How long do you guy typically spend studying in a day?

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DrEnderW said:
I you want to use FC, I strongly recommend starting first year. Banking all of the content from first year while moving forward with 2nd year content and doing your daily reviews is not the best use of the program.
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Ah, thanks for the tip. So I guess I should purchase the 2 year subscription then?
 
sbuxaddict said:
Ah, thanks for the tip. So I guess I should purchase the 2 year subscription then?
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Up to you. Have you tried the 1 month free trial yet? I'd definitely start with that and see if you it.

Your call on the 1 versus 2 year thing depending if you want to be locked in. If you want to do the program for sure, it's getting more and more expensive as it gets more popular so it may be worth getting the current price. I believe a 50% off subscription is still on until the end of the month.
 
sbuxaddict said:
How do you like FC? Is it difficult to integrate with your first year classes?
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So far, so good. You need to stick with it, though, otherwise it's not worth the money. It helped a few things stick for my exam today, like heme synthesis, porphyrias, purine salvage, etc. It also puts a different spin on some things I learn in class which is nice. I recommend it with the caveat that it"s no substitute to doing well in your classes.
 
Something that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that there is a learning process to learning. You learn to learn. Your mind retains information better as you get older, more experienced, and take more classes. The most important thing is that you stay the course and keep yourself responsible for all of the information, regardless of how long it takes.
 
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DrEnderW said:
Up to you. Have you tried the 1 month free trial yet? I'd definitely start with that and see if you it.

Your call on the 1 versus 2 year thing depending if you want to be locked in. If you want to do the program for sure, it's getting more and more expensive as it gets more popular so it may be worth getting the current price. I believe a 50% off subscription is still on until the end of the month.
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No, but I heard people saying the app was glitchy and that the website was better? Maybe I'll try it for a month once my exam on Monday is over.

MedWonk said:
So far, so good. You need to stick with it, though, otherwise it's not worth the money. It helped a few things stick for my exam today, like heme synthesis, porphyrias, purine salvage, etc. It also puts a different spin on some things I learn in class which is nice. I recommend it with the caveat that it"s no substitute to doing well in your classes.
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Ah, thanks! How much time do you put aside for it?
 
sbuxaddict said:
No, but I heard people saying the app was glitchy and that the website was better? Maybe I'll try it for a month once my exam on Monday is over.



Ah, thanks! How much time do you put aside for it?
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I get can get through anywhere from 50-100 cards per hour. New cards take longer. As I become familiar with what's on the card, they go by a lot quicker. I don't think I've ever spent more than a couple hours with it per day.
 
sbuxaddict said:
No, but I heard people saying the app was glitchy and that the website was better? Maybe I'll try it for a month once my exam on Monday is over.

Ah, thanks! How much time do you put aside for it?
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The iOS app is still a beta version currently. It's going to be updated within days and have a different interface and substantially increased functionality. The update for the android version is already out.

I do the vast majority of mine on a computer still though. I do about 150-200 questions a day at about 100/hr with half of those being while I'm in lecture. There's keyboard shortcuts to speed things up too.

Anyone feel free to PM me if you have FC questions.
 
Studying your as* off your first two years definitely pays off and it does carry into third year. Pretty much everyone who made AOA at my school were the ones who killed the first two years as well as clinicals.
 
D elegans said:
Studying your as* off your first two years definitely pays off and it does carry into third year. Pretty much everyone who made AOA at my school were the ones who killed the first two years as well as clinicals.
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Agree...it even helps a lot in residency, even in non-clinical and non-IM fields.


Radiology Resident
Step 1: 265+
Step 2: 265+
Step 3: 265+
 
It varies a lot, but around 3 or 4 hours I guess, but there are some days that I'm extremely tired because of too many classes during the day and I simply just want to relax. I'm trying to put some effort to study a little in these days as well though
 
It varies depending on what we are learning. All the embryology lectures we get in anatomy take me several hours each for a ~2ish hour lecture. Some of the pathways in biochem take me longer than I care to admit to just get a good idea of what's going on.
 
