How you do notes/keep notes!

[yestomeds]

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A bit silly of a thread, but I'm kind of OCD and I really do mean to ask this seriously.
For those of you who are or have studied for the MCAT, how did you organize your notes/loose leaf paper/binders/scribblers?

For example, I started physics yesterday. And I find that I've done notes (albeit messy ones, not even sure if I'll refer to them or keep them)... and then I've got scrap sheets of paper for exercise problems. Is it worthwhile to keep these? Do you keep these?

Basically, do you have a separate pile for each subject? And if so, in what manner do you keep your stuff?

 

[yestomeds]

bump?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

i don't take notes i highlight but i have a composition book that i write everything i've missed questions on. so if i miss a question, i write the explanation in that book. then i never forget it

 

[Wasted Energy]

I use a spiral ring notebook for each subject. One page of notes (summary in bullet point format) for each chapter, so your really don't need a separate notebook for each subject. Composition book to work out problems/scratch paper.

 

[yestomeds]

I use a spiral ring notebook for each subject.
Composition book to work out problems/scratch paper.

Nice! One spiral ring per subject. And is this so you can flip back and forth easily?
What does a "composition book" mean?

 

[yestomeds]

i don't take notes i highlight but i have a composition book that i write everything i've missed questions on. so if i miss a question, i write the explanation in that book. then i never forget it

Oh, so you don't take notes. Is this because the material is very fresh in your mind (for example you recently took the prereq courses). Or, is it because you learn it really easily. Or...?

You mean that if you did a question incorrectly, then you write it down in a separate book? P.S. I love Harvey.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Oh, so you don't take notes. Is this because the material is very fresh in your mind (for example you recently took the prereq courses). Or, is it because you learn it really easily. Or...?

You mean that if you did a question incorrectly, then you write it down in a separate book? P.S. I love Harvey.

I don't take notes because I've found that I never learn from rewriting the book like that in shorthand. I just feel like I'm wasting time and I'm able to just learn it better by reading it over a few times

Yeah so when I'm reviewing my passages that I did from Berkeley Review, my notebook is open and if there's any answer I find interesting or worthy of notes, I write it down. If I miss any question, I write out the explanation in sort of my own words so I get it down right. It's been working so I suggest you try it!

Haha I love him too! Gonna watch the season 4 premiere off my DVR this weekend

 

[Lunasly]

Over the past month, I have found that taking notes is ineffective. However, if there is an important fact outlined by the book that I did not know, but is worth noting, then I'll make a flashcard out of it. I like to get through the material and then work on passages. I make notes based off my mistakes (i.e., I write out the general principle I got wrong). Those are worth reviewing.

 

[orangetea]

I think the most IMPORTANT thing about notes is

1) either keeping a journal of mistakes- and by that I mean writing the entire problem with the solution written/worked out
2) making flashcards of concepts- for example I do an Acid base problem from TBR and I notice that I don't remember the formula to calculate ph for weak acids so I make a flashcard..

You must must review these mistakes because I promise you they come up.
Other than that I find making google docs of each chapter(an outline) keeps things organized or in a notebook like others have suggested.

 

[Wasted Energy]

Nice! One spiral ring per subject. And is this so you can flip back and forth easily?
What does a "composition book" mean?

Exactly. For example, if I'm about to start a new chapter in physics, I'll flip through my notes from previous chapters first. Just main idea stuff really, maybe some formulas. This way when I'm done with content review, I don't have to flip back through any dense prep book material to review, I can just use my one page summaries. Oh, and this is what I meant by composition book:

 

[yestomeds]

You must must review these mistakes because I promise you they come up.
Other than that I find making google docs of each chapter(an outline) keeps things organized or in a notebook like others have suggested.

This way when I'm done with content review, I don't have to flip back through any dense prep book material to review, I can just use my one page summaries.

That's a pretty darn professional looking composition book. Is that an American thing, to use "composition books?" We don't quite use them or call them that way in Canada .

