How to study in med school?

[incompetentmd]

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Hi

I just failed my first Foundational year of medical school and had to take Supplementary Papers (which I passed). I got complacent after getting into my "dream course" and I do agree I slacked off quite abit. However, I did not expect to fail so badly because I was using the very same study methods that had allowed me to attain 8 'A's in the Cambridge 'A' Levels.

My study method goes like this:
1. I type out my own notes on the computer, compiled based on Seniors' notes and Textbooks
2. I organize my notes into charts and point form.
3. I print my notes, highlight them, and read them out loud several times (as I am an audio learner)

This study method successfully helped me ace my 'A' Levels and everything before that BUT COMPLETELY FLUNK ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY. My Prof said Anatomy is a "visual" subject, but I am a HORRIBLE VISUAL LEARNER.

What should I do? Is there any way I can improve my study method?

Thanks!

 

[costales]

Hi
I just failed my first Foundational year of medical school and had to take Supplementary Papers (which I passed). I got complacent after getting into my "dream course" and I do agree I slacked off quite abit. However, I did not expect to fail so badly because I was using the very same study methods that had allowed me to attain 8 'A's in the Cambridge 'A' Levels.

Perhaps you ought to translate all that into American.

 

[kenjixshadow]

@incompetentmd not incomeptentdo? Foundational year? Cambridge 'A' Levels?

Are you a British medical student or a DO student? Anyway, as you can tell, what worked for you at Cambridge did not do for in medical school. Hence, I suggest that you change the study habit. Different ppl use different strategies and you have to find what work best for you - not the method above obviously. What you can do is that talk to the upperclassmen at your school. A lot of times, they can give you insight information on how and what to study. Nevertheless, "repetition is the key to mastery." You may want to do multiple passes of the materials before the exam. Another useful tool you can use is Anki - which works well for pure memorization courses like anatomy and pharmacology. GL.

 

[costales]

My study method goes like this:
1. I type out my own notes on the computer, compiled based on Seniors' notes and Textbooks
2. I organize my notes into charts and point form.
3. I print my notes, highlight them, and read them out loud several times (as I am an audio learner)
This study method successfully helped me ace my 'A' Levels and everything before that BUT COMPLETELY FLUNK ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY. My Prof said Anatomy is a "visual" subject, but I am a HORRIBLE VISUAL LEARNER.

Repetition is very important, but you also have to be able to visualize the structure and understand/conceptualize the relationships and function in your own mind.

 

[scoKraz4]

Too much time spent organizing and preparing notes maybe? I tried to never write notes if I didn't have to for time sake. I also just used First Aid as my base of knowledge and expanded from it..then read BRS costanzo for physio

 

[amonriaz]

I would recommend reaching out to your professor/school in terms of their recommendation for how to study for your program. Generally what worked in undergrad and grad school will not work in medical school because of the amount of content and lack of time. Preview the material and identify what you know and don't know. Then in lecture, learn what you don't know. Then review, what you didn't learn in lecture or material you are unsure about. Spend the most of your time in review and do this daily. IMO you are wasting time typing notes. If you need to type then only type material that you really don't understand and limit it to 1-2 pages. Try different strategies and best of luck.