Huge Dilemma about how to study!! Please help!!

[Brown Eyes]

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Hey everyone,

Ok so I'm very undecided about how to study for the boards. I'm hearing mixed things from everyone and I really don't want to make the wrong decision. I signed up for the Kaplan retreat and then after hearing things like "You'll be too exhausted to study" or "You'll need at least 4 weeks after to go over all the material" or "It's only for people that don't know how to study on their own or that didn't do well during their basic sciences."

I decided to drop the course and I signed up for the Web prep video lectures. I figured that I would stay in an extended-stay hotel for 8 weeks, watch the videos, study the kaplan books, and review each course on my own.. but the idea of making my own schedule and being "fully on my own" kind of scares me!

Now... I am hearing that the Kaplan retreat is an excellent investment and that if you're used to studying for many hours a day then you should be fine. I've heard that the professors tell you a LOT more high yield info than they do in the kaplan videos. Does anyone know if this is true?

I've managed to get through SGU with a 4.0 gpa. I haven't attended lectures really since 2nd term because I feel like if I haven't pre-read, the info just doesn't sink in. I usually start studying by 10am and go everyday until about 2 or 3 am. (8am until 3 am during exam time). I feel like I've had a good solid base for the info at the time of exams ( I never just memorized) but if you were to ask me an anatomy or a biochem question (or god forbid.. neuro) I would have to tell you that I'm not really comfortable in those subjects. I feel like I've forgotten a lot.

Can anyone give me some insight about what I should do? I know I should be studying for pathophys final right now but I can't seem to make up my mind and it's driving me crazy!

 

[illixir]

You studied from 8 am to 3 am during medical school?? If that's not a gross overexaggeration(that's 19 hours right there... and most people don't do half that), then I think you'll be fine no matter what you do even if it was SGU.

I'd go with whatever's cheaper, I'm sure that live they're going to say some extra pieces of info but probably not anything you wouldn't have come across on your own if you're studying that much. The good thing about live classes is they can sometimes keep you motivated and engaged and since I heard the webprep videos are 1x and you can't fast forward(just from someone on another thread though), then going to live might be better(since its the same amount of time anyways, if not though then thats something else to consider) and then still putting in 4 or 5 hours to study on your own after each day, it might also make you feel more calm since you'll be around other people studying, but only if you know some of them.

 

[Brown Eyes]

You studied from 8 am to 3 am during medical school?? If that's not a gross overexaggeration(that's 19 hours right there... and most people don't do half that), then I think you'll be fine no matter what you do even if it was SGU.

I'd go with whatever's cheaper, I'm sure that live they're going to say some extra pieces of info but probably not anything you wouldn't have come across on your own if you're studying that much. The good thing about live classes is they can sometimes keep you motivated and engaged and since I heard the webprep videos are 1x and you can't fast forward(just from someone on another thread though), then going to live might be better(since its the same amount of time anyways, if not though then thats something else to consider) and then still putting in 4 or 5 hours to study on your own after each day, it might also make you feel more calm since you'll be around other people studying, but only if you know some of them.

thanks! Yes I actually did study that much ( with the occasional you-tube breaks of course). I signed up for the web prep but since I heard that the videos can't be fast forwarded. I was thinking of using the 2009 vids and fast forwarding those.

 

[knuckles]

get back to work. test at 2pm tomorrow.

 

[Brown Eyes]

get back to work. test at 2pm tomorrow.

lol.. I'm back and forth between derm slides and forums

 

[African]

If you can study that long on your own and have such stellar academic past, i do not see any reason for enrolling in any course. The greatest resources apart from kaplan which everybody has, are BRS path and all things Goljan, BRS physio, HY Neuro-anatomy, Lippincott Biochem, Lippincott Pharm, first 7chapters of Cell bio Robbins.


With two months of prep time, and your proven record of studying for long hours and getting great results, you will definitely kill the step1.

 

[Colonol Forbin]

who needs to study that much? 8-3am? that is absurd, you must not be very bright, but i admire your drive