I will try and remember your tips - to make note of mistakes, and to write them out separately. ALTHOUGH… if you are using prep books, could you just make a "tag" or bookmark the page on which you made your mistake?

So (to all of you) - if you don't really write out your notes/make notes whilst doing content review, does this mean you're in a prep course where it's taught? Making "re-"writing things out a little redundant?

I guess for me, it's been a while since I've taken some of these subjects. I just don't think I remember much, or any of it at all. I am not sure what to do. 🙁

 

[havocgene]

I take notes only on the topics I do not understand as well as I need to..and then I have a notebook full of questions I missed

 

[orangetea]

well I mean you could bookmark the page.. but I find it helpful when I write down the question and the answer.. it makes it stick in my brain more. It is a mini way of post phrasing.. if you haven't come across "post phrasing" I recommend reading this thread it was super helpful 🙂

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...low-fl-score-its-called-post-phrasing.786361/

 

[el_duderino]

Everyone is different. I "take notes" by writing down the things I didn't know when reviewing. Then I review those pages. Then I usually do a second round of writing down the things I didn't know from those pages. I just write it anywhere, like in a notebook.

 

[yestomeds]

It is a mini way of post phrasing.. if you haven't come across "post phrasing" I recommend reading this thread it was super helpful 🙂
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...low-fl-score-its-called-post-phrasing.786361/

Cool, I'll check it out! 🙂
Now, do you do post phrasing (paraphrasing, summing in your own words, etc.) strictly to allow yourself process the info one more time, i.e. to write it down for the sake of doing so... OR do you do it so you have a reference of it for later use?

 

[yestomeds]

I take notes only on the topics I do not understand as well as I need to..and then I have a notebook full of questions I missed

So you refer to prep books, which contains all the info. And you only write down subsets of that info when you don't understand it...? I'm asking, because otherwise how/where would you get the bulk of your info then, etc.?

 

[orangetea]

Cool, I'll check it out! 🙂
Now, do you do post phrasing (paraphrasing, summing in your own words, etc.) strictly to allow yourself process the info one more time, i.e. to write it down for the sake of doing so... OR do you do it so you have a reference of it for later use?

I do it to induce muscle memory. and it sounds really lame but its the same thing as doing a work out.. your muscles begin to remember.. SO if I missed a question on projectile motion.. I will write down the question AND the explanation and how I solved it.. so on my break days I can review it and in way make my brain remember not to make that same mistake again.. There are only so many concepts and only so many ways the MCAT can test you. I made the mistake of not keep a record of my mistakes the first time I took the MCAT and ALL my weak points ended up on the test fml. lol

 

[deleted92121]

One page of blank paper per chapter. No sentences. Simple facts and things key to remember. Learn the concept while reading and write down what spurs you to remember that concept.

 

[Neuroglia]

flashcards

 

[clairephillips]

flashcards

+1, that's what I use Anki for. Every question I couldn't answer for content or math or stupid mistake reasons goes on a flashcard, usually without the answer choices. All formulas go in flashcards as well. Every night, I run through the flashcards.

 

[Neuroglia]

Anki is amazing I use it everyday

 

[yestomeds]

One page of blank paper per chapter. No sentences. Simple facts and things key to remember. Learn the concept while reading and write down what spurs you to remember that concept.

How do you keep it 1 page per 1 chapter? Is it because reading a chapter is simply review for you (knowledge of the subject matter still fresh in your mind?).

I don't know if you or anyone can relate, but this stuff isn't in the least bit fresh in my mind! It's sad! 🙁

I read through the chapters and feel like it's all new stuff. It
a) is time consuming and
b) results in my taking notes that far surpass the 1 blank paper per chapter suggestion.

Unless I'm not effective in my note-taking skills, and could do it differently?

 

[theyellowking]

I use two notebooks, one for taking notes that I did not know about for the subject, and the other for writing down questions that I didn't answer correctly with explanations (I found that just using one didn't work out, and made it a little cluttered).