hwink said:
Anybody have any studying tips to increase retention of the material?
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That's mostly very personal. So you'll have to find out by yourself which method works best for you. What I do is studying not only reading because veyr often when I do that I might lose focus if I don't find the subject extremely interesting, so I keep writing on a sheet of paper everything I consider important, and then I read those notes and if I have some doubt and something isn't very clear, I try to find it on the book or article I'm reading and then I improve a little those notes and use them to study the day before a test
 
hwink said:
Anybody have any studying tips to increase retention of the material?
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I find that I retain notes that I've written down better than simply reading the slide/textbook. Also, using multiple sources to study from. For example, reading my lecture notes on lung histo/phys, writing my own notes summarizing the lecture, and supplementing that with a physiology text which explains the same thing in a different manner (I use Costanzo), and it helps to really gel things in your head. Maybe getting with some classmates and quizzing each other on the material. Or using FC (not sure if it's all that helpful for anatomy/histo). Or making your own flashcards to quiz yourself (there's an anki thread somewhere, but be aware that this is time consuming). In the end, it boils down to repetition, but that doesn't necessarily mean reading your lecture slides 10x (although that could work, too). You can get multiple passes through the same material using different methods/sources. Looking at the same thing over and over again can lead to reading it passively, and then you're not really retaining much of anything. The key is to do things that keep you thinking about the material instead of going through the motions of studying.
 
you should definitely start a poll, its too hard to read all the responses! lol
 
If I study for longer than 2-3 hours at a time, I feel like I got hit by a train and am pretty much out of commission for the rest of the day. I try to do 2 hrs at a time, 2-4 times/day depending on when exams are and how I'm feeling.
 
Really depends. On weekdays, not counting classes I would guess maybe about 3-7 hours depending on how behind I am. Keep in mind though this is after going to class for a good chunk of the day. On weekends, 12 minimum, sometimes even up to 16. Definitely not constant studying, I give myself frequent breaks to keep myself sane (e.g. right now to check SDN).

If its right after a test and I don't have anything imminent, then I will SOMETIMES, very rarely, give myself a day off however I usually regret this soon after when I realize how much harder I have to work on subsequent days. It's really whatever works for you though. I have a friend who does 50 mins on/10 mins off or something like that, where in those 10 mins he will eat/shower/take care of other business and then in the 50 mins he's strict about studying. I could never do that but again it depends on your personality.
 
It depends upon the study burden of a particular rotation. Generally, I study a few hours to 5 or 6 a day. I try to not study one day a week but end up reading papers, LOL!

I do UWorld about an hour/day but it's increasing because or wanting to beat step 3 right after ECFMG certification.

As far as the question someone asked about retention: Seeing/doing the management and more subtle aspects of medicine applied makes retention of studied material more alive.
 
jakeislove said:
It depends upon the study burden of a particular rotation. Generally, I study a few hours to 5 or 6 a day. I try to not study one day a week but end up reading papers, LOL!

I do UWorld about an hour/day but it's increasing because or wanting to beat step 3 right after ECFMG certification.

As far as the question someone asked about retention: Seeing/doing the management and more subtle aspects of medicine applied makes retention of studied material more alive.
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You're an MS4 and you're studying 5-6 hours/day some days? Ugh.
 
kirbymiester said:
You're an MS4 and you're studying 5-6 hours/day some days? Ugh.
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Doctors are professional students.

On weekends it's a lot more.

I don't study on the subway, though. It's pretentious and I have to watch my back. 🙂

I'm just trying to be productive during electives.
 
jakeislove said:
Doctors are professional students.

On weekends it's a lot more.

I don't study on the subway, though. It's pretentious and I have to watch my back. 🙂

I'm just trying to be productive during electives.
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The next time you have an exam will be in like 1.5 years! Don't you have a soul to nurture now that you've reached the year of milk and honey?
 
Dumb said:
Agree...it even helps a lot in residency, even in non-clinical and non-IM fields.


Radiology Resident
Step 1: 265+
Step 2: 265+
Step 3: 265+
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Oh yeah, absolutely.

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+
 
loltopsy said:
Oh yeah, absolutely.

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+

Plastics Resident
Step 1: 285+
Step 2: 285+
Step 3: 285+
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You're a plastics resident? How did you do on your steps?
 
I am so jealous of some of you guys. Studying for 4 hours each day is difficult, but studying for 6 to 8 hours is completely impossible at my school. We have required lecture/lab from 8am to 3-5pm 4 days a week and then once a week we get out between noon and 3.

