How to increase study endurance

[calimeds]

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So I'm a non-trad doing a formal post-bacc and getting A's - and so it's not like I need to study more to get better grades (yet). However I'm taking anatomy & physiology right now in an accelerated format where we do an entire college year in 8 weeks - and this is really kicking my boot-ay.

Got an A on the first exam, but the next is on Saturday, and it's over 4 chapters of material - tissues, skin, skeletal tissue, and bones of the skeleton.

I'm barely keeping up with it - listening to lectures again on tape, re-writing my notes, making flashcards, drawing structures, etc. And I'm putting in about 5 hours a day.

I'd like to put in 6 - 8 but it seems like most days I can only focus solidly about 4 - 5 hours (this is solid study time - not time spent in lecture, driving to the library, photocopying, etc. etc. - I use a stopwatch to keep track of the daily total). I break up the hours throughout the morning/afternoon/evening.

This has me worried because if 4 hours is what it takes to get A's when in full-time undergrad science, this just won't cut it for making honors in med school.

If I had some different classes thrown in the mix I think I could do more - like a literature class or something. Or even another science class which requires thinking - like physics - that holds my attention better.

But more than 5 hours of memorizing anatomy in one day and my brain is just toast.

Anyone have techniques to improve endurance other than ADHD drugs? Will increased study endurance increase with time?

 

[mechanictodr]

So I'm a non-trad doing a formal post-bacc and getting A's - and so it's not like I need to study more to get better grades (yet). However I'm taking anatomy & physiology right now in an accelerated format where we do an entire college year in 8 weeks - and this is really kicking my boot-ay.

Got an A on the first exam, but the next is on Saturday, and it's over 4 chapters of material - tissues, skin, skeletal tissue, and bones of the skeleton.

I'm barely keeping up with it - listening to lectures again on tape, re-writing my notes, making flashcards, drawing structures, etc. And I'm putting in about 5 hours a day.

I'd like to put in 6 - 8 but it seems like most days I can only focus solidly about 4 - 5 hours (this is solid study time - not time spent in lecture, driving to the library, photocopying, etc. etc. - I use a stopwatch to keep track of the daily total). I break up the hours throughout the morning/afternoon/evening.

This has me worried because if 4 hours is what it takes to get A's when in full-time undergrad science, this just won't cut it for making honors in med school.

If I had some different classes thrown in the mix I think I could do more - like a literature class or something. Or even another science class which requires thinking - like physics - that holds my attention better.

But more than 5 hours of memorizing anatomy in one day and my brain is just toast.

Anyone have techniques to improve endurance other than ADHD drugs? Will increased study endurance increase with time?

Whoa man... you need to chill out. You got an A last time, you're obviously smarter than the average student who is likely struggling proportionally more than you. Relax, keep doing what you're doing, and it'll all work out. No one ever got rejected from med school over a B+. Relax.

Also, 5 hours a day on one subject? I sure hope your other courses are social sciences or something. Last I checked the basic rule is for an A 3 hours of study outside lecture per course credit hour for an average to slightly abover average student. It's worked for me so far. Don't burn yourself out.

 

[Morsetlis]

Talk to other people.

 

[calimeds]

Ha - thanks mechanic - I needed that. 🙂 My program is on a block plan - we only take one class at a time but it's accelerated to the point where it's the equivalent of taking four classses simultaneously on a traditional plan. It has its pluses and minuses.

BTW - nice screen name. Are you a mechanic headed for medicine? My mechanic is so good at diagnosing and solving odd problems that defeat other people that I often think to myself he'd make a great doctor.