 

[yestomeds]

I use two notebooks, one for taking notes that I did not know about for the subject, and the other for writing down questions that I didn't answer correctly with explanations (I found that just using one didn't work out, and made it a little cluttered).

That's 2 notebooks PER subject right?

 

[yestomeds]

I used spiral-bound notebook of Cornell paper for notes, and a regular spiral bound notebook for practice problems.

At the end, I made flash cards of formulas and important facts that I was getting wrong.

@canadianinusa I'm going to be honest, I have no clue what "Cornell paper" means. Is that a brand? Unless that's the paper sold at the school? Hahaha I feel like it's common knowledge, but to me it isn't! And why a spiral-bound notebook of "Cornell paper" in particular?

For your flashcards, do you put stuff like Q's you got wrong in the passages? I tried writing those down, but not sure how much of it I should reproduce. i.e., the question, and the answer as well, or, etc.?

 

[bambam92]

I bought 5 subject notebooks for bio, physics, and one is shared for gen chem/orgo. I prob won't come close to filling these.. but they were $2 at job lot🙂 Multiple psychological studies have been done showing recall is improved when handwriting notes, versus typing. Look it up. So I handwrite all my stuff. I am ocd, so just typing **** in a word document for my content would make me want to jump off a bridge, feel like that is just too soft. Haha in all seriousness, do what works for you. But I definitely like notebooks. For writing out formulas and doing problems that would be a pain in the ass on a computer I feel, way easier to just write.

 

[yestomeds]

+1, that's what I use Anki for. Every question I couldn't answer for content or math or stupid mistake reasons goes on a flashcard, usually without the answer choices. All formulas go in flashcards as well. Every night, I run through the flashcards.

Anki is amazing I use it everyday

Ok… maybe it's that I'm up here in Canada. But I haven't a clue what Anki is. Is it some new trick the kids these days are using? 😛 But seriously, I don't know.

In fact, I just happened by @TexasSurgeon's super mega thread on his/her studying and by page 2, "Anki" was referenced again. I scratched my head, trying to decipher what it was. I don't have a clue!! Can somebody explain it to me and explain why it's so important, why it's so popular, and how it has helped you? Thank you!!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Ok… maybe it's that I'm up here in Canada. But I haven't a clue what Anki is. Is it some new trick the kids these days are using? 😛 But seriously, I don't know.

In fact, I just happened by @TexasSurgeon's super mega thread on his/her studying and by page 2, "Anki" was referenced again. I scratched my head, trying to decipher what it was. I don't have a clue!! Can somebody explain it to me and explain why it's so important, why it's so popular, and how it has helped you? Thank you!!

Haha is it the thread I made like a year ago?

Anki is a flash card program for computers. You can download it for free. Basically it uses times intervals to repeat cards you don't know so you learn them efficiently. I don't find this approach particularly helpful though. I've never been a flash card person because I found that putting all the information in takes a long long time and etc. but if you are, it's a great tool to have. search "anki med school" on YouTube and there's a video on how to use it

 

[theyellowking]

That's 2 notebooks PER subject right?

Correct. And I found that the smaller (Not as in size, but the amount of paper) notebooks I get, the more concise I write. I would buy the 80-99 cent notebooks.

 

[yestomeds]

Correct. And I found that the smaller (Not as in size, but the amount of paper) notebooks I get, the more concise I write. I would buy the 80-99 cent notebooks.

I see! Thanks for answering 🙂. If you write the Q's (and their corresponding solutions) that you got wrong in your 1 of 2 notebooks for that subject... then, do you ever study off of the books (content review) or exercise/passages directly?

What I mean is that some people just highlight their books. If you take notes, do you also highlight/reference the book? Really specific I know. I just don't quite know how to plan my time around this stuff. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[theyellowking]

Yup! I also write notes per chapter for 1 page each (both sides). I found that I sometimes wrote 5-7 pages of unnecessary information, just wasting my time. Concentrating on the key content you struggle with (For example, I had a hard time with mutation in biology, so I spent 1/3 of one side just for that) will make you a master of these subjects.

