORGANIZED in my part. I dont know about the others though. Anyway, I appreciate any help! Please do message me relating about this question if you have anything that will help me. Thanks! 🙂

Wow, your professors actually have reviews before tests?

Well, if the reviews aren't so helpful you'll have to make one yourself. You've had them for sometime so you probably know what's important and what's not. If that's not the case, find the people who did really well and ask them how they study for that particular class.

Don't ever blame the forces that you can't control. It's pretty useless.

 

[estradiol9]

How do I study? Depends..

If the class is difficult:
-I attend all the lectures or as many as I can and sit there and absorb the lecture and only take down the important things. (Most of my classes are recorded & uploaded so I can back and listen to them again.)
-I read the relevant sections of the book after the lectures, usually on the weekend.
-I look over all of my notes again for a day or two before the exam.
-I try to do my best on the exams during the semester so I don't have to do amazing on the final to get a good grade.

If the class is easy:
-I never go to class.
-I read the book and look over notes two days before the exam.

Oh and I take advantage of ALL the extra credit opportunities I have, if there are any. I know one of my professors gives 2 extra points for good attendance, so I actually attend class.

 

[davidb25]

For biology classes, I tend to watch alot of Grey's Anatomy the day before the test.

For problem based classes, I generally eat pages of the textbook with a little soy sauce to help digest.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I'm about to share with you the ultimate learning techniques. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Get a bunch of computer paper 2 weeks before the test. Write down everything you need to know for the test seperated by sections/chapters. Think that if you could have a cheat for the test, what would you write down, then write that down. Take these cheat sheets and read them everyday before bed and in the morning. A couple of days before the test put in some intense study time with your sheets. If the class has math based problems to solve (chem physics etc) also do practice problems over and over again with every possible problem that could appear.

Sometimes I get too lazy to use this ultimate method, but if you do it, you are guaranteed an A.

 

[PanRoasted]

Ugh, definitely no to the flashcards for me. I agree that they certainly do help some people, but it's just simpler for me to read the notes/slides over and over instead of trying to make flashcards which contain the same information and studying from those. the secret is definitely

A.) REPETITION and
B.) REGULARITY

you can't go wrong with this. obviously, few people have the discipline to sit down every night and do this, so you can sometimes substitute regularity with cramming at 2 AM with some coffee by your side. but repetition is something you just can't avoid for any memory based class (bio). and this only works if you have the mental capacity to actually understand what you're studying just by reading it. if not, you'll probably have to make notes or some other rudimentary method for understanding concepts. which is also nothing to be ashamed of, nobody makes it through college without writing ANYTHING down.

 

[MartletMD]

For classes that require tons of memory I like to create stories (eg. for the circulatory system I pretend to be a a red blood cell and describe my whole journey)

For my Bio class this semester, I was so outrageously bored in the library with my notes that I started making metaphors and these really neat pictures to go with the metaphors with all the proteins and stuff labeled.

I now have the basics of nuclear import/export internalized so well it would blow your mind.

Creating these stories/metaphors takes a lot of time, but you can get really into it and you do actually learn things well.

I also advocate for the "start strong" approach. I set aside about an hour per class per day to sit in the library after class, starting the first day, and go over my notes with the text, think of questions, identify trouble areas, whatever. It helped, when I was doing it. It can be very, very difficult to maintain, especially as you shift into midterm panic mode, but you'll be infinitely better prepared.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Flashcards are wack. I actually tried to use them at orgo and didn't really work out.
Stopped using them, and I gained more time actually learning the material and writing down crap.
Result: C's on 2 tests to A's on two tests plus an A on the ACS final.

 

[Carbon009]

I personally find it really helpful to rewrite notes and to take notes from the textbook. Also, as stated before, doing practice problems over and over helps tremendously for me.

 

[aranza]

How did you guys study for physics? The questions my profs give are MUCH harder than the textbook ones and sometimes if you know the concept really well it doesn't help cause you had to have seen the "trick" in the question to get to the answer which is multiple choice so it's either you get it right or wrong...physics is frustrating
-_-

 

[Neurocentric]

Posting in this thread because I, too, am curious how others study. For Biology, I went to every class, recorded the lectures on my iPod, and wrote down everything on the slides. I used flash cards as that was what used to help me, but I found I was really behind on a lot of stuff, especially plants. This thread is really helpful for next semester!

 

[dmf2682]

I don't study and instead take exams upon the faith that I will succeed. If it is so ordained then I will get an A.

 

[Charles Darwin]

I don't study and instead take exams upon the faith that I will succeed. If it is so ordained then I will get an A.

Let me know how that goes. 👍

 

[ss123]

if it's problem-based, do a crapload of problems. e.g. do 20 born-haber cycles in a row without getting any wrong. look online for final exams from similar classes and take them timed. for my gen chem 1 final i prepared by solving about 400 problems over the course of a week. get those "problem solver" series and do all the problems in those books

for everything else, consistent + spaced repetition. also, it helps me to draw pictures and create movies and scenarios about mundane things like the krebs cycle. it's easier to remember a picture or a movie or something and then use that to recall rather than trying to directly memorize without actually internalizing

 

[SH3]

I always try to "mentally" design my own tests. For instance, think of points the Professor stressed throughout the term and make sure I know those concepts well. As well, taking notes then reading them aloud always help reinforce when memorizing.