M
MCATSTUDYY
In general how does one transition and do well going from the college level to medical school? Is there anything in undergrad one can do to improve their chances of succeeding in medical school academics?
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get into medical school first. Nothing you do short of maintaining a 4.0 at MIT in ee will make it an easy transition. Once you are in everyone adapts, matriculant to graduation rates are in the 90s.
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a high alcohol tolerance will be a tremendous boon
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Some real advice:
In college, you're never really tested on long-term memorization at all. You're pretty much able to keep up with quizzes/homework/assignments and then cram for the final and then get an A. Not trying to brag but for me and many of my friends this was the case. And honestly you're not really incentivized to retain information long term. Who needs Ecology of Underwater Invertebrates 6 months later? Not I.
So in order to answer this question I think we'd need your level, what your major is, and how you were planning to tackle your pre-requisites in college. I think an advantageous strategy would be to take first year of college to get used to the flow of classes and then second year take all the lower level pre-med requirements, and third year take all the higher level. Build anki flashcard decks and incorporate MCAT review books while you're doing this to direct your studying and allow you to learn how to learn in more of a longitudinal manner.
One of the biggest hurdles for me personally coming to medical school was that I didn't know how to learn due to the aformentioned changes in educational philosophy. Learning this in college would have been a huge boost up when you get to medical school and the pace quickens significantly. It also really depends on how your grades are and how many hours you'd have to dedicate to this, because it will be time consuming when you start.
In college, you're never really tested on long-term memorization at all. You're pretty much able to keep up with quizzes/homework/assignments and then cram for the final and then get an A. Not trying to brag but for me and many of my friends this was the case. And honestly you're not really incentivized to retain information long term. Who needs Ecology of Underwater Invertebrates 6 months later? Not I.
So in order to answer this question I think we'd need your level, what your major is, and how you were planning to tackle your pre-requisites in college. I think an advantageous strategy would be to take first year of college to get used to the flow of classes and then second year take all the lower level pre-med requirements, and third year take all the higher level. Build anki flashcard decks and incorporate MCAT review books while you're doing this to direct your studying and allow you to learn how to learn in more of a longitudinal manner.
One of the biggest hurdles for me personally coming to medical school was that I didn't know how to learn due to the aformentioned changes in educational philosophy. Learning this in college would have been a huge boost up when you get to medical school and the pace quickens significantly. It also really depends on how your grades are and how many hours you'd have to dedicate to this, because it will be time consuming when you start.
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To be honest everyone says don't prestudy but I think if I took a premade anki deck like zanki and did a section I was already comfortable with (biochem) I would have learned a few good skills while flying through the section:
1. How to make GOOD anki cards
2. How to navigate anki well with tags
3. The habit of doing anki daily for at least 30 mins so reviews never pile up
4. Did I mention anki?
1. How to make GOOD anki cards
2. How to navigate anki well with tags
3. The habit of doing anki daily for at least 30 mins so reviews never pile up
4. Did I mention anki?
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I 100% agree with this
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Get ready to bite the pillow
experiment with different learning style. i especially like feynman. learn to use anki.
realize that a lot of your lectures are going to be pure **** and that the medical reference books are for reference (as in you refer to them when you have a doubt, way too long to study from). go for the clear and concise (online lecture, review books etc.).
realize that a lot of your lectures are going to be pure **** and that the medical reference books are for reference (as in you refer to them when you have a doubt, way too long to study from). go for the clear and concise (online lecture, review books etc.).
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I'm not on the Anki train but am still successful in school. I think the takeaway message that pro-anki people and non users like me would agree on is that you will do well in school if you are consistent at your work and take school seriously. Additional points if you don't take yourself seriously.
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Having a strong work ethic and high degree of resilience will serve you well.
For most folks the transition is variable degrees of rocky, but you’ll sort out what works for you and, like everyone else, push through.
For most folks the transition is variable degrees of rocky, but you’ll sort out what works for you and, like everyone else, push through.
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Agreed. Be prepared to be humbled. Med school is not about being a hot shot.
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As a PGY-5 who had heard of but didn't use Anki in med school, I don't know exactly how to feel about it. I don't personally know anyone amongst my friends that used it and we're all either successful residents, fellows or attendings. The SDN method is definitely to brute force memorize a lot of facts using memorization strategies, and I certainly did that in my own way studying for the USMLEs and my radiology boards, but I can't endorse that as the only way to succeed.
I'd say the more important ability is developing full understanding of new concepts and finding ways to integrate/link them to your existing knowledge base. Instead of repeatedly re-reading the same thing over and over, find a new source or just ask a prof to tie things together for you. Retention and later recall is way higher that way.
I'd say the more important ability is developing full understanding of new concepts and finding ways to integrate/link them to your existing knowledge base. Instead of repeatedly re-reading the same thing over and over, find a new source or just ask a prof to tie things together for you. Retention and later recall is way higher that way.
In addition:
* Study Browser icons and Links; Preferences; Deck_Options.
* Review Steps and Intervals are important; use existing tools to see what is your
Retention for Default values; and titrate to better values.
* Start reading anki's main forum at tenderapp.anki; and the Reddit's
forums: Medicalschoolanki ; and Anki.
Simple. " I just show up on time."
A while back, I saw a national news about a girl who fell off subway and her hand was reattached. On TV, at the press conference, the orthopedic surgeon who did the operation came up to say a few words.
I immediately recognized that guy. It is the same guy who spent a month with me on anesthesia rotation. I was a CA3. He was a fourth year medical student, already matched into top orthopedic residency. Unlike many of his colleagues who were relaxing at that stage of medical school, he signed up for anesthesia. He signed up anesthesia, not to slack off, but to learn more. The guy is excellence par none. Hardworking, intelligent, pleasant.
Next year, he was awarded the "surgical intern of the year." I jokingly asked him how he got into this "Rookie of the year" business?
He smiled and said, " I just show up on time."
I looked at him, and he was 100% serious.
That was 25 years ago.
I have been advising college students, medical students, and residents. There is only one advise I give wholeheartedly to all.
"I just show up on time." This has very serious ramification on your performance, your self perception, people's perception of you, and your over all outlook.
It reinforce, buttress, bolster all things in life.
Seriously, "Just show up on time."
A while back, I saw a national news about a girl who fell off subway and her hand was reattached. On TV, at the press conference, the orthopedic surgeon who did the operation came up to say a few words.
I immediately recognized that guy. It is the same guy who spent a month with me on anesthesia rotation. I was a CA3. He was a fourth year medical student, already matched into top orthopedic residency. Unlike many of his colleagues who were relaxing at that stage of medical school, he signed up for anesthesia. He signed up anesthesia, not to slack off, but to learn more. The guy is excellence par none. Hardworking, intelligent, pleasant.
Next year, he was awarded the "surgical intern of the year." I jokingly asked him how he got into this "Rookie of the year" business?
He smiled and said, " I just show up on time."
I looked at him, and he was 100% serious.
That was 25 years ago.
I have been advising college students, medical students, and residents. There is only one advise I give wholeheartedly to all.
"I just show up on time." This has very serious ramification on your performance, your self perception, people's perception of you, and your over all outlook.
It reinforce, buttress, bolster all things in life.
Seriously, "Just show up on time."