And yes, I will reference my books; while reviewing (I review each subject on the subject day; For example, today is my Physics today, so before I start the new material, I review (30-60 minutes) the material I went over last time via my notebook, and if I get confused or don't understand the material, then I go back to my content review book.

Like I said earlier (I think), this is all just from me experimenting and finding what works for me best. You can do this as well from your first day of studying: Do you like to take long or short notes? Do you absorb the information from the content review books via highlighting, or reading through and taking notes afterwards? These are questions you want to ask yourself so you can better prepare for the next days.

And feel free to PM me on anything else, as I'd be happy to help a fellow MCAT'er out (Though I think you'd be better off asking people who already received their scores)

 

[bngli]

Does anyone use mcat-review.org as their outline, and then just add information to that? I know from classes that their is some advantage to writing your own notes, but is the saved time from this method worth it?

 

[theyellowking]

Up to you and how comfortable you are with the information, but I would personally recommend using that as only a supplement and get your own notes from scratch to see what your strengths/weaknesses are.

 

[yestomeds]

Yup! I also write notes per chapter for 1 page each (both sides). I found that I sometimes wrote 5-7 pages of unnecessary information, just wasting my time.

And yes, I will reference my books; while reviewing (I review each subject on the subject day; For example, today is my Physics today, so before I start the new material, I review (30-60 minutes) the material I went over last time via my notebook, and if I get confused or don't understand the material, then I go back to my content review book.

I see! So you write out your own notes so that in the ensuing weeks, you refer to them to further drill in the concepts? This is to save time also - so 3 weeks after you've covered concept X, you wont have to return to the entire chapter on concept X - you just refer to your own notes?

Oh also - I'm wondering if you took the prereqs not long ago, i.e. if the stuff is relatively fresh in your mind. I ask because if it isn't - perhaps it'd be pertinent to write out a bit more than 1 page (double spaced) per topic/chapter? I mean I wrote 4+ for one topic (perhaps I need to heed your advice and take less!!!!!) but still, due to the amount of stuff I need to "review" (learn), I feel I'd need to write more?

 

[yestomeds]

Google is your friend! The left margin is very wide and you use it for prompts, and the answer is on the right. At the bottom, you write a summary of what is on the page. I used to print my own margins on regular loose leaf paper to make it.

Just googled it! 🙂
Wow that looks fancy! Is it an American thing?

What I get from this thread so far is that due to people
a) using a composition book and
b) using cornell paper,
that any notes one takes are rather formal or neat looking. And this is so that they'll be useful down the line - maybe weeks, or months from now. Is this so?

I guess in looking at my notes from week 1 - they're all very messy just because I did SO much of them. Based on what I see/read here, spending time on GOOD notes is what y'all are about. Did I get that right?

 

[yestomeds]

@TexasSurgeon no haha, it is the thread you made like a few weeks ago! Isn't that when you made a thread about your first week on the SN2 schedule? I just made it to page 3 though, I had to tear myself away from continuing (had so much other stuff to do). 😛

If you don't like flashcards - be it real flashcards or via the Anki system - then how do you ensure that you repeat the info, test what you don't know, and that you're still efficient (no matter what system/method you're using?).

 

[TexasSurgeon]

@TexasSurgeon no haha, it is the thread you made like a few weeks ago! Isn't that when you made a thread about your first week on the SN2 schedule? I just made it to page 3 though, I had to tear myself away from continuing (had so much other stuff to do). 😛

If you don't like flashcards - be it real flashcards or via the Anki system - then how do you ensure that you repeat the info, test what you don't know, and that you're still efficient (no matter what system/method you're using?).

Oh yeah! I think its the thread I made about how I feel like I know nothing. There may have been some crying involved in the first two weeks of SN2.

To ensure I understand all my information, I like to see it multiple ways. Once I read the chapter, I literally can't reread it because its so boring. I have the attention span of a fly. But doing passages helps, seeing the information in a different context (wikipremed videos), and reviewing passages and looking at answers all help pull the same information from different areas and make the concept solid