On the days we get out at noon I feel like I get so much done but on the other days studying 6 hours would put me at an 11 hour day..excluding eating or any down time.

I really wish lecture was not required because I get very little out of it.
 
Anywhere from 7-10 hours a day, during the week, as much as 14 on saturdays and sundays
 
LeftShifted said:
Anywhere from 7-10 hours a day, during the week, as much as 14 on saturdays and sundays
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Really? Are those hour totals on top of going to the new day's classes? I talked to someone who said if you look at med school as 8am-6pm (like a work day), you will be fine. So during those 10hrs, you are studying and/or going to class and nothing else. Then your evenings are free.
 
LeftShifted said:
Anywhere from 7-10 hours a day, during the week, as much as 14 on saturdays and sundays
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LgxDLjP.gif
 
I think a better question is: When am I not studying?
 
For me, it always depends on what the schedule for the next few days/week is. If there are no exams, I study a couple of hours per day outside of lecture. If there are exams on the horizon, I go to school at 7a and go home at 10p.
 
makingthejump said:
Really? Are those hour totals on top of going to the new day's classes? I talked to someone who said if you look at med school as 8am-6pm (like a work day), you will be fine. So during those 10hrs, you are studying and/or going to class and nothing else. Then your evenings are free.
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No its more like: Class at 8 or 9 - 12. Lunch for an hour (interest group free food). Either the rest of the day is 'free' or have a small group for 2 hours or have clinical something or other for anywhere from 2-4 hours. Then study until critical mass is reached and its no longer productive, however long that takes. Sleep. Repeat.
 
I'm pretty bad at studying. Unless it's test weekend, besides class I will get about 2-3 hours of study in max. Saturdays I study for probably 6-8 hrs. Sundays are family day and I don't study at all.

Then in test weekends it's pretty much Friday after class until 12am and Saturday for a good 12 hours. I get A LOT done on those weekends and I do average in my classes.

It's a shame too, since I know if I could be a bit more disciplined during regular weekdays I could maybe be honoring more stuff, but I guess that's just not that important to me.
 
Do you guys have any advice for how to get efficient studying in if you go to a school with mandatory classes? Currently in class between 4 and 8 hours most of the week.
 
I feel like this is very subjective (obviously) I cannot comment on med school studying as I am not there yet. However, during my undergraduate I would tend to study a little bit each day instead of pulling all nighters cramming (cramming = very inefficient for me but works for some). This way by the time exam time came around I would just chill and look at my notes peacefully knowing that I already knew the info. This would yield much more time spent hanging with friends, girlfriends (break ups), cycling and mountain biking, and going out to bars/clubs during the weekend. I feel like self discipline is the best. Some semesters were often more rushed than others. Biochem combined with physics was pretty rough as I often tended to overstudy as you can always practice more with physics. I hope I can acclimatize well in medical school with the rigor and my tendency to perfect.

For now, especially with MCAT. I average around 7 hours of studying. I just can't grasp how some study 12+ hours. I usually get through a TBR chapter, finish 1001 problems and do 4 practice passages and cap out at 5-6 hours.
 
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TactFR44 said:
I feel like this is very subjective (obviously) I cannot comment on med school studying as I am not there yet. However, during my undergraduate I would tend to study a little bit each day instead of pulling all nighters cramming (cramming = very inefficient for me but works for some). This way by the time exam time came around I would just chill and look at my notes peacefully knowing that I already knew the info. This would yield much more time spent hanging with friends, girlfriends (break ups), cycling and mountain biking, and going out to bars/clubs during the weekend. I feel like self discipline is the best. Some semesters were often more rushed than others. Biochem combined with physics was pretty rough as I often tended to overstudy as you can always practice more with physics. I hope I can acclimatize well in medical school with the rigor and my tendency to perfect.

For now, especially with MCAT. I average around 7 hours of studying. I just can't grasp how some study 12+ hours. I usually get through a TBR chapter, finish 1001 problems and do 4 practice passages and cap out at 5-6 hours.
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It's easier to study 12 hours of medical school stuff than 2 hours of boring mcat ****
 
TactFR44 said:
I feel like this is very subjective (obviously) I cannot comment on med school studying as I am not there yet. However, during my undergraduate I would tend to study a little bit each day instead of pulling all nighters cramming (cramming = very inefficient for me but works for some). This way by the time exam time came around I would just chill and look at my notes peacefully knowing that I already knew the info. This would yield much more time spent hanging with friends, girlfriends (break ups), cycling and mountain biking, and going out to bars/clubs during the weekend. I feel like self discipline is the best. Some semesters were often more rushed than others. Biochem combined with physics was pretty rough as I often tended to overstudy as you can always practice more with physics. I hope I can acclimatize well in medical school with the rigor and my tendency to perfect.

For now, especially with MCAT. I average around 7 hours of studying. I just can't grasp how some study 12+ hours. I usually get through a TBR chapter, finish 1001 problems and do 4 practice passages and cap out at 5-6 hours.
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lol. just wait until med school (assuming you get in since you sound serious). you'll understand then. all the words/concepts that i highlighted you can kiss good bye for the most part...unless you a genius.
 
shibby1111 said:
lol. just wait until med school (assuming you get in since you sound serious). you'll understand then. all the words/concepts that i highlighted you can kiss good bye for the most part...unless you a genius.
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lol I hear ya. No genius here. My friends in med school now tell me the intensity is not something to joke about. DO/MD both.
 
TactFR44 said:
I feel like this is very subjective (obviously) I cannot comment on med school studying as I am not there yet. However, during my undergraduate I would tend to study a little bit each day instead of pulling all nighters cramming (cramming = very inefficient for me but works for some). This way by the time exam time came around I would just chill and look at my notes peacefully knowing that I already knew the info. This would yield much more time spent hanging with friends, girlfriends (break ups), cycling and mountain biking, and going out to bars/clubs during the weekend. I feel like self discipline is the best. Some semesters were often more rushed than others. Biochem combined with physics was pretty rough as I often tended to overstudy as you can always practice more with physics. I hope I can acclimatize well in medical school with the rigor and my tendency to perfect.

For now, especially with MCAT. I average around 7 hours of studying. I just can't grasp how some study 12+ hours. I usually get through a TBR chapter, finish 1001 problems and do 4 practice passages and cap out at 5-6 hours.
Click to expand...
fbCbPNw.gif
 
TactFR44 said:
I feel like this is very subjective (obviously) I cannot comment on med school studying as I am not there yet. However, during my undergraduate I would tend to study a little bit each day instead of pulling all nighters cramming (cramming = very inefficient for me but works for some). This way by the time exam time came around I would just chill and look at my notes peacefully knowing that I already knew the info. This would yield much more time spent hanging with friends, girlfriends (break ups), cycling and mountain biking, and going out to bars/clubs during the weekend. I feel like self discipline is the best. Some semesters were often more rushed than others. Biochem combined with physics was pretty rough as I often tended to overstudy as you can always practice more with physics. I hope I can acclimatize well in medical school with the rigor and my tendency to perfect.

For now, especially with MCAT. I average around 7 hours of studying. I just can't grasp how some study 12+ hours. I usually get through a TBR chapter, finish 1001 problems and do 4 practice passages and cap out at 5-6 hours.
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I crammed in undergrad. I would not attend lecture or look at material for weeks at a time and cram the day before the test. The only exceptions were organic chemistry and physics, in which I would cram 2 to 3 days before the test. 3.7/37 overall.

Average days in med school (where I'm keeping up with material and decidedly not cramming) are comparable to cramming for some of the easier undergrad classes (lower level bio/chem classes). The week before the test, every day feels like I'm cramming for cell molec/genetics/physics. The week before block exams feels like orgo-level cramming.

Don't go in expecting it to be easily manageable with undergrad levels of self-discipline.
 
Would studying (with attending 4hrs of morning classes) from 530am-5pm M-F be sufficient for M1 and M2?
 
I don't go to lecture which, for me, makes all the difference in the world. I sleep in and watch the lectures at 2x as an intro to the material, take a few notes, then go through the course guide pretty thoroughly. The most I study is probably 30 hours a week, including lab. Week before a test ramp it up to 60-80 hours, but that includes doing notecards while watching football, etc.

First year is great.
 
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